GERMAN NAVAL OFFICERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15482, 13 December 1913, Page 5 (Supplement)

GERMAN NAVAL OFFICERS.

BRITISH APPRECIATION. An appreciation of the character and calibre of the German naval officer has been • given utterance to by a recent Englisn : visitor to Germany. " Among German naval officers," he says, "as in the high and responsible circles in which I have investigated the question in Berlin, I have discovered not merely no hostile feeling towards our country, but a strong desire for a friendly understanding, and practical good relations between the services. There is no seeking to disturb the existing grouping of the Powers, but a firm hope that no aggressive tendencies may be developed by any members of the triple entente. • " Germany, they aver, has no object but peace. Every officer I have met has ex-' pressed the warmest admiration for the British Navy. The German Navy has nothing to conceal. It is impossible to I question that the game has been played by Germany with all tho cards on the board, and there is still a trace of resentment at the allegations of anticipated secret shipbuilding which wero levelled at the German naval administrators some three years ago. "It can do nothing but good to say, what is obvious to tho observer here, that the German Navy is in a highly efficient state, and is a formidable representative of a great Power. I have visited the Kaiscrin, 0110 of tho battleships of the 1910 programme. There are in all five of the class, and the Kaiserin is just about to join the high seas fleet. She carries 10 50-calibre 12m guns, 14 6in guns, and 12 smaller guns. " I found the officers engaged in one of their most strenuous tasks, which falls upon them with especial weight in the month of October,. when tho raw conscripts come on board. Tho number of long-ser-vico men taken as volunteers has been increased, but the training and knocking into shape of the new men is a work requiring very close and strenuous attention. In each of the 6in casemates little knots of men were being instructed in the character of the ammunition and the mechanical construction of tho guns, and the system of range transmission. " It used to he said that tho German fleet was incapable of action for .some months after the incoming of tho now men, hut this is no longer trim to the same extent. The men seem very intelligent and capablo fellows. It is significant of the German, or perhaps the Prussian system, that tho bluejacket is an especial object of personal interest to his officer. Tho sublieutenant and lieutenant are required to , know the family relations of the men, the number of their brothers and sisters, the stalo of their health, and even whether they have gained or lost weight. " In addition to seeing the, new ships, the system of mobilisation was explained and shown to me in tJie dockyard. Every detail for every ship out of commission is complete, and the facilities for embarking material and the manning of the vessels show tho navy at a high pitch of efficiency. ' I have met and conversed with a great many officers of all the highor ranks of the service, and have seen the junior offi--1 cers engaged in their duties, and I can ' pay no higher tribute to them than to say ' that they have attained the high standard that is set by British naval officers. J " I have visited the Kaiser Wilhelm ' Canal, which, at a huge cost, has been widened to admit of the passage of tho : largest vessels, and of vessels larger than have yet been built. The work is not yet ' completed, but is progressing rapidly towards completion. 1 "On the whole length of the canal tho ' work of widening is in progress, or has been completed. The cost of this widening ' and enlargement, which has reached a very 1 high figure, is not borne upon tho navy ' votes, though largely the extension is for • naval purposes. The strong resolution 1 which inspires the Germans in their work ' is worthy of all admiration. It is seen in ' tho widening of tho canal as in everything else."