BRITAIN'S POSITION AFTER A MONTH OF WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15711, 11 September 1914, Page 6

BRITAIN'S POSITION AFTER A MONTH OF WAR.

HER COMMAND OF THE SEA UNCHALLENGED.

EIGHT GERMAN WARSHIPS ALREADY SUNK,

FORTY-FIVE NEW SHIPS FOR BRITISH NAVY.

Wellington, September 10. His Excellency the Governor has received the. following cable from the Secretary of State, dated London, September 9, 7.70 p.m.

After one month of war the command of the sea is left unchallenged in the hands of Great Britain and her allies. The main German and Austrian fleets remain in harbour, under the shelter of mines and batteries. Four German cruisers, one auxiliary cruiser, two destroyers, one submarine, and one Austrian cruiser have been sunk, and a German Dreadnought and cruiser fled without fighting to the Dardanelles. The loss of British ships has beon insignificant. EXPEDITIONS TO ATTACK GERMAN COLONIES. hi consequence of her naval supremacy, over 300,000 troops have crossed the sea in different parts of the world without losing a man. The British expeditionary force has been carried to France, and expeditions have been sent to attack German colonies in Africa and the Pacific, and tho French troops, protected by the Anglo-French fleet, har«i been escorted from Algiers to France, The armies in Europe will be reinforced without ceasing by troops from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, and India. The German mercantile marine has disappeared from the seas, which are. open freely to British commerce everywhere. In the China Sea, and the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, the German ships have avoided action with the British cruisers, and their depredations have been small. TEN CAPITAL SHIPS FOR THE BRITISH NAVY. " The British Navy will be increased within the next twelve months bv not less than ten first-class capital ships, fifteen cruisers, and twenty destroyers. During the same period Germany will not add more than one-third of this number to her fleet. In the meantime, in answer to the call of the Government, a large number of fresh recruits have voluntarily joined the British Army. The eagerness to enlist has grown markedly since the British troops have actually engaged the enemy. During the last week, in London alone, the number of recruits averaged nearly 4000 daily, and on Monday last the number exceeded •I S OO. Enthusiasm for recruiting is increasing everywhere.

The position in France has been dealt with in previous messages. The Russian armies have invaded Prussia, and the Austrians have been decisively beaten by the Servians and Russians. Outside Europe the Japanese fleet and troops have blockaded Tsing-Tao. Togoland has surrendered to the Anglo-French force, and Samoa to a force from New Zealand. (Signed) Harcoubt.