JUTLAND CONTROVERSY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19753, 28 September 1927, Page 11

JUTLAND CONTROVERSY.

GERMAN ADMIRAL'S VIEW. BRITISH STRATEGY BLAMED. EARL JELLICOE CRITICISED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received September 27, 9.30 p.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON. Sept. 27. The German Admiral Von Scheer, in an article in the Fortnightly Review, replies to the Harper Report on the Battle of Jutland. lie says the failure of the Briti ish Navy to destroy the German fleet was the result of the policy of the Admiralty, which aimed at accomplishing the destruction of the enemy by an economic blockade. In consequence, says the admiral, Earl Jellicoe stood face to face with a task which diverged from his general strategic duty. But from the moment when he had the possibility of annihilating the German fleet by the preponderance of his ships Lord Jellicoe's adherence to the policy of avoiding losses became a fallacy. Instead of achieving another " Glorious First of June" Britain was subsequently obliged to incur the great danger of the U-boat campaign, from the consequences of which she was released only by the intervention of America. " It was America," says Admiral Von Scheer, " which harvested the success of May 31, ls)16. That is the truth about Jutland." Admiral Reinhold von Scheer was appointed to the command of the German High Sea Fleet in 1916 and was in charge at the Battle of Jutland in May, 1916. "The Truth About Jutland" was the title of a book, which was published last May, by Admiral E. T. Harper, in which he severely criticised the tactics of Beatty and said "to Earl Jellicoe must go the verdict of that important referee, accural:© history." Admiral Harper was the author of the much-talked-of "Harper Report",of the Jutland battle, which was prepared in 1919, but not published until last June, after his book appeared. It was merely a chronological record of the battle. "The Glorious First of June" is the name given to the great naval victory won by Admiral Earl Howe over the French fleet on June 1. 1794, out at sea 429 miles west of Ushant.