NAVAL DISCRETION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23482, 20 October 1939, Page 8

NAVAL DISCRETION

The British Admiralty will continue its policy of refusing to be drawn, by extravagant German claims of success, into detailed denials that, might mean giving away information of value to the enemy. This is made clear in a London message, which says that while full explanations would immediately reveal to the British public and to neutrals how baseless these claims are, they would also give the German naval intelligence department the facts it is trying to obtain. The bait will not be taken. The Admiralty will continue to issue bare denials when false statements are made. It is noticeable that when casualties have been suffered, the facts have been made public without delay. It was done when the Royal Oak was sunk, and also when the Courageous was lost. The same procedure was followed in the war of 1914-18. Indeed, the immediate announcement of losses at the Battle of Jutland made it appear that the Royal Navy had suffered a major defeat. The one exception to the rule was when the superdreadnought Audacious was sunk by a mine on October 27, 1914. This happened when the Grand Fleet had left Seapa Flow for Lough Swilly, on the Northern Irish coast, because the submarine defences of Scapa Flow were inadequate. Admission that the Audacious had fallen victim to a mine might have revealed the change in the fleet base. Secrecy was observed, also, because the war was at a particularly critical stage. Though the sinking of the ship was witnessed, and even photographed, by passengers on the liner Olympic, it was five weeks before the Germans gained even an inkling of the fact. This, however, was an exceptional case. Other losses were admitted frankly and immediately, and it may be taken as certain the Admiralty will follow the same policy now.