BLOCKADE TIGHTER THAN EVER

New Zealand Times, Volume XLI, Issue 9371, 9 June 1916, Page 5

BLOCKADE TIGHTER THAN EVER

1 ■ ■— l COMMERCE MAINTAINED Mr Balfour, First Lord of the Admiralty, discussing the North Sea battle, said h© regarded the result as a real British victory, not merely a papecr one. Neither in the North Sea, nor in tho Baltic, can the German High Seas Fleofc, for months to come, make an organised effort. Wq not merely carried the honour.' of tho day, but gathered substantial fruits, in three important directions. The dream of tho invasion of Britain had been dissipated lor ever; the blockade was tighter than over it had been; and our power to Uphold our commerce remains complete, A EULOGY OP LORD KITCHENER. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received Juno 8, 4 p.m.) LONDON, June 7. jVIV Balfour (First Lord of the Admiralty), in a stirring speech summing up tho results or the North Soa Battle, in. responding to the toast of “'Tho Imperial Navy’’ at a luncheon by tho British Imperial Council of Commerce, paid:—“The Navy is not merely Imperial becanse it connects tho most distant parts of the Empire, but because it includes the Dominion’s contributions, ■Vho had the happiness of taking part in tho victorious engagement.” (Cheers.) The pleasure was overshadowed by the tragic nows of the sudden loss or Lord Kitchener, a mar, who was not merely a colleague in tho Cabinet, bid Cue of the greatest contemporary figures oi our time, and perhaps the mo.it ptriking personality in all tho Allied countries. His loss had cast a chill over the whole Empire. Lord Kitchener’s groat deeds were connected with gemo of tho greatest events of the Empire during the last twenty years, ALL EYES TURNED TO KITCHENER, TVhen wax threatened, it suddenly became apparent to Britain that, in order to carry out the obligations imposed by treaties, friendship, and honour, she must face tho greatest military lowers. Tho eyes of the British people instinctively turned to Lord Kitchener. Perhaps his greatest triumph is that he has loft the successful creation of a vast military machine, which was absolutely non-existent in 1914. Now Britain is prepared for its share in the military labours of tho Allies. The loss of Lord Kitchener was not merely national, but international. To the ordinary party politician, ho was lately more than a namo. In foreign and neutral countries the Kitchener gift of personality was mads known. Countries which had not seen him embodied him in. the eyes of tho Allies, a military force, “Throughout the Empire wa mourn for ourselves. Let us put mourn for him, Ho died as I think he would have wished—at tho height or his fame, working for his country.” ADMIRAL JELLICOB’S DISPATCH, Turning to the toast, Mr Balfour said that the attention of tho civilised world had been concentrated on tba event in tho North Sea. Admiral jellicoe’s dispatch could not yet bo received; the work of collating from innumerable sources the relative facts necessary for the compilation of the dispatch would have occupied tho time of a man loss heavily burdened than Admiral Jellicoe, Until the dispatch was available ha would not encourage the discussion of details, neither quarrel with the German newsmongers. As to the estimated 'comparative losses, there ware no doubts but that p-e had told the whole truth, and had not concealed any losses. It was pqually certain that falsification began on the German side hours baforo the Admiralty received 1 'the first message from Admiral Jellicoe. He bad just seen a German wireloss message to New York claiming the loss of another British battleship which had been safely in port since Thursday. It was futile to discuss the situation when the testimony of one side was obviously tainted. THE METHOD OF ISSUING THE NEWS. Me Balfour admitted that ho himself was entirely responsible for the pxethod of issuing tho news. Admiral Jellicoe’s first telegram was received at o’clock on Wednesday afternoon, and intimated that an action was imminent and the neeta had sighted one another, Tho Admiralty did not receive a further telegram from the Admiral until Friday afternoon, when it was immediately communicated to the newspapers. Admiral Jellicoe was rot blameworthy. He had such tremendous responsibilities, and the strain had not relapsed for two nights and thirty-six hours after he' had driven the Germans to port. The information was obviously incomplete, but it was all Admiral Jellicoe could furnish. Undoubted; |y fuller facts would have made a better impression, but he conceived it was right to let the public know tho best or worst. The Germans were never so base, immediately sending out wireless messages to the wide world, regardless of the truth. Admiral Jellicoe’s second telegram, at Friday, midnight, showed that more ships had returned, and gave fuller details of the German losses. In view of that telegram, ho considered that the newspapers had ponveyed an unnecessary shock and alarm.. BORROW FOR THE MEN OF THE FLEET. Mr Balfour said he was sorriest for tho men of the Fleet. They had returned bitterly disappointed at not having caught the whole German fleet whan there had been an opportunity for a crushing defeat. Nevertheless, they were conscious that they had played their part magnificently, and expected a congratulatory and not a tragic reception. 1 • ■ Continuing, Mr Balfour said:—“xf my promptness in announcing the news retains confidence in tha Admiralty, showing that it is determined to Seal straightly and fairly with the public, I shall have nothing to regret. The German Headquarters has always known our natal superiority, but fostered the idea that we wore skulking behind our defences, refusing to come out and ineet the valorous German in mid-ocean. That is extraordinarily inconsistent •pith tho Gorman accounts of the battle. MOST AMAZING PART OF GERMAN STORY. Ilf the German Fleet inflicted these groat losses, why did they not, like every successful general, seek to improve the occasion and press thoir advantage to tho utmost? The most amazing part of tho Gorman story is that, after their wonderful success, they ran away. Yet there was much bunting flying in Berlin. “The only purpose of the raids on the East Coast was to keep up the spirits of tho German people, and to preserve tho illusion of German superiority. Tho German admirals, well knowing their inferiority, preferred to withdraw rather than risk destruction. Some people argued that the battle was indecisive. Undoubtedly fortune was against us, tho weather preventing Sir John. Jellicoe compelling the whole Gorman Fleet to accept action, and enabling a defoat such that nobody could deny that it was decisive. “The German strength is now relatively much inferior to what it was before tho battle. The High Seas Fleet will be unable for many months to carry put any contemplated undertaking. The battle was a real victory, not an indecisive one, THE SUBSTANTIAL FRUITS REACHED. i‘Wo carried oil the honours, reaping substantial fruits in three most im. portant naval considerations, namely, the blockade, invasion, and sea trade. The Germans’ situation is worse. The battle enabled us to increase the grip of the blockade. The problem of invasion is as difficult for the Kaiser as it Van for'Philip the Second of Spain, and another of Germany’s unfulfilled war dreams has been dissipated for ever. Our power to uphold our commerce remains complete, and it is, more than ever, impossible for Germany to rehabilitate her merchantilo position, which was built up by laborious and costly organisation before she rashly entered upon hostilities. “Looking broad at tho facts, wo are justified in regarding the Imperial Navy with even greater confidence and hope of triumph than wo did ten days fgo.” (Cheers.) H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND CONGRATULATION FROM THE ADMIRALTY, By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright, His Excellency the Governor has received tho following telegram ffcJm the Gecrotary of State:— The battle-cruiser New Zealand was In the thick of the naval battle on May 31st. Tho Admiralty desires one© more to place on record the debt of the Mother Country to New Zealand and the generosity which has enabled the Navy to place so valuable a unit in the fighting line, SPECIAL NARRATIVE OF THE NEW ZEALAND’S SHARE, (Received June 8. 9 p.m.) I LONDON. June 8. The “Scotsman" publish’* l * n. sneeial narrative of tho New Zealand's share Sn one of the greatest sea fluids in history. It is stated that the N-w Zealand flew Admire) PaVenl’am’s flag in the absence of the Australia. The New Z-v'T.-md thus, in n double sense, represented the notriotacTn "f the f-e-wr Dominions. T' r.-.-,-- I Vthat, o-kp l tibo fought at the Dogger Bant- die also carried the Admiral’s flag, Admiral Moore being second in command. The New Zealand called for Jofdond living the “'lnfo Frm'gn and the Rnion Jack presented bv the New Zealand women. Pm lad a Mae"! emblem Jm her forward turret and this was p’-aetioallv unscathed daring the notion, though the New 7eala~«? he-rrlf ebpwrd ’Jonty of ’ l ”h of "etiop. Tim. entire crew w-a I'td-ina for a “scran.” The New Zealander, ; r tustokehold worked like Troians to get every ounce and more out of tho »bin. Jgb© was not expected to produce a capacity equal to her bailie companions.

but she surprised the officers with her speed, broke her Dogger Bank rec -• and had no difficulty in holding her place in the line. This tact as a splendid compliment to tho gallant fellow’s below When tho conflict commenced, the New Zealand engaged the enemy a a range of ten miles, and a few minutes alter opening the dead.y woi.v, ioa y damage was done bv tho guns on both sides. , , , , The sinking of the Indefatigable left the New Zealand the rearmost ship in tho line, an 3 the disappearance of tho Queen Mary mado the New Zealand’s position, one of danger as well as of honour. , w „„ In "arranging the battle position with the coming reinforcements, tno i>e Zealand held tho place nearest the enemy. Tharo was a particularly hot spoil at this time. The firing of tho Germans was concentrated and intense, ana tho particular turning movements then carried out left the New Zealand a windy corner. . Tho fall of projectiles was fast and furious. It was an anxious moment tor tho daring cruiser, but the anxiety was allayed by the welcome view of tne ships behind racing to tho fray. ~ A tornado of shells churned the sea, and sphntars pattered on the AO Zealand’s side like hail, but she played her part right well. She had an almost charmed life. Her escapes was numerous and narrow, while the dam age was of the slightest, and tho casualties negligible. Only two sailors ueie IVOU Moreover, the New Zealand gave a great deal more than she received, and the fire of tho German unit engaging her lost both in rapidity and accuracy after ten minutes fighting. The slackening of the lire told its own tale / Despite the fact that the light was all in. favour ot the enemy, "Pereas the conditions were exceedingly difficult for the British and wore well-nigh perfect for tho Germans, there is an immovable conviction amongst the men or the New Zealand that the Germans were the beaten side. Their aaylignt torpedo attack was an absolute failure, and was frustrated in tho cleverest fashion by our light cruisers which rushed in to the fight in a moment and easily countered the attack. So smartly was this movement execute ~ the shins might have been at manoeuvres. , . . Germany’s refusal to fight it out deprived us of the fruits of victory, but the Now Zealand’s men look forward to another chance, when they can ado further to the glory of a record of which they and the people of hew Zealand may justly feel prond. OFFICERS AND MEN RESCUED BY THE GERMANS. (Received June 8, 9 p.ra.) B BERLIN, June 8. Official: “German small cruisers and torpedo boats rescued on ensign and one man from tho Queen Mary, two men from the Indefatigable, seven from the Tipperary, four officers and seventy-five men from tho Nestor, four omceis and sixty-eight men from the Nomad, and fourteen men from tho Turbulent.