THE BRITISH NAVY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3214, 20 October 1915, Page 20

THE BRITISH NAVY.

AN AiVBERBOAN TRIBUTE. LONDON, October 15. Mr Frederick Palmer, an American journalist who travelled round the world with Admiral Dewey’s fleet in 1899, and was with the first Japanese army in the field for Collier’s Weekly and the London Times, in Collier’s Weekly describes a visit he was per* mitted to make to the British fleet in the North Sea. A destroyer was placed at his disposal, and he journeyed to an unnamed port, where there were serried lines of dreadnoughts. He declares that he is able to convince America that the fleet is absolutely submarine proof. He adds: “ I cannot say all I was permitted to see and learn; but if the people are worrying about torpedoes menacing the British warships they may dismiss their fears.” The article supplies a strong confirmation of the fleet’s power at any time to accomplish its primary objective, and of the immense reserve of strength available for almost any conceivable emergency. He pays a tribute to the British ships, armaments, and men. ADVANCE IN WHEAT. NEW YORK, October 15. Chicago reports a sharp advance in the price of wheat, due to the reports that the British and French intend to leave the Dardanelles and operate elsewhere, thus leaving Russian wheat still unmarketed. GERMAN EAST AFRICA. LONDON, October 15. A message from Nairobi states that Bri-gadier-general Malleson marched from Maktau on August 14 and attacked 2000 Germans in a strong position at Mbuvuni. He inflicted heavy punishment upon the enemy, and the British casualties were only slight. The enemy’s fire was poor, but they used machine guns with remarkable skill.