THE NAVY LEAGUE'S NEW YEAR MESSAGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3231, 16 February 1916, Page 3

THE NAVY LEAGUE'S NEW YEAR MESSAGE.

A New Year message was issued by the Navy League, London, on January 1 in which appeared the following:— During the 17 months of the war the achievements of the fleet have far surpassed tho anticipations entertained at the outbreak of the conflict by the most ardent believer in British sea power. In every variety of operation upon which the navy has been engaged during the past year there has been a brilliant demonstration of those fighting qualities accompanied bv skill, daring, and resourcefulness which have for centuries been the proud tradition of the British fleet. It is but the sober truth to declare that during this time of supreme crisis in the destiny of nations the British navy has discharged to a degree unexampled in the whole course of History its great trust as the guardian of the liberties of mankind. Tho Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet, and the officers and men in all our fighting ships deserve the warmest congratulations of the British" race throughout the world for their unswerving zeal, devotion to duty, and spirit of selfsacrifice, which have been manifest in every incident of British naval activity since the beginning of the struggle. " Tho navy is sirent. It is unseen by the masses of the people of the Empire, but it is more apparent now than over befoi'C that tho navy is nevertheless the trustee of freedom's birthright of tho people of the British Empire, and, indeed, of the people of tho whole human race. " A brief summary of the achievements of the navy in its relation to the process of the war will, it is hoped, provide seasonable food for thought:—(l) Apart from a few futile raids no British territory in any part of the world has been violated by the enemy. (2) During 17 months of war the overseas trade of the United Kingdom reached in round figures one thousand seven hundred millions sterling, or one hundred million pounds per month. (3) Food and drink to the value of about four hundred million pounds have been imported into the United Kingdom during the year 1915 for tho maintenance of tho daily 'ife of tho people. (4) The sea-borne commerce of Germany, Austria, and Turkey, amounting to nearly one thousand one hundred million sterling has been driven from the seas. _ (5) Seven million tons of German, Austrian, and Turkish shipping have been destroyed or driven to seek refuge in the harbours of neutral countries. (6) Vast armies, with casualties at sea which only amount to one man per thousand, have been transported from tho ends of tho earth to the various theatres of war. (7) The brilliant operations of British submarines in tho Baltic Sea have crippled German strategy as directed against Russia, and have virtually completed the blockade of Germany upon its Baltio seaboard. (8) Tho whole coastline of our great ally Franco has been preserved from enemy aggression. (9) The German submarine menace, which aimed at the complete destruction of _ British shipping, has been strangled in British home waters, and is being reduced within tho narrowest limits in the Mediterranean. (10) The war operations of the Allies in every sphere of conflict are being maintained by the combined support of tho allied fleets." Tho Navy League desir«> to acknowledge with tho warmest gratification tho unqualified success which has attended every branch of Admiralty administration sineo tho beginning of the war. Mr Balfour's direction of the functions at the Board of Admiralty has secured tho universal appreciation of the people of tho Empiro, and his eminently correct interpretation of his duties as First Lord has given unbounded satisfaction to tho officers and men of tho fleet. Ifcia duo to Mr Balfour to assort that tho direct result of his presence at tho Admiralty has been to create betweeD tho personnel of the fleet and tho great department over which ho presides, an un-

qualified bond of mutual sympathy and confidence. "The league has frequently submitted to the Government the gross injustice, under which officers in his Majesty's Fleet suffer in their pay and allowances. The league holds that in return for tho services rendered, no servant of the Crown _is 60 wretchedly treated as the officers in his Majesty's ships of war. The treatment of midshipmen who have been_ sent to sea during the course of the war is nothing les3 than a scandal to the people of this great nation. "With the fleet upon guard in all its strength and efficiency, the Navy League has no doubt of the future of our great cause, and urges upon all its members to enter upon the new year with quiet confidence and unclouded hope.