BRITISH NAVAL AFFAIRS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3339, 13 March 1918, Page 14

BRITISH NAVAL AFFAIRS.

THE. NAVAL ESTIMATES. SPEECH BY SIR ERIC GEDDES. (By Cable). Sir Eric Geddes, in the House of Commons, in introducing the Naval Estimates, eaid that generally the; naval warfare proceeded increasingly in our favour. It continued to be chiefly a trial of strength between the enemies' submarines and the allied submarines. We depended on indisputable information from neutral sources. With regard to certain success of other enterprises, an occasional raid on our convoys, and the English coast was the natv ral outcome of the blockaded enemy trying to harass the blockading fleet. He believed the exit of the Goeben and the Breslau was a similar raid. The loss of the Breslau was a serious one for the enemy. Regarding the recent enemy raid in the Straits of Dover it was sommenly believed that the passage of p-''-•mar ;e3 'trough Dover Stn '.ts had been prevented by nets and other obstructions since early ,n the war. That was not the case. "Undoubtedly i, considerable number of submarines passed through the straits towards the end of year. Recently a more vigorous policy had be.n adopted with regard to the surface barrage maintained across the Channel day and nierht in order to obstruct the passage of submarines, and at night-time patrol boats, numbering over 100. burned flares, so that any submarine attempting to pass on the surface had a reasonable chance of being engaged. Regarding the Dover raid, Sir Eric Geddes said that night raids of this kind would always be undertaken by a determined enemy. Dealing with anti-subma-rine operations, the Allied Naval Council decided to extend those utilised in Home waters, where they had proved most successful, to the Mediterranean, where the main operations were now placed under the charge of Vice-admiral Calthorpe. Thi<s was one of the first fruits of the Allied Naval Council, from which he hoped to derive material benefit. The British were establishing at various points of the Mediterranean and Adriatic large works for combined aerial and naval warfare. British .naval ofncpr«, at the recmest of the Greek Government, were assisting in the re'T.n-tmction rmd reorgnnisnt : on of the Greek navy and dockyards. He emphasised the cordiality of the relations between the allied naval heads. He announced that the forces in European waters will shortly be augmented by Brazilian warships. He especially* dwelt on Hi-" close Aneln-American co-ov>p ration. The losses of merchantmen was still tendin'l - <o decrease. The loss of the world's tonnage in February was inst over half that of the previous February. The loss in five months eridinc in Fobrnnrv was 10 per cent, less than for the corresponding five months. The output of ships, in Great Britain in January was only 53,000 tons. The out-

put in February was double. The main cause of the decrease was labour troubles. Unless there was a speedy improvement the point at which production balanced losses would be dangerously postponed. He emphasised that Great Britain must rely, during the coming critical period, upon her own resources, for a considerable time must elapse before the desired American output of shipping materialised. Sir Eric Geddes reiterated, with regard to the submarine menace, and held that although they had not yet mastered submarines they were being destroyed in increasing numbers, and he was confident that this increase would continue. He knew that the German submarine crews were growing increasingly reluctant to put to sea, especially in the North Sea, the North Atlantic, and the Channel. The chance of submarines in those waters returning home was about one in four, and recently the Anglo-Americans were sinking submarines in Home waters as fast as they were being built. Great Britain and the Allies were now able to devote more attention to submarine j in the Mediterranean. The enemy continued to increasingly exaggerate the tonnage sunk in order to hearten the people. The losses of convoyed ships continued low. Submarines were operating in an increasing extent inshore, -thus giving increasing opportunities for our patrol craft and aircraft to attack them, and enabling a greater amount of salvage to be carried out. Sir Eric Geddes concluded by paying a warm tribute to the navy and the mercantile marine, and especially to the destroyers and escorting craft. The navy, indeed, was the shield of the Allies. . The statement regarding the sinking of submarines in Sir Eric Geddes's speech caused perplexity in the Commons. Sir Eric subsequently privately explained that what he intended to convey was that one submarine in every four or five operating in our home waters failed to return to Germany. Mr Asquith, commenting on Sir Eric Geddes's statements, said that he regretted that more information was not given regarding British losses through submarines and the measures taken to make them good. It was unlikely that the temper of the Allies would be endangered by tne fullest disclosures. Britain's most essential service to the allied cause was the provision of more ships; this was the supreme need. LORD JELLICOE'S REMOVAL. In the House of Commons, Mr Lambert, criticising Lord Jellieoe's removal from the Admiralty as First Sea Lord, asked if S" V C'• ■ •-•" • insulted over it as a member of the Cabinet. Sir E. Carson interjected : " Certainly not." Sir E. Carson subsequently stated : "Over and over again, while I was First Lord of the Admiralty, pressure was put on rue to remove certain officers, including .Lord Jellicoe, but 1 resisted that pressure.". Sir E. Carson denounced the malignant press attacks upon officers. The country should understand that these attacks weak-

ened the whole administration. It was impossible to expect men like Lord Jellicoe to do their duties under the attacks of some wretched rag of a newspaper. He did not know the reason for Lord Jellicoe's dismissal, but,99 per cent, of the fleet had absolute confidence in him. Personally, he regarded that dismissal as a national calamity. Lord Jellicoe was the greatest living sailor, and it would be an outrage if he remained unemployed. The present First Lord was flouting not only Lord Jellicoe, but the navy. Admiral Sir Hedworth Meux said that the attacks on Lord Jellicoe were due to sheer ignorance. Sir Eric Geddes (First Lord of the Admiralty)., replying, said he did his best to stop the press attacks. He regretted if he had conveyed the Government's decision to Lord Jellicoe in such a way as to hurt his feelings. He still hoped to make use of Lord Jellicoe's great gifts. Mr Bonar Law later intervened in the debate. He said he had the .greatest admiration for Lord Jellicoe's ability, but the position of First Sea Lord was vital to public safety. The principle of public service was that the First Lord of the Admiralty was responsible for those serving under him. "In this case," said Mr Law, " Sir Eric Geddes informed Mr Lloyd George of the proposal to dismiss Lord Jellicoe, and asked the Prime Minister for his approval. I chanced to be in the room, and was also consulted. Sir Edward Carson would also have been consulted if he had been in the building." Sir Edward Carson interjected : I would have given very good advice. Mr Bonar Law continued : It is possible that Sir Edward Carson was right and Sir Eric Geddes wrong; but while Sir Eric Geddes retained the First Lordship his advice alone must be followed. Mr R. M'Kenna interjected : Sir Eric Geddes .said it was the Government's decision. Sir Eric Geddes replied : When Mr Lkryd George accepted my advice I thought it became the Government's decision. Mr Bonar Law continued that Sir Eric Geddes found the task ol dismissing Lord Jellicoe vei'y disagreeable, and he would gladly get him other employment. Whether right or wrong. Sir Eric Geddes believed he was acting in the best interests of the country. Mr Law added : "Mr Lloyd George assured me privately that he had nothing to do with the press campaign against Lord Jellicoe." Replying to Mr Austen Chamberlain, Mr A Bonar Law (Chancellor of the Exchequer) announced that the Prim Minister would make a statement on Monday on the Government's connection with the press, when the matter could be debated. The Prime Minister will doubtless refer to Lord Jellicoe.