The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1916. THE NAVY.

Southland Times, Issue 17654, 11 February 1916, Page 4

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1916. THE NAVY.

Some interesting statements are made in an article in the London Chronicle of the relative naval strength of the Allies and the enemy as at the beginning of 1916. This is, of course, a matter in which the world is quite in the dark. Although the annuals in which particulars o£ the world's fleets arc usually found arc still being published they are all silent with respect to the additions made to the Allies’ navies since the outbreak of war and of course additions to the enemy’s fleet are known only at enemy headquarters. That many great battleships have been added to the British fleet goes without saying. That the Queen Elizabeth has been in commission and in action wo know, and several of the Queen Elizabeth’s great sisters have certainly joined the battle fleet. In addition there are other classes which must now be represented in Sir John Jellicoe's command. France has also added a number of great dreadnoughts to her navy since August, 1914, and though the rate of naval construction in Russia is painfully slow a group of superdreadnoughts of a very fine type must now be almost, if not quite, complete.

Many months ago it was reported that the first of those intended for use in, the Black Sea was ready for service. No doubt the Germans have been building also, and building fast. Tha German yards are admirably equipped* and under the stress of war the rata of construction may be almost equal to that of Britain. We have had rumours of the completion, of immense new ships mounting 17-in. and even 20-in. guns. These rumours are for the most part pure moonshine. Ships to mount 17-iu. or even 15-in. guns cannot be designed and completed in eighteen months. Germany may have some surprises in store in the form of warships resembling the monitor class with which Britain has been so successful —nothing more than floating platforms with one or two guns of large calibre mounted upon each, and so shallow in draft that they are immune from torpedo attacks. However Britain is probably further ahead with regard to these novelties than Germany. The writer in the Daily Chronicle, who has no doubt obtained his information from trustworthy sources, gives figures which show that the balance of sea power is now more heavily against Germany than it was at the beginning of the war. In August, 1914, Germany’s position from the point of view of naval strength was hopeless; to-day it is still more hopeless, and one is forced,to the conclusion that despite rumours and reports of rather a sensational character 1916 will slip away and Germany’s battle fleet will still lie within the shelter of bomb-protected harbours. Of this we may be certain. As soon as Germany has anything, new weapon or new ship, that gives her a reasonable prospect of success in a naval engagement with Britain’s battle fleet we shall have evidence of it quickly. Slowly but relentlessly the British Navy is strangling Germany, and Germany does nothing to loosen the iron grip simply because she can’t do anything. As soon as she ceases to be so weak relatively as to he impotent, as soon as she can make an effort with some prospect of success, Germany will strike. She will even take a desperate chance. So long, therefore, as Germany remains inactive we may be sure that whatever additions by way of guns and ships have been made to Germany’s fleet she is still unable to challenge Britain's undisputed command of the sea.