The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1914. THE BRITISH NAVY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 16, 5 September 1914, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1914. THE BRITISH NAVY.

Very many people have been saying during the past month just what the New York Evening Post is saying now concerning the mobilisation oi the British Fleet in July, it must have been something more than good luck that brought the whole of the Navy into active work on the eve of the outbreak of war in Europe. The situation on the Continent had been strained—far more strained than our cable messages suggested or even than the Loudon newspapers supposed—as far back as March, and during the ensuing months French journals were devoting much space to the development of the tension between Russia and Germany. The particular point of interest, just now, The Lyttelton Times aptly remarks, however, is whether the British Imperial Government anticipated the grave turn of events. Its secret service, of which we heai’ precious little, must ho awarded high credit if the Admiralty and the War Office really were warned betimes. Of course, it was easy to infer that the time was full c f danger. The French authorities, at j

any rate 1 , must liavo believed that trouble was coming, otherwise the President would not have made strenuous efforts after the general elections to prevent the formation of an antimilitarist administration ; and, if the French regarded the position as critical, they would unquestionably have warned Britain. The secret history of the past few months may some day Ite revealed, but in the meantime we are left to marvel either at the good luck or the foresight of the Government. The fleet that assembled in July was the greatest ever got together in any waters. The Times goes on to say: There is a minor incident that may he mentioned in this connection. During July some of the newspapers drew attention to the fact that the Turkish Dreadnought, Sultan Os-

man 1., had been doeked*at Devonport in preparation for the completion of her acceptance trials, and it was remarked that the courtesy extended to the builders by the Admiralty was absolutely without precedent. The ship was built by Armstrong’s for Brazil, and was named the Bio do Janeiro. Subsequently, hut before she had left the builders’ hands, she was sold fo Turkey, and, incidentally, one journal, in its comments, ventured to inquire mildly whether Turkey vrim ever like-

ly to hnvo soy serious use for the warship, It is a common act of courtesy on the part of the Admiralty to permit a foreign warship to;use one oi tho Royal dockyards if sho has sustained damage, hub in this case there was no apparent reason why Armstrong’s should he allowed to make a convenience of Devonport in carrying out a business transaction with a foreign Power. Tho only comment that need ho added here is that the Sultan Osman 1. is now a British Dreadnought.