WORLD DOMINATION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 491, 6 September 1915, Page 11

WORLD DOMINATION.

THE AMBITION OF GERMANY. BBITISH FLEET THE SUREST PROTECTION. INTERESTING LETTER BY FIRST LORD OF ADMIRALTY.

By Cable. — Press Association. — Copyright.

(Received September 16, 1.5 p.m.) LONDON, September 5. The Right Hon. A. J. Balfour, in a letter to a correspondent, states that Germany first proclaimed her policy of building a fleet against Britain in 1900, and, from the standpoint of heiown ambitions, this policy was perfectly sound. She aimed at -world domination, against which the British Fleet had been the surest protection since; the days of Queen Elizabeth. The Germans have every reason to he aware of the fact : that, without the British Fleet, Frederick the Great must have succumbed to his enemies, while Prussia would scarcely have shaken off the Napoleonic tyranny. Whatever may be thought of the freedom of the seas, the freedom of the land is due in no small measure to the British tfavy. German statesmen were too wise to suppose that they could call a navy into existence immediately, able to contend, on equal " terms, with a Power which Was the most formidable obstacle to their aggressive projects, but they calculated that a powerful, though inferior, fleet would render Britain impotent, since the British Government would not dare to risk a conflict which, however might leave Britain's naval forces inferior -to that of a third Power. This policy was clearly, though cautiously, expressed in the famous preamble to £ne Navy Bill. So faiy the German designs had riot'met with any measure of success. The British fighting: fleet is relatively stronger than it was 13 months ago, and there is no reason to suppose that that progress Is likely to be arrested. . ' ':;-. It is' plain that Admiral von Tirpitz and the German Admiralty iiave arrived at the same conclusion. Wheii their- old policy broke down they had thought that submarines might succeed where Dreadnoughts and cruisers had - failed, and the change was adopted with extreme reluctance and many■ searchings of heart. The most reckless Government does not desire to perpetrate Unnecessary crimes, and we can only conjecture the feelings of the' German Navy. German sailors are gallant men, and do not .like being put on to a coward's job". . j We know well enough that in old days every privateersman would have thought himself disgraced if he sent unresisting, merchant ships to the bottom with all hands. It is not an agreeable reflection that the first notable performance of the German Fleet should resemble piracy rather than privateering. We may safely assume, that only hopes of decisive success induced the German Ministers to inflict a new stain on the ionour of their country. This decisive success has not been attained, and it does not • seem to be in sight. • . While the losses inflicted by German submarines are formidable, the British mercantile tonnage is greater than at the beginning of the war. It is true that many inoffensive persons, including women and Children,, neutrals'as well as-belligerents, have been robbed and killed, but the criminals have also paid a heavy toll. Some have been rescued, but the very nature of the submarines often drags their crews to destruction, and those who send them on their unhonoured mission await their return in vain.