LORD BERESFORD INTERVIEWED.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14195, 6 June 1916, Page 5

LORD BERESFORD INTERVIEWED.

A TRIUMPHANT VICTORY

NAVAL TRADITIONS NEVER

BETTER EXEMPLIFIED

NOT A MISTAKE MADE,

(Received June 5, 9.20 p.m.)

, London,: June 5. The "Daily Chronicle" interviewed Lord Beresford, who said: "I cannot understand how anybody can regard the battle with any feeling but one of pride and gratitude, however much we deplore the loss of gallant' men, fine officers, and ships. It was a triumphant victory. The traditions of the Navy have never been better exemplified. The first communique spread the idea that we had had a reverse, but it was followed by statements showing that we had beaten the German battle fleet, which had been brought into action in the North Sea, and after a severe prolonged engagement had been driven bade into its ports."

Lord Beresford declared that it was highly important that the Allies, neutrals, and the boys in the trenches should be properly informed of what their comrades in the Navy had achieved. ;

"There was not a mistake of any kind. Lacking Zeppelin scouts, the cruisers Avere compelled to go a long way ahead <of the Battle Fleet to get information regarding the enemy's formations., THe Germans' objective Avas to meet and defeat the British Fleet. It was indeed' 'The Day,' yet, meeting only a portion of our fleet, and after a big fight, they were forced to retreat to the place where their ships have been immured so long.

"Sir David Beatty, on discovering the enemy's strength, might have retired to port, but that is not the Navy's way. Sir David Beatty took risks, and he was perfectly justified in doing so; It was a magnificent thing, not only to make our line of communications pummel the German fleet, but fight it until the Battle Fleet arrived.

"The thickness of the weather explains the distance of the Battle Fleet behind the cruisers, which can afford to travel at full speed in a fog where the Battle Fleet would not be justified in doing the same.

"Experts who say Sir David Beatty made a technical error in engaging the fleet fail to realise the spirit of the Navy, namely, to attack the enemy whenever he is found. It is curious that the armchair critics have for months been clamouring for the Navy to do something, and now ith has done something very great they accuse it of having blundered.

"The action has utterly smashed the Gex*man plan of campaign in the Baltic. They have been disabled for some time, resulting in enormous assistance to the Russians, and again proving that the success of ourselves and the Allies depends entirely upon the British Fleet.

"The Navy repudiates the suggested reconstitution of the Admiralty, Avlule assisting in every way possible the Admiralty's present sound policy to leave everything to Sir v John Jellicoe."