THE SILENT NAVY'S GRIP.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1916, Page 4

THE SILENT NAVY'S GRIP.

SLOWLY CHOKING THE ENEMY. Fred T. Jane, the naval writer, contributes to 'the Sunday Pictorial an article praising the work done by the British Navy since the beginning of die war. While Mr. Jane docs not believe that the Allies will ever march into Berlin, he is convinced that an "invisible invasion" is being carried out day by day by the British Navy, and that the effects are being felt more and more by Germany. Extracts from Mr. Jane's article follow:

"Many years ago the Kaiser declaimed that Germany's future lay on the water. It does, and a very black future it is!

"On land the Kaiser has parried every blow. He has conquered Belgium, portion of Russia, and is now busy exterminating Servia. No hostile army has done more than here and there check hia victorious advance. Yet on the throat of the German Empire an invisible hand, slowly throttling it to death—the hand of the British Navy! But for the British Navy the Kaiser would by now be Emperor of Europe and possibly of most of the rest of the world.

"Years ago he saw the shadow across his path,.the one possible obstacle to his dreams. That is why any public man in the past who declared that the British navy was too big could draw practically unlimited German gold for the asking. Not directly, of course, for the Kaiser is no fool. GERMANY'S CHIEF OBSTACLE.

"As often as nob, perhaps, the 'Little Navyite' apostle knew not why he prospered in business, and regarded it merely as a coincidence that he eartied enough to enable him to expound his peculiar views. The fact remains that no "Little Navyite' was ever hard up. It was the Kaiser's answer to the one danger that he foresaw.

"His answer failed beeause bodies like the Navy League flogged up public opinion and kept the British Navy up to strength, and so insured the defeat of Germany before ever a shot was fired. ■ With the first shot came the invisible invasion of Germany—an intangible pressure against which millions of German soldier,a are of no avail. So invisible was the invasion that the Germans felt it long before they understood; so silent and invisible also was it tlTat we, too, as a nation, found it difficult to see and understand. There have been no Trafalgars. There have been no sea fights save a few small skirmishes. But these have been merely milestones on the road of the great invasion. "One by one and without much delay, all German oversea possessions were captured. Germany attempted to distract attention with a commerce war.

"For a while the promised success—the British Navy was busy destroying the 'earths,' before it bothered about chasing the vermin which issued therefrom. That accomplished, the rest was easy. And so Germany was isolated and the invisible invasion was made complete. Exactly how complete we can as yet only dimly guess. But since all private copper ornaments and utensils have been requisitioned to make up for a deficit in that article, we may reckon tha't the pressure is extremely severe. Especially is this so when we remember that Germany iB, in most ways, a self-supporting country. 'There are, however, certain things which Germany cannot produce at home —as, for example, cotton, copper, rubber, and, to a considerable extent, iron ore. For all these things she has an urgent need. She requires them for her war material, and, deprived of them, she must eventually find herself in exactly the same position as she would if allied troops occupied nil her munition works. Or a worse position, shall we say?"

DISTANT BUT EFFECTIVE. "Hostile invading soldiery in possession of Krupp's great works at Essen might be driven out again—at any rate, there would always be that hope. But what soldier, shout 'Hoeli der Kaiser!' or 'Deutsehland über alles!' as he may can reach the enemy who strikes him deadly blows from SOO miles away? 'He can bellow 'Gott strafe England!' as lie will; but of what avail! Far away out at sea —'somewhere' —lies the British fleet. If his own ships go out to meet lit their destruction is certain. It is ! more certain now than it was twelve months or so ago. 'Twelve months or so ago the German j fleet was in a state of high effciency, due jto long practice at sea. Only at sea can a sailor be kept in training. If allowed ashore, love and liquor appeal to him more than battle or bloodshed. If kept on board in harbour lie grows flatter still, and as like as not more or less mnnitinoils. In any ease he realises, and has plenty of time to realise, that Kis superior officers keep him inside recause they fear death outside. And he, iloo, learns to fear it. And the longer he hides in safety the more he comes to fear the ordeal of battle. "This is no mere 'theory.' Even and always the sailor who acted on 'the defensive and kept in harbour has been defeated when driven to oome out and try conclusions with his offensive adversary.

"There is small chance that the Allies will ever march into Berlin. But the 'invisible invasion' is there already. The British Navy is making its hand felt from the far away. "Germany. flourished on her export trade. That we have killed. She has to fight on wliat she can import. These imports the British Navy Is strangling, and will go ou strangling. The storm-tossed , sailors of Jejjieoe are doing their job "