LATE WAR NEWS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144671, 4 May 1915, Page 7

LATE WAR NEWS.

ROLL OF HOUOUR, PEE PRESS ASSOCIATION. . CHRISTCHURCH, May 4. Lient.-Colonel Stewart, who is reported as killed, was tha son of the lato Dr. M’Boan Stewart, of Ashburton. He was one of the smartest and most accomplished territorial officers. On the formation of the Canterbury Highland Rifles he became lieutenant, and the following year captain. tie was n born leader, and at manoeuvres showed himself an officer of superior attain monks. Lieutenant Fitch, aged 26, served as sergeant in the Christ College Rifles. AUCKLAND; May 4. Lieutenant Edmund Robinson _ "Wilson, who is reported as killed in action, was an ex-Aucklander who joined the Masterton detachment of the field artillery. Lieutenant H. E. C. Furhy was in the employment of Mr. Newton King at Stratford, He was a very keen officer in the local territorials, and on the outbreak of war was accepted for active service with the main expeditionary force, being posted to tiro J’tuahiuc regiment. BRITAIN’S SEA POWER. There is a depressing tone about the writing of Captain Poisins, the wellknown German naval expert, who, in the Berliner Tagcblatt, describes the relative strength of the Biitish and German Fleets. After referring to the absurdity of reports that the British Navy has suffered enormous, losses, he says:—“Wo have, confidence that our fleet will keep the enemy, as heretofore, away from onr coasts, and will damage him by means of submarines and mines, but it would )>e misconceiving and underestimating the task "f our fleet to speak now of a substantial weakening of British sea power.’’ Captain Pepsins then described the strength of the British and German fleets in terms of tonnage and weigh'tref broadsides, and adds:—“These figures should suffice to show in its tnio'lipht the mighty material superiority of the British Fleet. Even if "wo have inflicted many and noteworthy losses on our enemy. tl)is has little significance in view of our relative total strengths and the increase which may be expected. Of course, we, too, can trust that the feverish activity of our shipyards will every month bring us reinforcements to onr material, hilt this reinforcement ran byno means be as great as that of England. Before the war tho viewy prevailed, which we in this journal always opposed, that England would suffer from a lack of men fnr her fleet. The error of this view has now been incontestably proved. It is, _ therefore, manifest that we must refrain from estimating too highly the losses of our enemy or from appraising his strength inadequately. ’’