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Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16448, 29 May 1919, Page 2

The extraordinary outburst of enthusiasm exhibited in Scotland and England over the return of the aviators Hawker and Grieve is first and foremost an appreciation of the daring and adventurous spirit displayed by them in attempting the feat of crossing the Atlantic in a flying machine, a feat the possibility of which has only within the last year or two been contemplated even by enthusiasts in aviation. To some extent it was perhaps due to a sudden and somewhat violent reaction from the feeling of regret and sympathy with misfortunes that arose when it was believed that the intrepid adventurers had lost their lives when on the very threshold of success. Hawker and Grieve failed in their great object to fly from America to England, but they have demonstrated that the feat can be accomplished. Failure was due only to a mechanical difficulty, which can easily he. overcome. No doubt, too, the demonstration was to some extent an outburst of international rivalry. American aviators had engaged in a similar adventure to cross the Atlantic and naturally there was intensely keen competition for the honour of being the first to accomplish the feat. Hawker and Grieve, undertook the greater risk. While tho Americans planned to do the journey in stages, Hawker decided to attempt it in a single flight and in his eagerness perhaps took a risk of the weather conditions which bis more prudent rivals sought to avoid. The fates were against him ; for an American seaplane has actually reached Lisbon after calling at the Azores. Therefore while the latter has the credit of Jicing Bio first to cross the Atlantic, this fact does not detract from the glory of Hawker’s effort, for his was tho more sporting adventure and he has demonstrated, at least to his own satisfaciton, that it is possible to make a nonstop fly from America to England. Ho will try again and with ordinary luck will succeed, but neither he nor any other flyer can expect to be received with greater enthusiasm than has just been shown.

In a speech in Australia Lord JeUicoe threw some light on the hard task that ■ faced tho British Navy during tho war. The Germans had three methods of offence against the navy and mercantile marine of Britain— and other fleet units, submarines and raiders. The first of those never gave any great anxiety, because it was confidently felt that the British Navy would wnn in a sea fight. But the German High Sea Fleet never risked a contest, and when Admiral Beatty forced a battle off Jutland the only desire of the Germans was to get back to harbour. Tho submarines were altogether a different matter and the Admiral said that, had they been manned by men with the initiative of British sailors, the British mercantile fleet would have been wiped out. As it was Britain lost 7,000,000 tons of shipping out of a pre-war total of 21,000,000 tons. The fact is that, against ruthless German methods, no suitable reply had been discovered to the submarine at the beginning of the war, and Germany had a clear field for many months. The raider was also a very difficult problem, as was seen .in the case of the Emden and the two or three other - vessels which managed to get through the blockade. We have no information as to how many raiders were stopped, but Lord JeUicoe said that it would have been easy for Germany to have sent out a hundred. It is obvious that the British Empire must bo able to keep her communications open, and it cannot ho doubted that in an s future war .the enemy wiU make

desperate efforts to interfere with the transit of men, food and material from one part of mu - Empire to another. The navy must therefore be maintained at the necessary strength regardless of cost. New Zealand must take her share in this work, not by paying a contribution in money, but by providing men and ships ready, as our soldiers were, to take their places at the side of their fellows from a 1! parts of the Empire.