BRITISH NAVY STILL SUPREME

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXX, Issue 14581, 5 June 1916, Page 6

BRITISH NAVY STILL SUPREME

LONDON. Saturday

Tho "Daily Telegraph" states that the North Sea engagement apparently took place under conditions favourable to the enemy. The assertion that tho enemy fought against superior forces is not borne out by the Admiralty announcement, and may be dismissed as an invention put into circulation in order to minister satisfaction to the German public. "We are poorer by tit" loss of precious lives valuable ships," says the paper, "but we must, guard against undue pessimism. The battle licet remains to-day in all its magnificent power. Nothing bus occurred to affect in any 'degree the held one navy lias exercised for two years upon the ocean and the eomtnuuications of the world.

The "Daily Chronicle states that apparently the battle cr/iser squadron was steaming north-west of Schleswig. when it encountered a greatly superior German force, and was badly mauled before tho ships of the British grand lleet arrived. "Possibly the idea was for t lie cruiser squadron to entice the enemy to engage them until the nattleships'arrived," adds the paper. "Unhappily the Germans we c content with tho damage done, and r-t.'-ed back to

port. We fear that th-i policy is directly traceable to the intluence of the civil alarm on the British East Goast, where a demand was made by some ("notional people for the lleet to do something spectacular. Mr Cal four loreshadowed a change of uav.il policy in a letter to the Mayors, cabled on May L»th. Nothing but harm will result when naval strategy aud tactics aro overborne by civilians craving for the spectacular/ Admiral Jellicoe. must be left untrammelled to make his rwn plats.''