STARVATION STRUGGLE.

Marlborough Express, Volume LI, Issue 85, 12 April 1917, Page 2

STARVATION STRUGGLE.

TWO POWERS COMPARED

LONDON, April 2. Regarding the German claims in connection with the results of its' submarine policy, the well-known naval critic, Mr Gerard Fiennes, says: "Compare the results of the submarine campaign with our strong hold on Germany. Britain is an island, and unless goods are brought to our ports they cannot reach us. All that the Germans have to do is to prevent goods reaching our shores. They try to do their best to do so. Yet 2000 ships arrive each week. "Germany is a Continental State, and the ports of neutrals lie open to her. Yet . not a ship reaches a German port on the North Sea, and not'a ship sails thence. ■* ■ / "Our shores., lie tempting near the Kaiser's swarming soldiers. A successful blow *at .Britain would finish the war • victoriously for Germany. Yet not a German soldier has yet put to sea, while we mainfain an army of millions in Finance, and are driving the Turks headlong from Mesopotamia and Palestine.'' Mr Fiennes concludes by saying: "All this may be commonplace, but it is a commonplace easily forgotten and ' requiring frequent restatement.", . ■•■-..

The naval expert of the Daily Telegraph points out that while submarine piracy, is edejsigned to. stop all British trade immediately,"sticking at no inhumanity to effect its aim,, the British porfcs .-..-during., the •'blockade" had xbeen visited by 40,000 ships of all nationalities, excluding fishing vessels and local traders.-

He challenges Admiral yon Capelle to say how many submaiinesj costing £250,000 each, have not returned.