CONTROL OF THE SEAS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XL, Issue 12541, 12 May 1915, Page 2

CONTROL OF THE SEAS.

"Germany's doom has been sounded; the Allies have answered her inhuman warfare with a. death-stroke. Not another ship shall roach Germany if we can help it, and I think we can."

This is the opening sentence of an interview given to the Paris correspondent of the United Press by M. Victor Augagneur, the French Minister of Marine. The .Minister said the ability of the English and Fiench Navies to meet the task before them was unquestioned. "But Grand Admiral von Tii-pilz says that Gcmiany will starve, out England," the correspondent suggested. "Just bluff," said M. Augagneur scornfully. "Germany is utterly unable to make good her threat. People say that Germany has secretly built many large submarines. 1 know better. I know, within two or three, exactly how .many she has, and neither England nor France is in the least way frightened, aed the outcome of the Avar will not be. changed one iota. The German threat to starve England by torpedoing merchantmen is of the same brand as the threats to destroy London and fan's witli Zeppelins."

"What is your Mediterranean fleet doing?" lie was asked. "Waiting for the enemy to pick up enough courage to show itself," was. the laughing reply. "Since the- beginning of the war our ships have been promenading the Mediterranean, sometimes challenging the enemy at his very door. But each time he sees us coming he turns tail and flees.

"We do not expect to open the Dardanelles without an effort, hut we will get through in good time.' Just how long that will be ] eaiiuot say,' because that depends upon many things. The hardest work will be from the middle of the Dardanelles to the Sea.of 3larmora. Or.co the fleet is through that it will be riercly a question of time, and comparatively little will remain to be accomplished." 31. Augagneur. summed -up by saying: "The Allies are fully satisfied with the trend of events in every theatre of the war."