13 MAY 1916, Page 3

In a letter to the Mayors of Lowestoft and Yarmouth,

published In the papers of Wednesday, Mr. Balfour makes the very interesting announcement that Sir John Jellicoe, without impairing his essential naval superiority over Germany, has been able to detach " important forces " for service in the southern regions of the North Sea. More- over, submarines and monitors are now available in growing numbers for coast defence. Mr. Balfour thinks that the last raid on the East Coast by German ships, and the bombardment lasting half-an-hour, were Germany's peculiar way of redeeming her pledge to support the Irish rebels. He adds : " Another raid on the coast of Norfolk (never a safe operation) will be henceforth far more perilous to the aggressors."