Finally comes the announcement that H.M.S. ' Dartmouth ' on
her way home was struck by a torpedo from an enemy submarine, but happily not sunk. She returned to port with three men killed, one officer and four men missing and seven wounded. That is a disagreeable event, and shows once again that the dangers of passivity are often as great as, if not greater than, the dangers of action. If the craft had been attacking something or engaged in active work, what a hullaballoo there would have been as to the folly of using our incomparable ships and our gallant men upon impossible adventures. But though we feel this, we have no sympathy, but very much the reverse, with the people who arc now howling for somebody's blood because there has been a misfortune at sea. Such misfortunes are bound to come, and must be borne, and we are sure will be borne, by the British people with perfect equanimity if they arc not taught by false guides to believe that you can carry on a maritime war on excursion-steamer principles.
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