7 OCTOBER 1916, Page 2

In Wednesday's Times Lord Sydenham deals with some amazing statements

in regard to naval policy lately made by Mr. Churchill.

Here is Lord Sydenham's summary :—

" The lay mind,' ho [Mr. Churchill] tolls us, falls to understand that ` the action of the British Navy is essentially offensive and aggressive.' Nevertheless, we are bidden to rest satisfied with our silent attack on the vital interests of the enemy.' . . . No obligation of war obliges us to go further.' . . . There was no strategic cause' impelling us to quit our anchorages in order to fight off the Danish coast. What harm does it do us if the German Fleet takes a promenade at sea ' And when the British Fleet, in accordance with every tradition worthy of being cherished, seeks a general action, the principal reflection which ought ' to occur to our minds is : What a lot we must have in hand ! ' Nothing but ' the most conservative calculations of strength ' should induce us to accept ' the additional risks' of fighting at a distance from our bases and in enemy waters. Thus the battle of Jutland was simply an ` audacious' but unnecessary ' attempt to bring the enemy to action '—an attempt justified only because it could be regarded as safe."