As regards the naval position in home waters, there is
little to report except that the vigilance of our patrols is as great as ever. The dread of the submarines, which has become some- what acute of late on shore, is largely a landsman's dread. In the Fleet the submarine danger has found its true propor- tions. The enemy's submarines no doubt have discharged, are discharging, and will discharge a very great number of torpedoes, but we must never forget that the number of hits scored by them has been by no means large. While our big ships are steaming fast the danger from these slowly moving engines of destruction is not great. It is only when the sub- marine can take a "sitting" shot that she becomes really dangerous. The submarines' real chance would be against a large flotilla of transports stationary and discharging an invading army. That is the sort of mark which the submarine torpedoes could not miss. These considerations are not affected by the regrettable news of the sinking of the 'Hawke' which reaches us as we go to press.
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