Because we cannot help seeing the humorous side of the
"great day " proclamation, just as, we are glad to say, have all our ports and shipowners from London to Liverpool, readers of the Spectator must not suppose that we think that nothing will happen. By an increased sowing of mines—for it is the mine rather than the submarine upon which the Germans are going to rely for their new acts of marine frightfulness—we shall very likely lose a considerable number of trading vessels, and, what is worse, a considerable number of gallant lives. The total results, however, on our commerce will be very small. A good deal of anxiety will be caused to merchant captains both of our own ships and of neutrals, and an extra strain cast upon our naval patrols, but that will be all. The main thing to remember is that there is really no change in the situation. The Germans have always tried to destroy as many of our ships as they possibly could, quite regardless whether they did or did not injure shipping under neutral flags. The fact that they have now proclaimed to the whole world that they are going to do it on a bigger scale means nothing except, perhaps, that they have a packet of new sub- marines ready for action, have manufactured a considerable number of new mines, and have made arrangements for these to be laid in the night off our coasts by ships in German pay
masquerading as neutral trawlers—and possibly also by certain of the new submarines.
