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Show AMERICA'S ML I AID MOST VALUABLE British Expert Acknowledges Acknowl-edges Debt Owed to Efficient Effi-cient Yankee Tars. IiONDON, May H. American naval aid has been of the greatest help to the British Brit-ish fleet, says Arc hi bold Hurd, the naval expert, writing in the Daily Telegraph on the new situation in the North sea resulting from the Zeebrugge and Ostend raids, the extension of British mine fields and the generally Increasing naval pressure pres-sure against Germany. "When the war is over," he says, "the nation will form some conception of the extent of the debt which we owe the American navy for the manner In which it has co-operated, not only in connection with the convoy system, but in fighting the submarines. "If the naval posititon is improving today, to-day, as it is, it is due to the fact that the British and American fleets are working work-ing In closest accord, supported by an Immense body of skilled workers on both sides of trie Atlantic, who are turning out destroyers and other craft for dealing with the submarines, as well as mines and bombs. "The Germans can have a battle whenever when-ever they want it. The strength of the grand fleet has been well maintained. Some of the finest battleships of the United States navy aro now associated with it. They are not only splendid fighting ships, but they are well officered and manned. "If Admiral Beatty were asked his opinion, there is no doubt of what he would say of the value of the aid which the United States has given In this respect. re-spect. The conditions under which the Germans would engage us, therefore, are less favorable to them than two years ago." |