第59章

Are all the most recent twenty-seven battleships with the Channel fleet?""No; the Albion, the Ocean, and the Glory are in other waters.The twelve newest ironclads which your lordship mentioned are included in both Channel fleets; in addition, several older battleships, such as the Centurion, Royal Sovereign, and Empress of India are in the Channel.I may say with truth that both the Channel Squadrons are fully suited for the tasks before them.We have, besides, twenty-four ironclads of an older type, all of which are of excellent value in battle.""Among these older ironclads are there not many which are equipped with muzzle-loaders?""Yes, but a naval battle has yet to determine whether the general view that breechloaders are more serviceable in action is correct or not.In the case of quick-firing guns it is certain that the breechloader is alone the right construction; but in our heaviest guns, which have a bore of 30.5 centimetre, and require three to four minutes to load, the advantage of quick-firing is not apparent, for here everything depends upon accurate aim, so that the heavy projectile may hit the right place.For this purpose clever manoeuvring is everything.Moreover, the battles round Port Arthur show us the importance of the torpedo and the mine.The Russian fleet has met with its heaviest losses owing to the clever manoeuvring and the superior torpedo tactics of the Japanese.It looks as if in modern naval battles artillery would prove altogether inferior to mines, and here our superiority in submarines will soon show itself when we attack the fleets of Germany and France in their harbours.Only a naval engagement between our squadrons and those of the French and Germans can teach us the proper use of modern ships of war.And it will be a lesson, a proper lesson for those misguided people who dare expose themselves to the fire of a British broadside and the attack of our torpedo and submarine boats.Let the steel plating of the vessels be as it will, the best cuirass of Great Britain is the firm, true breast of Britons.""When I hear these explanations," the Colonial Minister interjected, "I cannot suppress the suspicion, that the whole plan of our naval strategy is rotten.""I beg you to give your reasons for your suspicion," the First Lord of the Admiralty replied, somewhat irritated.

"It has ever been said that England rules the waves.Now the war has been going on for a considerable time and I perceive nothing of our boasted supremacy.""How can you say so? Our enemies' commerce has been completely paralysed, while our own ships carry on their trade everywhere as freely as ever.""That may be the case, but by naval supremacy I mean something quite different.No naval victory has as yet been gained.The enemies' fleets are still undamaged: until they are annihilated there is always a danger that the war may take a turn prejudicial to us.Only the struggle on the open sea can decide the issue.If the English fleet is really supreme, she can force the enemies'

ships to a decisive action.Why do we not blockade the French and German fleets in their harbours, and compel them to give us battle?

Our guns carry three miles, we can attack our enemies in their harbours.What is the meaning of this division of our fleet into three squadrons? Our whole fleet ought to be concentrated in the Channel, in order to deal a crushing blow.""The right honourable gentleman forgets that a combination of our fleet would also entail the concentration of our enemies' fleets.

If we leave our position at Copenhagen, a strong Russian fleet will proceed from Cronstadt and join the German warships in the Baltic.

This united fleet could pass through the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal into the North Sea.England in its naval preparations has always adopted the 'two power standard,' and although we have aimed at the 'three power standard,' our resources in money and personnel are not capable of fitting out a naval force superior to the fleets of the now three allied Powers.All the same, our own prestige holds these three Powers so far in check that they dare not attack us on the open seas.Should we not be hazarding this prestige in provoking a naval battle without a definite chance of success?

This naval battle will take place, but the favourable moment must be carefully chosen.Considering the present state of the war, it would be in the highest degree frivolous to stake all upon one throw of the dice.Well, that is exactly what we should be doing were we to force on a naval conflict.If the attack failed, if our fleet suffered a defeat, England would be then exposed to the invasion of a Continental army.It is true that our fleet is weakened by being split up, but the same is also true of the fleets of our enemies, so that this apparent disadvantage is equalised.