Part 6 (1/2)

It has been stated that during this period Sir John Jellicoe would sometimes work for fifteen or sixteen hours a day, when business pressed. He never ”fussed” or gave the impression of ”rush,” and he neither worried nor drove his subordinates.

His words were few, but to the point. And he has never been known to make a request or give an order twice.

It was during the period Jellicoe began to carry on the good work Fisher had started at the Admiralty that the Emperor of Germany wrote a remarkable letter to the late Lord Tweedmouth, First Lord in 1908.

At the time it was declared by Tweedmouth to be confidential and purely personal, but the contents have at last become more or less public.

This letter, in the light of latter-day events, is particularly interesting. It was quoted for the first time by _The Morning Post_, and it throws a strong light on the Kaiser's real character. One can imagine the First Sea Lord of the Admiralty, Lord Fisher--whom the German Naval Party feared so keenly--describing it in his frank fas.h.i.+on as an infernal piece of bluff.

”During my last pleasant visit to your hospitable sh.o.r.es,” the Emperor wrote, ”I tried to make your authorities understand what the drift of the German Naval policy is. But I am afraid that my explanations have been misunderstood or not believed, because I see the 'German Danger'

and the 'German Challenge to British Naval Supremacy' constantly quoted in the different articles. This phrase, if not repudiated or corrected, sown broadcast over the country and daily dinned into British ears, might in the end create most deplorable results.

”It is absolutely nonsensical and untrue that the German Naval Bill is to provide a Navy meant as a 'challenge to British Naval Supremacy.'

The German Fleet is built against n.o.body at all. It is solely built for Germany's needs in relation with that country's rapidly growing trade.

”There is nothing surprising, secret or underhand in it, and every reader may study the whole course mapped out for the development of the German Navy with the greatest ease.”

After a long preamble on the subject of what England might do (from the Kaiser's point of view) with regard to her s.h.i.+pbuilding programme, the letter refers to a letter written and published by Lord Esher, in which the Emperor accuses him of misinterpreting Germany's feelings by alleging that ”every German from the Emperor down to the last man wished for the downfall of Sir John Fisher”:

”As far as regards German Affairs Naval,” the letter continues, ”the phrase is a piece of unmitigated balderdash, and has created an immense merriment in the circles of those 'who know' here. But I venture to think that such things ought not to be written by people who are high placed, as they are liable to hurt public feelings over here. Of course, I need not a.s.sure you that n.o.body here dreams of wis.h.i.+ng to influence Britain in the choice of those to whom she means to give the direction of her Navy, or to disturb them in the fulfilment of their n.o.ble task....

”I hope your Lords.h.i.+p will read these lines with kind consideration.

They are written by one who is an ardent admirer of your splendid Navy, who wishes it all success, and who hopes that its ensign may ever wave on the same side as the German Navy, and by one who is proud to wear the British Naval Uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet, which was conferred on him by the late Great Queen of blessed memory.

”Once more. The German Naval Bill is not aimed at England, and is not a challenge to British supremacy of the sea, which will remain unchallenged for generations to come.”

The German Emperor's ”generations to come” has resolved itself into less than six years.

CHAPTER VIII

VICE-ADMIRAL

Sir John Jellicoe hoisted his flag as Vice-Admiral commanding the Atlantic Fleet, in succession to His Serene Highness, Prince Louis of Battenberg, on December 27th, 1911, and on the tenth of January, 1912, the Fleet a.s.sembled at Dover for the first time under its new Commander-in-Chief.

There was a suggestion about this time that the Atlantic Fleet and the Home Fleet were to be amalgamated. The change that had already been made in the Atlantic Fleet in linking it to the Home Fleet for purposes of combined training did not mean that either command was to be absorbed in the other. The Atlantic Fleet was henceforth to be under the command of a Junior instead of a Senior Admiral, and it would cruise in Home waters.

Both Fleets would have their war training together and the policy of concentration in Home waters was thus carried out.

How fully this policy was justified events have fully proved. The Atlantic Fleet continued to use Gibraltar as its repairing base.

Admiral Jellicoe's first cruise with the Fleets was to Vigo, on the Spanish coast, where manoeuvres were carried out in conjunction with a portion of the Mediterranean Fleet.

These manoeuvres were carried out on a large scale. There was a Naval Review of the Fleets, at which King Alfonso was present.

Afterwards a mimic warfare was waged, the Home Fleet, under Admiral Sir W. H. May, representing the ”Red,” the Mediterranean and Atlantic Fleets under Admiral Sir E. S. Poe and Vice-Admiral Jellicoe, respectively, being the ”Blue.”

The princ.i.p.al ”action” took place at night, and Jellicoe manoeuvred his s.h.i.+ps so cleverly that they almost escaped a vastly superior force.