Even these precautions were not such as to satisfy the urgent demands of the timid “better classes” in London, and a cry was raised for more troops. At this juncture, however, the Secret Service agents of the Government were sending in reports that negatived the possibility of reducing the military strength of outlying districts, and pointed to the paramount necessity of maintaining efficiency and vigilance at the naval ports and arsenals. It was beyond question that at this critical moment of domestic history there was a subtle shifting of international cards that was fraught with danger to the country. A revived Russia, it was well known, only waited an opportunity to wound or humiliate Great Britain. The German Emperor, while adroitly masking his real attitude, was believed to be anxious to test the metal of his strengthened navy. Against what country other than Great Britain could the ceaseless activity in the German dockyards be directed? Armoured cruisers, of about 15,000 tons; battleships of from 17,000 to 18,000 tons, with armour ever thicker and guns ever more powerful! All this increased tonnage, sanctioned under the German Navy Act of 1900, meant an expenditure of something like £800,000 upon a single battleship. In 1906, £12,000,000 had been expended on Kaiser William’s navy; in 1912, at this rate, German naval expenditure would have climbed to £16,000,000. And, in the interval, or after, what appalling test of strength and watchfulness might not be put upon the navy of Great Britain? France, though disposed to be friendly, was fettered by treaties with other Powers; and Japan, whose fleets were no longer confined to Eastern seas, was by some suspected of having a secret understanding with Russia, her former enemy, that involved ultimate designs upon Britain, her present ally. That alliance had not proved so advantageous to the youngest of the Great Powers as the Mikado’s government had expected it to be. The shilly-shallying of successive British ministers had at last disgusted the Japanese. Those hardy, patient, and self-controlled Eastern islanders, steadily increasing their marvellous powers, while the islanders of the West were showing marked signs of physical and moral deterioration, had no intention of submitting to a one-sided international bargain. Japan knew her own strength on the high seas, and now prepared to use it ultimately, anywhere and against all comers for her own advantage. Russia had not forgiven and never would forgive the disasters and defeats inflicted on her navy and her troops, but Russian revenge can bide its time. Meanwhile there were grudges of far older standing against Great Britain, and if, while the treaty of peace with Japan held good, the Japanese would help the new Czar to inflict an indirect injury on England, it was fairly certain that any opportunity would be eagerly seized.