Flag and Fleet: How the British Navy Won the Freedom of the SeasWood, William
History
Flag and Fleet: How the British Navy Won the Freedom of the Seas
Wood, William
Great Britain -- History, Naval; Sea-power
_The News_. Very different was the plight of the flying Germans, who
lost more ships than the British (eighteen, and perhaps six more, to
fourteen British) and who left the field for good and all. But Germany
sorely needed a victory just then. So the Kaiser proclaimed one, and
all the German papers echoed his words. The German lie got two days
start of the British truth, and was eagerly repeated by every one who
hated the British or Allies. On the other hand, the British Government
simply said that there had been a battle and that fourteen British
ships were down. They shrank from proclaiming the victory, because
they thought that most people, knowing nothing of modern naval war and
making no allowance for the weather and other German advantages, would
not believe in a victory which let any of the German ships escape. And
so the lie went round the world much faster than the truth. Yet it was
only believed by those who wanted to believe it. Even some Italian
mountaineers who had never seen a ship said, "That's a lie," when
Italian traitors told them the Grand Fleet had been sunk.
After waiting a month to examine the whole case thoroughly the Board of
Admiralty, which has always been most sparing in its praise, wrote
Jellicoe an official letter, saying that "the Grand Fleet has known
both how to study the new problems and how to turn the knowledge to
account. The expectations of the country were high. They have been
well fulfilled. My Lords (the Members of the Board) desire to convey
to you their full approval of your proceedings in this action."
What Jellicoe himself thought of those who fought so well under his
inspiring leadership cannot be said better than in his own words. "The
conduct of officers and men throughout the day and night actions was
entirely beyond praise. No words of mine could do them justice. On
all sides it is reported to me that the glorious traditions of the past
were worthily upheld. Officers and men were cool and determined, with
a cheeriness that would have carried them through anything. The
heroism of the wounded was the admiration of all. I cannot express the
pride with which the spirit of the Grand Fleet filled me."
_Results_. Jutland taught the German Navy what every one should have
known before: that whenever tyrants have tried to lord it over all the
world they have always had to reckon with the British Navy first, and
that this Navy has never failed to lay them low. More things were
wrought by Jutland than the British Empire thinks, and more, far more,
than other people, for lack of knowledge, can imagine. There was a
regular, unbreakable chain of cause and effect, and Jutland was the
central link.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account