Though Lord Fisher agreed to do his best, and though the members of the War Council accepted the plan with more or less enthusiasm, the ultimate decision was arrived at owing to Mr. Churchill’s insistence upon his own brilliant idea, and his resolve to attempt it even without military aid. The Commissioners remark that in this resolve he was carried away by his sanguine temperament and his firm belief in the success of the undertaking which he advocated.[51] They were probably right. But as evidence of the complexity in all natures--even in a character apparently so self-confident, impetuous, and sanguine--we may recall the passage in Mr. Churchill’s speech upon these events, where, after referring to “the doubts and the misgivings which arise in every breast when these great hazards of war are decided,” he went on to say: “No one who has not had to take these decisions can know how serious and painful are the stresses which search every man’s heart when he knows that an order is going to be given as a result of which great ships may be lost, great interests may be permanently ruined, and hundreds or even thousands of men may be sent to their last account.”[52] [Sidenote: A NAVAL EXPEDITION DECREED] If ever the heart of man was searched by serious and painful stress, it may well have been in that Council chamber of January 28, 1915. For then a decision was taken, and an order given, as a result of which great ships were lost, great interests permanently ruined, and thousands of men sent to their last account. CHAPTER III THE NAVAL ATTACKS