Transcriber’ Notes: Text printed as blackletter, italics, underlined, or boldface have been transcribed as ^text^, _text_, ~text~, and =text=, respectively. Small capitals have been replaced by all capitals; ^{txt} represents superscript text. More Transcriber’s Notes and a list of changes made may be found at the end of this document. ^The Daily Telegraph^ WAR BOOKS THE FLEETS AT WAR ^The Daily Telegraph^ WAR BOOKS CLOTH 1/- NET. ~VOL. I. (3rd Enormous Edition.)~ _HOW THE WAR BEGAN_ _By W. L. COURTNEY, LL.D., and J. M. KENNEDY_ Is Britain’s justification before the Bar of History. ~VOL. II.~ _THE FLEETS AT WAR_ _By ARCHIBALD HURD_, The key book to the understanding of the NAVAL situation ~VOL. III.~ _THE CAMPAIGN OF SEDAN_ _By GEORGE HOOPER_ The key book to the MILITARY situation. ~VOL. IV.~ _THE CAMPAIGN ROUND LIEGE_ ¶ Describes in wonderful detail the heroic defence of Liege, and shows how the gallant army of Belgium has upset and altered the whole plan of advance as devised by the Kaiser and his War Council. [Illustration: _Photo: Speaight, Ltd._ =ADMIRAL SIR JOHN JELLICOE.= Supreme Admiral, British Home Fleet.] THE FLEETS AT WAR BY ARCHIBALD HURD Author of “Command of the Sea,” “Naval Efficiency,” “German Sea Power: Its Rise, Progress, and Economic Basis” (part author), etc. HODDER AND STOUGHTON LONDON NEW YORK TORONTO MCMXIV PREFACE It is hoped that this volume will prove of permanent value as presenting a conspectus of the great navies engaged in war when hostilities opened, and in particular of the events of singular significance in the naval contest between Great Britain and Germany which occurred in the years immediately preceding the war. Grateful acknowledgment is made to Mr. H. C. Bywater for valuable assistance in preparing this volume. A. H. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE INTRODUCTION--THE OPENING PHASE 9 I. THE RELATIVE STANDING OF THE BRITISH AND GERMAN FLEETS 49 II. THE BRITISH NAVY 54 III. THE GERMAN NAVY 101 IV. ADMIRAL JELLICOE 131 V. OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE BRITISH NAVY 137 VI. THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE GERMAN FLEET 141 VII. OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE FOREIGN NAVIES 147 VIII. GERMAN NAVAL BASES 151 IX. THE KIEL CANAL 161 X. THE GREAT FLEETS ENGAGED: TABULAR STATEMENT 168 [Illustration: Map of North Sea.] INTRODUCTION THE OPENING PHASE PEACEFUL VICTORIES OF BRITISH SEA POWER