Transcriber’s Note: Italics are enclosed in _underscores_. Superscripts are represented in the forms ^Y or ^{TH}. Additional notes will be found near the end of this ebook. [Illustration: ADMIRAL VISCOUNT JELLICOE OF SCAPA, G.C.B., O.M., G.C.V.O. ] THE GRAND FLEET 1914–1916 ITS CREATION, DEVELOPMENT AND WORK BY ADMIRAL VISCOUNT JELLICOE OF SCAPA G.C.B., O.M., G.C.V.O. WITH ILLUSTRATIONS, PLANS AND DIAGRAMS [Illustration] NEW YORK GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY COPYRIGHT, 1919, BY GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO MY COMRADES OF THE GRAND FLEET PREFACE In the following pages the work of the Grand Fleet, from the outbreak of war until the end of November, 1916, is described. The writing of this record of the work of the Grand Fleet, of which little has been heard by the nation hitherto, has helped to fill in days of leisure. The manuscript was finished by the autumn of 1918, but publication was deferred for obvious reasons. When the armistice had been signed and the German Navy had, for all practical purposes, ceased to exist, I felt free to issue the book. The final revision has been done hastily owing to my early departure for the Dominions, and in the circumstances I hope I may rely on the indulgence of readers if any clerical errors have escaped me. In order to minimise the chances of such errors Mr. Archibald Hurd has kindly read the proofs, and I am much indebted to him. The narrative necessarily includes an account of the gradual organisation and development of the Grand Fleet, and its bases, by successive steps, after the hoisting of my flag on the outbreak of hostilities; and the manner in which the changing conditions of naval warfare were met is also dealt with. Admiral Mahan, amongst others, has truly said that whilst the _principles_ of naval strategy are unchangeable, experience in war and changes in the weapons with which war is waged may profoundly affect the _application_ of those principles. The truth of this statement was shown in the Russo-Japanese war; in the short interval between 1904 and 1914 further great advances took place in the technique of warfare; these produced a striking influence on strategy and tactics during the late war.