But one thing perhaps they had not foreseen—that by a
combination of mishaps in the first reporting of the battle, the
great action, which has really demonstrated, once and for all,
the invincible supremacy of Great Britain at sea, which has
reduced the German Fleet to months of impotence, put the
invasion of these islands finally out of the question, and
enabled the British blockade to be drawn round Germany with a
yet closer and sterner hand, was made to appear, in the first
announcements of it, almost a defeat. The news of our losses—our
heavy losses—came first—came almost alone. The Admiralty, with
the stern conscience of the British official mind, announced
them as they came in—bluntly—with little or no qualification. A
shock of alarm went through England! For what had we paid so
sore a price? Was the return adequate, and not only to our
safety, but to our prestige? There were a few hours when both
Great Britain—outside the handful of men who knew—and her
friends throughout the world, hung on the answer.