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  ^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

The declaration of war against Germany, followed as it was by similar
action against Austria-Hungary, was preceded by a sequence of events so
remarkable in their character that if any British writer had made any
such forecast in times of peace he would have been written down as a
romantic optimist.

Owing to a series of fortunate circumstances, the British Fleet--our
main line of defence and offence--was fully mobilised for war on the
morning before the day--August 4th at 11 p.m.--when war was declared by
this country, and we were enabled to enter upon the supreme contest in
our history with a sense of confidence which was communicated to all the
peoples of the British Empire. This feeling of assurance and courage
furnished the best possible augury for the future.

Within a fortnight of diplomatic relations being broken off with
Germany, and less than a week after Austria-Hungary by her acts had
declared her community of interest with her ally, the British Navy,
without firing a gun or sending a single torpedo hissing through the
