FOOTNOTES
[1] “This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark.”—Phil. iii. 13, 14.
[2] Sir Julian Corbett, the author of the wonderful “Seven Years’ War,” wrote to me in past vituperative years as follows:
“Yesterday I was asked if it were really true that you (Sir John Fisher) had sold the country to Germany! I was able to assure the questioner that the report was at least exaggerated. It is often my fortune to be able to quiet minds that have been seriously disturbed by the unprecedented slanders that have been the reward of your unprecedented work.”
[3] See [letters] at end of this chapter.
[4] On hearing of von Tirpitz’s dismissal I perpetrated the following letter, which a newspaper contrived to print in one of its editions. I can’t say why, but it didn’t appear any more, nor was it copied by any other paper!
Dear Old Tirps,
We are both in the same boat! What a time we’ve been colleagues, old boy! However, we did you in the eye over the Battle Cruisers and I know you’ve said you’ll never forgive me for it when bang went the “Blucher” and von Spee and all his host!
Cheer up, old chap! Say “Resurgam”! You’re the one German sailor who understands War! Kill your enemy without being killed yourself. I don’t blame you for the submarine business. I’d have done the same myself, only our idiots in England wouldn’t believe it when I told ’em!
Well! So long!
Yours till hell freezes,
Fisher.
29/3/16.
I say! Are you sure if you had tripped out with your whole High Sea Fleet before the Russian ice thawed and brought over those half-a-million soldiers from Hamburg to frighten our old women that you could have got back un-Jellicoed?
R.S.V.P.
[5] “A Naval Lieutenant, 1914–1918,” by Etienne, 1919, pp. 48 et seq.
[6] Note.—These are the names of the three first great Battle Cruisers of the Dreadnought type.
[7] On January 2, 1915, Russia asked for a demonstration against the Turks in order to relieve the pressure they were putting on the Russian forces in the Caucasus. Next day the War Office cabled a promise, through the Foreign Office, that this should be done. Before he sent the cable Lord Kitchener wrote to Mr. Churchill: “The only place that a demonstration might have some effect in stopping reinforcements going East would be the Dardanelles.”
[8] “The dramatic scene which followed may one day furnish material for the greatest historical picture of the war. Lord Fisher sat and listened to the men who knew nothing about it and heard one after another pass opinion in favour of a venture to which he was opposed. He rose abruptly from the table and made as if to leave the room.
“The tall figure of Lord Kitchener rose and followed him. The two stood by the window for some time in conversation and then both took their seats again. In Lord Fisher’s own words: ‘I reluctantly gave in to Lord Kitchener and resumed my seat.’
“Mr. Asquith saw that drama enacted, and Mr. Asquith knew that it arose out of Lord Fisher’s opposition to the scheme under discussion. But he allowed his colleagues on the Council to reach their conclusions without drawing from the expert his opinion for their guidance. The monstrous decision was therefore taken without it. But they all knew it—such a scene could not occur without everyone knowing the cause.”
[9] It must be emphasised here, as well as in regard to Lord Kitchener’s statement to the War Council dated May 14th, 1915, that Lord Fisher considered that it would be both improper and unseemly for him to enter into an altercation either at the War Council or elsewhere with his chief Mr. Churchill, the First Lord. Silence or resignation was the right course.
[10] This was the Armada of 612 vessels authorised by Mr. Lloyd George as Chancellor of the Exchequer.
[11] At my entreaty a far better man went, Admiral Sir Reginald Henderson, G.C.B. He is a splendid seaman and he devised a splendid scheme.
[12] This was written in December, 1908, and our Fleet and ships were always dogged in the war by them.
[13] There are statues of Franklin and of Robert Falconer Scott in Waterloo Place; but neither of these displayed his heroism in naval action. They were each peaceable seekers—but what on earth good accrues from going to the North and South Poles I never could understand—no one is going there when they can go to Monte Carlo!
[14] In the following selections, words between square brackets are not part of the original letters.
[15] N.B.—These very motor boats here described sank two battleships of the Bolshevists only the other day. See [Chapter IV.—F. 21/9/19].
[16] Then after this came the 15-inch gun; then the 18-inch gun, actually used at sea in the War; and then the 20-inch gun, ready to be built and go into the “Incomparable” of 40,000 tons and 40 knots speed, on May 22nd, 1915—F. 21/9/19.
[17] “The New Teaching,” edited by John Adams. Hodder and Stoughton.
[18] This shows how badly advised the Navy was by the India Office, as under 3 feet was vital, and the order was given accordingly.
[19] Eighteen days going through Departments.
[20] Mr. Yarrow had technical charge of the whole business and was the sole designer—and there was no paper work whatever.
[21] All this action on the same day.
[22] All the rest of the required action taken in 4 days.