It is solely owing to our command of the sea that we have been able to build up our magnificent Empire.
Admiral Mahan’s most famous passage is:—
“The world has never seen a more impressive demonstration of the influence of Sea Power upon its history. Those far-distant, storm-beaten ships of Nelson, upon which the Grand Army never looked, stood between it and the dominion of the World.”
“Secrecy and Secretiveness.”
There are three types of Secrecy:—
| I. | The Ostrich. |
| II. | The Red Box. |
| III. | The Real Thing. |
I. The ostrich buries his head in the sand of the desert when pursued by his enemy, and because he can’t see the enemy concludes the enemy can’t see him! Such is the secrecy of the secretive and detestable habit which hides from our own officers what is known to the world in other Navies.
II. The secrecy of the Red Box is that of a distinguished Admiral who, with great pomp, used to have his red despatch box carried before him (like the umbrella of an African King), as containing the most secret plans; but one day, the box being unfortunately capsized and burst open, the only contents that fell out were copies of “La Vie Parisienne”!
Such, it is feared, was the secrecy of those wonderful detailed plans for war we hear of in the past as having been secreted in secret drawers, to be brought out “when the time comes,” and when no one has any time to study them, supposing, that is, they ever existed; and, remember, it is detailed attention to minutiæ and the consideration of trifles which spells success.
III. There is the legitimate secrecy and secretiveness of hiding from your dearest friend the moment and the nature of your rush at the enemy, and which of all the variety of operations you have previously practised with the Fleet you will bring into play! But all your Captains will instantly know your mind and intentions, for you will hoist the signal or spark the wireless message, Plan A, or Plan B ..., or Plan Z!