Q. And are not the ships considerably undermanned and some of the companies of inferior material?
A. Quite so. In fact, when there is a special strain—manœuvres on a large scale, or for a kindred reason—crews have to be obtained from here, there, and everywhere.
Q. And is it not quite a question whether some dozen of our first-rate men-of-war are practically valueless?
A. Well, scarcely a question, because it is all but certain that they are practically valueless.
Q. And isn't there bullying in the Britannia, and a general laxity in the training of young officers to take important commands?
A. Yes, but this is a matter of small importance, as all naval officers are merely machines, and have no right to think or act on their own responsibility.
Q. And does not a commander-in-chief sometimes make a grave and obvious mistake, and do not all his subordinates, knowing the consequences, implicitly obey him?
A. Of course, for this is the rule of the service.
Q. And is it not a fact that the navy is in want of the appliances to repair ships that have suffered damage abroad?
A. Assuredly.