First Sea Lord.
Naval Secretary.
October 28, 1914.
Please propose without delay the largest possible programme of submarine boats to be delivered in from 12 to 24 months from the present time. You should assume for this purpose that you have control of all sources of manufacture required for submarines, that there is no objection to using Vickers’ drawings, and that steam engines may be used to supplement oil engines. You should exert every effort of ingenuity and organisation to secure the utmost possible delivery. As soon as your proposals are ready, which should be in the next few days, they can be considered at a conference of the Sea Lords. The Cabinet must be satisfied that the absolute maximum output is being worked to in submarines. We may be sure that Germany is doing this. Third Sea Lord’s department must therefore act with the utmost vigour, and not be deterred by the kind of difficulties which hamper action in time of peace.
W. S. C.
Secretary.
First Sea Lord.
Third Sea Lord.
October 30, 1914.
More important than the deliveries of battleships is the acceleration of light cruisers and submarines. With regard to light cruisers, it ought not to take more than one year to construct Castor, Inconstant, Cambria and Canterbury. What is the present position of these ships? Have they been begun yet? Proposals should be made which secure their delivery before the end of 1915.