Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1898-11-19
BRITAIN's SEA FORCE
WHAT ENGLAND CAN DO IN CASE OF
AN EMERGENCY.

Marked success IN Ikopa1hAsstAVA~ %
the Defenses-Navy's Great Reserve
of Coal.
The bristling energy of the British
admiralty seems to have behind it some
thing more than the complications
which made the Fashoda incident its
initial excuse. The activity of dock
wards and arsepals, the mobilization OF
battleships, cruisers and torpedo boats,
and the stand by" orders issued to tho
unemployed personnel, must mean the
preparation for an emergency greater
than now stands revealed.
At no time within the last two years
has the active fleet of the empire been
unequal to any demands that could be
made upon it by the first shock Of
conflict with France single handed.
Under the 1.-TWO power theory" which
has kept England's naval strength su-
perior to that of any two of the other
great sea powers, her fighting squadrons
have been more than equal to what
France or Russia alone could array
From either she has nothing to fear,
nor need her preparations take on any
unwonted activity. If, however, COM
bination has been formed and the pres
ent settlement of the Marchand Ques-
ton is only preliminary to the re-
opening of the whole Egyptian Ques-
ton, in which France is said to have
the support of Russia, or If the claims
Of Russia in the east are to be given the
active support of France, then the mob
ilization of men and material may be
understood.
Within a few years Great Britain has
demonstrated her enormous naval pos
sibilities. The jubilee review was the
most marvellous parade of transferable
force the world has ever known, and
when the ease with which her late port
guard squadron was assembled is re-
membered the present orders for mob
iIizatiop must be accepted more as
proof of her immediate readiness than
as measure of her resources.
The orders so far given provide for
the assemblage at Davenport of seven
battleships and one cruiser; to supple
ment these, six 80 knot torpedo boat
destroyers are to be commissioned, and
all the battleshipS and cruisers at
Portsmouth are taking full crews. This
last is so distinctly war measure that
its meaning is most pregnant, and when
its significance is fortified by orders
lust issued to send home from the chan
mel squadron, now ut Gibraltar, large
number of the feet sjgnalmen, little
doubt remains that the admiralty is
preparing to commission not only many
vessels in reserve, but probably some Of
the auxiliary cruisers.
The dockyards at Portsmouth. Dew
onport and Chatham are working day
and night; the Woolwich arsenal is
energizing its possible output; over
time has been ordered on new cruisers,
like the Europa and Andromeda, and
ut Dover, among other reported places,
all experimental mobilization Of the de-,
fences mas been carried out with mark
ed success.
The postponement of naval lnaneuvers
this year leaves England with a great
reserve of coal. and though many ex-
cuses were offered for this unusual de-
parture in feet instruction it is under
stood that the authorities have felt that
something more real than the uaneuvers
of a and B squadrons might at any mo-
ment. from complications in the Vel
low sea and in the Mediterranean, de-
mand prudence of expenditure in this
life of the ship" Luckily the British
feet need not suffer from fuel famine.
The most recent experiences of Eng
land in naval war preparations were the
results of Misunderstanding with Ger
many on the Transvaal question, which
followed closely upon the idle threat
made in moment of hot patriotism
and misguided wisdom. 1t may be we'll
to recall it. quoting the words Of an
American naval officer:
"When, under the shock Of dis
turbed diplomacy" he writes. Eng
land was called upon to employ flying
squadron needing 5000 men and to
commission other vessels requiring
2, 500 men the high possibilities of her
system were revealed. The flying squad
ron was ready for war service in few
days-surely i'll less than week-and
the other ships were quickly and eff
GENTLY organized for any sudden order.
Notwithstanding this sudden de
mand the admiralty had no difficulty in
maintaining at their efficient strength
the crews CT the fleet reserve and of the
dockyard reserve ships i'll the home
ports. In addition, thousands of men
undergoing gunnery and torpedo in
struction were in no way interfered
with and enough men were available at
the general depots to commission at
short notice three first class battleships
end four first class or six second class
cruisers.
"Nor was it found necessary to re-
duce the strength Of the British foreign
squadrcns to attain at home this salts
factory state CT affairs, for, Lesides tie
fact that tie squaGrons on their respec-
tive stations We're stronger in ships and
mon t!an they bad ever been before,
there was an unprecedented number OF
vessels Lou.eward boGnd. New York
Herald
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