A news item dated 14 February reported that vice admiral lord Charles Beresford (1) refused to take over the command of the Channel Fleet when the proposed strength of 14 battleships and 4 protected and 3 unprotected cruisers was accepted. He only want to be responsible for the defence of the British waters when he got a fleet of sufficient strength and practiced in peace time under his command.
Note
1. Charles William de la Poer Beresford, 1st Baron Beresford (10 February 1846-6 September 1919), also member of the parliament and who was opponent of sir John Fisher the British naval architect. Beresford was between 1902 and 1903 member of the Parliament when he was promoted to admiral and when he take over the command of the Channel Fleet. Between 1905 and 1907 he commanded the Mediterranean fleet. One of his captain namely David Beatty said later that when Beresford commanded the fleet there were two things noticeable namely rigid training and discouraging of every initiative.
