Earlier was in this newspaper all attention paid to what Lord Beresford (1) said regarding the protection of the merchant trade shipping and for which task the British Royal Navy was lacking enough cruisers especially when the enemy was using fast merchant ships as auxiliary cruisers. The Civil Lord of the Admiralty Lambert (2) doubted if there were merchant ships available abroad which were able to carry secretly guns and ammunition and immediately could serve as warships without first being fitted out in a harbour. But why worry, England possessed 102 merchant steam ships of more as 4,000 tons and a speed of more as 16 knots against the 17 of the Germany. And England possessed twice as much cruisers as Germany. The minister of navy McKenna (3) mentioned that England possessed nearly hundred unprotected cruisers and 34 protected cruisers with a speed of more as 20 knots. No other navy or even combined navies could match the number of cruisers in the British navy. And considered he auxiliary cruisers which while being at sea were taken into naval service and immediately were dangerous England didn’t accept the right of commissioning at sea and would take measures if this occurred. He refused to say what kind of measures. In any case British cruisers were soon there where the were needed while they were all ready spread over the sea routes. And auxiliary cruisers couldn’t stay for ever at sea needing for instance coal.
Notes
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.
2. George Lambert 1st Viscount (25 June 1866-17 February 1958) Civil Lord in 22 December 1905-27 May 1915.
3. This must be Reginald McKenna 6 July 1863-6 September 1943) who was First Lord of the Admiralty in 1908-1911 and who moved from the admiralty to the Home Office as Home Secretary on 24 October 1911. Liberal politician.
