Excerpt from Three Years of Naval Warfare

A history of the naval war since 1914 is of a very far reaching character, but I have endeavoured to localise the many campaigns into separate chapters, although a small amount of overlapping is unavoidable. The stupendous events Of the last few years have followed one another in such rapid succession that few people realise the enormous task which our Navy was called upon to perform. From the terribly sudden collapse Of the whole fabric of Germany's commerce the success Of this work must be evident; and although in 1915 many of our ships were still engaged on foreign service, practically all naval matters centralised in home waters. The book is divided into two parts, the first dealing with the work Of the Royal Navy around our shores, and the second part treating the British and Allied Fleets abroad.

The veil over our Fleet remains as inscrutable as ever, and One is tempted to question the need for such absolute secrecy. The enemy is, Of course, greatly hindered in learn ing Of the dispositions and strength Of our squadrons and patrols, but the disappointment which the public feels is keen. It tends to make us overlook the wonderful patience of our sailors in their long and weary vigil for the hiding foe. Some/day let us hope that we shall be told the full story of the glorious deeds Of our men who had kept the seas in fair weather and foul, in winter and summer, by night and day, in the hope of encountering the enemy, in the enforcing of the blockade, in the protection of our vast overseas trade, in the supplying Of our overseas forces, and in keeping our coasts immune from the inhuman and murderous invader.

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