Excerpt from With the Flagship in the South

Whether that battle is imminent none can say. Plenty, who will never fight it, are doing their best to make it so. Those who are bringing this Empire and Germany into war think - if ever they do think that it will go easy for the Empire. Those who will fight it, officers and men too, are not in the least given over to that very foolish mistake. The Navy knows that the German is a magnificent sailor in magnificent ships; and the war would be desperate.

Probably it would be utterly needless and wicked. There is trade rivalry. But what can fighting do for the trade except of third parties who do not fight?

The honest way to meet growing strength is by grow ing stronger. As for Germany's Continental ambitions, one doubts if they are worth the death of one British sailor. There is only one possible justification for war; and that is if in its heart the German people, as apart from its Emperor, covets some corner of British territory. We do not know that it does. But the Empire must make ready to speak 'with anyone in the gates. So, for that matter, must Germany.

Yet surely it can be done quietly. Preparation of itself will never cause war. If that comes, it will be through the persistent efforts of those in each nation who are everlastingly sooling it on to the other. If one has been driven to speak bitterly in this place it is because it is intolerable to think that it is not the sensationalist who will sufier, but these brave, quiet, great-hearted men amongst Whom for six weeks one has lived. One can only pray that if ever the hour comes when our sea-folk out of their quiet faith and only too willingly are paying in dreadful wounds and tortures worse than death for the wicked recklessness of someone who is well out of harm's way, these mischief-makers may come to comprehend through many a sleepless night and in real agony of spirit some infinitesimal part of the awful responsibility that lies upon them.

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