Scouting was their
chief function. Austria had, also, 18 destroyers, 63 torpedo boats,
and 6 submarines.
Such were the respective strengths of the opponents on that day
in July, 1914, when the Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary lost his
life. For ten years the officers of the navy created by the German
Admiral von Tirpitz had at all dinners come to their feet, waved
their wine glasses and had given the famous toast "Der Tag"--to
the day on which the English and German naval hosts would sally
forth to do battle with each other. "Der Tag" found both forces
quite ready, though the British naval authorities stole a march
on their German rivals in the matter of mobilization.
It had been the custom for years in the British navy to assemble
the greater part of the British ships during the summer at the
port of Spithead, where, decorated with bunting, with flags flying,
with visitors in holiday spirit, and with officers and men in smart
dress, the vessels were reviewed by the king on the royal yacht.
But in the eventful year of 1914, perhaps by accident, perhaps by
design, for the truth may never be known, the review had a different
aspect. There was no gaiety. The number of ships assembled this time
was greater than ever before--216 actual fighting ships passed
slowly before the royal yacht--there were no flags, no bunting,
no holiday crowds, no smart dress for officers and men.
Pages:
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286