2 THE GREAT WAR 



The most serious is that relating to our food 

 supply. We have escaped disaster in that 

 respect, not by any prevision on our own part, 

 but by the blunders of the enemy. 



Of the many blunders the Germans have 

 made, the one most vital to themselves is that 

 they allowed their fleet to be bottled up before 

 the war began. After the war broke out it was 

 too late to rectify it, as the vessels could not 

 leave their ports, being held up by the British 

 fleet. 



We were bidden by a naval authority to 

 " sleep quietly in our beds," with the assurance 

 that our fleet would in time of war completely 

 protect our food-laden ships. This, however, is a 

 delusion, as shown by the British admirals who 

 have spoken on the question, and whose opinions 

 should carry the greatest weight. 



At a meeting held at the Koyal United 

 Service Institution, Sir Nowell Salmon, Ad- 

 miral of the Fleet, said : " We may hope to a 

 certain extent, but not at the beginning of a 

 war, the trade routes may be kept free ; at the 

 commencement of a war I have no doubt they 

 would be very much interfered with." He 

 went on to quote the opinion of the Secretary 



