What the Mediterranean Means to U 



So 



EVACU.VriOX i:)ISH()NOURABLE TO THE DIGNITY OV ENGLAND. 



"We are preparing; to leave the Mediterranean, a measure which I cannot approve. . . . Much as I shall 

 rejoice to see England. I lament our present orders in sackcloth and ashes, so dishonourable to the dignity of 

 England '—Lour) Nki.sdn, in 1796, when the British Fleet evacuated the Mediterranean as a temporary 

 measure during the war with France. 



" The only way to prevent the Continental Powers from 

 bridling you is for England to proceed in her proper sphere as 

 an insular I'ower, possessing the command of the sea. . . . \our 

 marine is the real force of your couiilry, and one which, while 

 you preserve il, will always render you powerlul." — i\Al'OLEO.\, 

 speaking a century ago. 



1912. 

 " England's internal siuialion is highly critical. Her foreign 

 situation is at least uiicouifortable. If she wants to remedy the 

 latter there is a vastly better means than the laying down of 

 l)rea<lnoughts — namely, definitely to abandon tlie policy of 

 mistrust ol (lennany . . . and give up for ever the idea of 

 supremacy. When England has (lone all that, her future will 

 not only be brighter, but the world's peace will be assured." — 

 Extract from Gc-rmaniii, ofiicial organ of the German Catholic 

 Centre I'arty. 



\\'iiicii utlvice are we to follow — that of this countrv's 

 erstwhile greatest enemy, or that of the countrv of 

 which we are told that there is nothing but friendship 

 to e.xpect ? The great Napoleon saw clearly wherein 

 our power lies, and made no mistake. Would that our 

 present-day leaders could sec as clearly I Thev seem 

 rather to incline to the German view. But the peo[)le 

 at large need only to understand the question in order 

 to he so roused as to leave to no .Minister and to no 

 Cahinet a loophole of escape, .\iicl lei there be no 

 burkin" the rial cnu'^lion. It is nu mere naval 



matter of temporary expediency ; no question of 

 .shifting a few battleships here or there. It is a definite 

 change of Imperial policy, and it is as such that the 

 world regards it. It may be argued that as matters 

 now stand the Mediterranean has become a secondary 

 theatre from the point of view of naval operations in 

 the present grouping of the Powers, but it is not a 

 secondary theatre in relation to Imperial interests 

 or Imperial prestige. In 1796 Nelson lamented 

 " in sackcloth and ashes " a temporary evacuation. 

 even although P<ritish power and presti^'e in the .Mcdi- 



/ 'tft^'^-m^'i ojfl 



The Mediterranean Fleet leaving Malta Harbour. 



I '/.>'«■«/ Prru. 



