The Blue Water Policy 



The Navy was to do everything. Practically 

 no Army was necessary. So strong was the 

 influence of this idea that our Government 

 understanding with the French was for an 

 expeditionary force of 100,000 men in the 

 case of an European War. The French 

 Government had doubtless realized that it 

 would be useless to ask for more. 



It is strange that any one with a knowledge 

 of history should seriously have believed 

 that an expeditionary force of 100,000 men 

 would suffice when the great war came upon 

 us. A great Navy is undoubtedly our first 

 essential, but a little correct thinking might 

 have shown that a great European war must 

 be fought out on land, and that from every 

 point of view our policy was to be in a 

 position to send with the least possible delay 

 an expeditionary force, say, of half a million 

 men. 



Again, the Blue Water policy is a dan- 

 gerous one in regard to the attitude of the 

 nation towards the sources of our food 

 supply. 



Most Britons have said and even still say, 

 " The Navy will keep the sea routes open. 



