BRITISH NAVAL MOBILISATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1290, 29 August 1914, Page 4

BRITISH NAVAL MOBILISATION.

Less than a month before the declaration of war between Britain and Germany an interesting experiment in naval mobilisation was carried out by the British Admiralty. As a test of the drafting arrangements for the manning of the ships of the Home Fleets every available vessel was provided with a lull and placed on a war footing. The British Home Fleets are three in number, representing gradations in readiness for action. The First Fleet is fully manned, and is always at sea. The Second Fleet has large nucleus crews, the balance crews, also of active service ratings, being in the training establishments ashore, and it cruises at frequent intervals. The Third Fleet, consisting of the oldest ships, has very small crews only, and lot war complements depends largely on reservists. The experiment consisted in raising the Second Fleet to war strength with active service officers and men, and placing the ships of the Third Fleet on a war footing with the assistance of men of classes A and B ot the Royal Fleet Reserve who have served in the Squadrons at sea, have done periodical training since retirement, and are thoroughly in touch with the routine of the navy. Altogether 493 ships were placed on a war footing, comprising 55 battleships, 4 battlecruisers, 65 cruisers and scouts, 187 destroyers, 83 torpedo boats, 59 submarines, 7 mine layers, 13 mine-sweeping gunboats, and 20 auxiliaries. Two hundred of the ships were reviewed by the King at Spithead, The demonstration was quite effective as a reflection of administrative efficiency.