BRITISH NAVAL MOBILISATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1291, 1 September 1914, Page 4

BRITISH NAVAL MOBILISATION.

Less than a month before the dcclnration of wav between Britain and Germany, an interesting experiment in naval mobilisation was carried cut by the British Admiralty. A- a test of the drafting arrangements for the manning of ships of the Home Fleets every available vessel was provided with a full citv and placed on a war footing. Ti British Homo Fleets arc th’Ts in nr n'cer, representing gradations in readiness for ae, on. Ti eFi A Fleet is Billy manned and is always »r sea. The £ecciKt flee*. has large rur’eas crews, the' oularce e c« s, also of ac' ; vg ‘.•erviec ratings, being in tin* traiv.'ng es a nl'-mncnts a=rcrc. aud it cruises at frequent infeivpls. The Third Fleet, consisting of the eldest-shins, has very small crews cn'.y, and fo- war complements depends la’gr’y on rasr-vs. The t\n : mcnt consisted in i a -ng the Second F.ect to «.drcngLh vudr active sorriee odicers and men, and rdir.nng the ships o c the Third Fleet on a war footing with the assistance of men of classes A and B of the Royal Fleet Reserve—men who have served in the squadrons at sea, have clone periodical trainings since retirement, and are thoroughly in touch with the routine of the navy. Altogether 493 ships wore placed on a war footing, compriHng 55 battleships, 4 battle-cruiser?, 65 cruisers RC .„ut?, 187 destroyers, 85 torpcclr boats, 59 subvnavim-s. 7 niMH-layers, _ 15 mino-sweciKC-r gunboats, and 20 auxiliaries. Two bunded eV tire slims were reviewed by the King at Spithead. The demonstration was quite effective as a reflecticn of administrative efficiency.