THE SHIPS AT SPITHEAD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 61, 3 July 1914, Page 6

THE SHIPS AT SPITHEAD.

ON A WAR FOOTING. (I?-- Eluctrio Telegraph—Copyright [United Press Association.! London, July 2. The Daily Telegraph says the mobilisation and commissioning of 493 ships, of which two hundred will assemble at Spithead, in an interesting operation, it being tiie first time that the whole fleet has been placed on a war footing by the utilisation of fourteen thousand reserves, but it is dangerous because it exhibits the country’s strength after long preparations; whereas the only criterion of our sea power is its standing at our average moment. There is an increasing tendency throughout Europe to relegate to the background .all .the reserves, and to train a larger number‘of regular ratings, thus .keeping every ship of war on a footing ready for rapid, energetic and decisive action. Reserves are only valuable as, a reservoir tn make good the casualties of a long campaign. They are negligible in the early phase of hostilities.