Britain's Fleets

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 37, 3 July 1914, Page 5

Britain's Fleets

PLACED ON A WAR FOOTING,

TWO HUNDRED SHU'S AT SPIT

HEAD.

By Cable—Press Association—Copyright

Received 2, 10.55 p.m.

London, July 2.

The Daily Telegraph says the mobilisation and commissioning of 4113 ships, i of which two hundred will assemble at j Spithead, is ail interesting operation, it being the first time that the whole licet lias been placed on a war footing by t'le utilisation of fourteen thousand reserves, but dangerous because it exhibits tile country's strength aften 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 to make good the casualties of a long campaign. Thev are negligible in the early phase of hostilities.