During the week the visit of a powerful German squadron
—eight battleships and seven cruisers—to Plymouth has caused a considerable amount of perturbation in the public mind, or, at any rate, in the public Press. For ourselves, we cannot help feeling that the anxiety and annoyance thus displayed are wholly unworthy. We all knew before that the German Navy existed, and knew, also, its great strength in home waters. To be alarmed, not because it exists and because of the policy behind it, but merely because it has been made visible in Plymouth Sound, is a piece of childishness unworthy of the nation. The talk of preventing German warships visiting our ports is equally unworthy. Instead of being annoyed at Germany's naval strength and at the ease with which her battleships visit us, let us determine to maintain our own Fleet in such power that, while keeping as many ships abroad as before, we are always stronger than Germany in the North Sea. To lose our equanimity and our manners because Germany is kind enough to insist that we shall not play the ostrich, but shall raise our heads out of the sand and look at her ironclads, is deplorable. The resolve to command the sea in all waters, whether at home or abroad, and not an outburst of hysterical and quite unjustifiable annoyance, is the spirit in which to receive the visit of Germany's splendid fleet.
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