In spite of all this, the great operation of March
18th was launched and ended in catastrophe—three capital ships lost and several others seriously damaged. Mr. Ashinead-Bartlett thinks that Mr. Churchill misunderstood the whole operation. It was not a definite attempt to rush through the Straits, as Mr. Churchill seemed to suppose, but an attempt merely to clear the triple minefield below the Narrows, which was still almost intact. As it failed hopelessly, it was useless to repeat it in the same form. Yet Mr. Churchill urged, as he said in his apologia, that it should be repeated as soon as possible. Eventually be "submitted " to the consensus of expert opinion, but "submitted," as lie said, "with great anxiety." " We have to thank Lord Fisher, apparently, together with the authorities ou the spot," says Mr. Ashinead-liartlett, "for saving this country and the Fleet from a disaster which would certainly have transcended any other in our naval history." Even on March 18th the 'Queen Elizabeth' was "a long way up the Straits amongst drifting mines, one of which knocked out the ' Inflexible.' "
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