There is no essential vagueness in these allusions.  If they seem vague, it is because the moment for particularising has not yet come.  The public opinion of the navy must first be turned in the right direction.  It must be led to question the soundness of the basis on which many present methods rest.  Having once begun to do this, we shall find no difficulty in settling, in detail and with precision, what the true elements of naval efficiency are.

IV[59]

THE HISTORICAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE NAVY AND THE MERCHANT SERVICE

[Footnote 59:  Written in 1898. (TheTimes_.)]

The regret, often expressed, that the crews of British merchant ships now include a large proportion of foreigners, is founded chiefly on the apprehension that a well-tested and hitherto secure recruiting ground for the navy is likely to be closed.  It has been stated repeatedly, and the statement has been generally accepted without question, that in former days, when a great expansion of our fleet was forced on us by the near approach of danger, we relied upon the ample resources of our merchant service to complete the manning of our ships of war, even in a short time, and that the demands of the navy upon the former were always satisfied.  It is assumed that compliance with those demands was as a rule not voluntary, but was enforced by the press-gang.  The resources, it is said, existed and were within reach, and the method employed in drawing upon them was a detail of comparatively minor importance; our merchant ships were manned by native-born British seamen, of whom tens of thousands were always at hand, so that if volunteers were not forthcoming the number wanted could be ‘pressed’ into the Royal service.  It is lamented that at the present day the condition of affairs is different, that the presence in it of a large number of foreigners forbids us to regard with any confidence the merchant service as an adequate naval recruiting ground in the event of war, even though we are ready to substitute for the system of ’impressment’—­which is now considered both undesirable and impossible—­rewards likely to attract volunteers.  The importance of the subject need not be dwelt upon.  The necessity to a maritime state of a powerful navy, including abundant resources for manning it, is now no more disputed than the law of gravitation.  If the proportion of foreigners in our merchant service is too high it is certainly deplorable; and if, being already too high, that proportion is rising, an early remedy is urgently needed.  I do not propose to speak here of that matter, which is grave enough to require separate treatment.