Similarly the great actions of the old Dutch wars were brought about because our geographical position placed us astride the Dutch trade communications, and they were forced to seek a decision against our fleet.

In applying the maxim of “seeking out the enemy’s fleet” it should be borne in mind that if you seek it out with a superior force you will probably find it in a place where you cannot destroy it, except at very heavy cost.  It is far better to make it come to you, and this has often been done by merely sitting on the common communications.

Again, if you seek out the enemy’s fleet without being certain of getting contact, you may merely assist it in evading you, and enable it to get into a position on your own communications, from which it may be very costly to dislodge it.  It was for this reason that the Elizabethan Government kept the fleet in home waters in 1588.  Sampson, in the Spanish-American War, was actually permitted to make this mistake.  By going to seek out Cervera without being sure of contact, he left him a clear run into Cienfuegos or even Havana, which it was the main function of the fleet to prevent.  Captain Mahan has since modified this maxim as follows:—­“Seek out the enemy’s fleet, if you are sure of getting contact.”  A truer maxim would seem to be “Seek contact with the enemy’s fleet in the most certain and favourable manner that is open to you.”  To seek out the enemy’s fleet is only one way of doing this, and not always the best way.  It must be remembered that other conditions being equal, it is an obvious advantage to fight in your own waters rather than in those of the enemy, and more likely to ensure that a defeat of the enemy will be decisive.

RN WAR COLLEGE PORTSMOUTH
JANUARY 1909

* * * * *

INDEX

Abercromby, General Sir Ralph, 290, 296
Absolute War, 25, 42-44
Alexandria, 289
Alsace-Lorraine, 51-52, 55
Ambleteuse, 251
Amherst, General Lord, 285
Anglo-Japanese Treaty, 79
Anson, Admiral Lord, 110-12, 118, 189, 290
Antwerp, 69
Armada, Spanish, 159-60, 172-74, 227, 243, 245, 255
Articles of War, 176
Austerlitz Campaign, 21, 53

  Bacon, Sir Francis, 58
  Baltic Fleet, 81, 170, 285, 327
  Baltic trade, 263
  Barcelona, 286
  Barham, Admiral Sir Charles Middleton, 118, 142-44, 151, 162-63, 183,
      199, 207, 254, 297
  Barraille, Admiral, 249-51
  Barrington, Admiral Samuel, 146-47
  Batz, Isle de, 179, 290
  Beachy Head, 218
  Belgium, 50-52, 55
  Belleisle, Marechal de, 295, 332
  Belleisle, 312
  Berry, Captain Sir Edward, 238
  Biscay, Bay of, 139, 142, 263
  Black Sea, 285
  Blake, Colonel Robert, 176
  Blockade, method of, 102, 121, 183-86, 235, 244, 252, 256-58, 260-62,
      269, 272, 284, 341;
    ethics of, 39;