Germany, as especially the Americans know, has become a great merchant marine nation, whose colonies are flourishing.  Furthermore, since the land’s growing population has greatly increased its strength in the course of the last years, the mistrust and jealousy of Great Britain have in particular been directed steadily against the development of our ocean commerce, and later of our navy.  To the upbuilding of the German Navy were ascribed all manner of plans—­to attack Great Britain, to make war on Japan, &c.  It was even declared by the English press that Germany intended to attack the United States as soon as its fleet was strong enough.  Today, when Great Britain has needlessly declared war upon us, the Americans will perhaps believe that our fleet was never planned or built for an attack on any one.  Germany desired simply to protect its coasts and its marine interests in the same manner in which it protects its land boundaries.  It is realized in the United States as well as here that a fleet can be powerful only when it has a sufficient number of vessels of all classes, and when it is thoroughly and unremittingly schooled in times of peace.  We have tried to attain this ideal in Germany, and it may be remarked that the training of the personnel requires greater efforts here, since the principle of universal service is also applied to the fleet, with a resulting short term of service, whereas all foreign fleets have a long term of enlistment.

The nominal strength of the German fleet is regulated by statute, as is also the term—­twenty years—­at the expiration of which old vessels must automatically be replaced by new ones.  This fleet strength is set at forty-one line-of-battle ships, twenty armored cruisers and forty small cruisers, besides 144 torpedo boats and seventy-two submarine vessels.  These figures, however, have not been reached.  To offset this fact, however, almost the whole German fleet has been kept together in home waters.  Great Britain’s fleet is much stronger than ours, but despite this the German fleet faces its great opponent with coolness and assurance and with that courage and readiness to undertake great deeds that mark those who know that their land has been unjustifiably attacked.  It is utterly incorrect to say, as has been said, that the German naval officers are filled with hatred for other navies, especially for the British.  On the contrary, the relations between German and English officers and men have always been good, almost as good as those of the Germans with the American officers.  It is not personal hatred that inspires our officers and men with the lust for battle, but their indignation over the unprovoked attack and the realization that, if every one will do his best for the Fatherland in this great hour, it will not be in vain even against the greatest naval power.  We, too, are confident of this, for strenuous and faithful effort always has its reward, and this is especially true of our fleet organization.  The United States realizes this as well as we, for it, too, has built up a strong and admirably trained fleet by prodigious labor.  As is the case with the German fleet, the American Navy also is not built for aggression, but for defense.