Naval matters had been exercising the newspaper and its readers in 1914, particularly questions of expenditure and the size of the fleet. Since the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, Britannia had ruled the waves, and when technological developments led to a potential upsetting of the applecart Britain’s industrial lead meant that she could outbuild other countries and maintain her advantage. By the end of the nineteenth century the “Two Power standard”, by which the Royal Navy would be as large as or larger than the size of the next two biggest fleets combined, was in operation.
America’s industrial advance and Germany’s development combined with an ambition to develop its own navy altered the balance, as did the development of the Dreadnought in 1905, which reset the clock on battleships. Hence, as a White Paper reported on pages 11 and 12 today shows, Britain’s naval lead, while still considerable, was cut and the country was “living on its fat”.
The Telegraph was at pains to show that it was still necessary to keep building warships to ensure Britain remained the pre-eminent naval power. However, war was round the corner, and naval warfare was soon to change considerably.
Also in today’s paper
- It’s quarter-final day in the FA Cup (page 6). Three teams, Sunderland. Manchester City and Sheffield United, reached this stage both in 1914 and 2014
- France’s first juvenile court opens in Paris – page 9
- “Heroic deeds” on the Anglo-Abyssinian border are recounted on page 11
- A trial of spies for Russia in Austria-Hungary is reported on page 11
- Delays on London commuter trains generate letters of complaint on page 12
- What the Telegraph considers to be women’s sporting wear is shown on page 16