Admiral Jellicoe Part 6

It has been stated that during this period Sir John Jellicoe would sometimes work for fifteen or sixteen hours a day, when business pressed. He never "fussed" or gave the impression of "rush," and he neither worried nor drove his subordinates.

His words were few, but to the point. And he has never been known to make a request or give an order twice.

It was during the period Jellicoe began to carry on the good work Fisher had started at the Admiralty that the Emperor of Germany wrote a remarkable letter to the late Lord Tweedmouth, First Lord in 1908.

At the time it was declared by Tweedmouth to be confidential and purely personal, but the contents have at last become more or less public.

This letter, in the light of latter-day events, is particularly interesting. It was quoted for the first time by _The Morning Post_, and it throws a strong light on the Kaiser's real character. One can imagine the First Sea Lord of the Admiralty, Lord Fisher--whom the German Naval Party feared so keenly--describing it in his frank fashion as an infernal piece of bluff.

"During my last pleasant visit to your hospitable sh.o.r.es," the Emperor wrote, "I tried to make your authorities understand what the drift of the German Naval policy is. But I am afraid that my explanations have been misunderstood or not believed, because I see the 'German Danger'

and the 'German Challenge to British Naval Supremacy' constantly quoted in the different articles. This phrase, if not repudiated or corrected, sown broadcast over the country and daily dinned into British ears, might in the end create most deplorable results.

"It is absolutely nonsensical and untrue that the German Naval Bill is to provide a Navy meant as a 'challenge to British Naval Supremacy.'

The German Fleet is built against n.o.body at all. It is solely built for Germany's needs in relation with that country's rapidly growing trade.

"There is nothing surprising, secret or underhand in it, and every reader may study the whole course mapped out for the development of the German Navy with the greatest ease."

After a long preamble on the subject of what England might do (from the Kaiser's point of view) with regard to her shipbuilding programme, the letter refers to a letter written and published by Lord Esher, in which the Emperor accuses him of misinterpreting Germany's feelings by alleging that "every German from the Emperor down to the last man wished for the downfall of Sir John Fisher":

"As far as regards German Affairs Naval," the letter continues, "the phrase is a piece of unmitigated balderdash, and has created an immense merriment in the circles of those 'who know' here. But I venture to think that such things ought not to be written by people who are high placed, as they are liable to hurt public feelings over here. Of course, I need not a.s.sure you that n.o.body here dreams of wishing to influence Britain in the choice of those to whom she means to give the direction of her Navy, or to disturb them in the fulfilment of their n.o.ble task....

"I hope your Lordship will read these lines with kind consideration.

They are written by one who is an ardent admirer of your splendid Navy, who wishes it all success, and who hopes that its ensign may ever wave on the same side as the German Navy, and by one who is proud to wear the British Naval Uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet, which was conferred on him by the late Great Queen of blessed memory.

"Once more. The German Naval Bill is not aimed at England, and is not a challenge to British supremacy of the sea, which will remain unchallenged for generations to come."

The German Emperor's "generations to come" has resolved itself into less than six years.

CHAPTER VIII

VICE-ADMIRAL

Sir John Jellicoe hoisted his flag as Vice-Admiral commanding the Atlantic Fleet, in succession to His Serene Highness, Prince Louis of Battenberg, on December 27th, 1911, and on the tenth of January, 1912, the Fleet a.s.sembled at Dover for the first time under its new Commander-in-Chief.

There was a suggestion about this time that the Atlantic Fleet and the Home Fleet were to be amalgamated. The change that had already been made in the Atlantic Fleet in linking it to the Home Fleet for purposes of combined training did not mean that either command was to be absorbed in the other. The Atlantic Fleet was henceforth to be under the command of a Junior instead of a Senior Admiral, and it would cruise in Home waters.

Both Fleets would have their war training together and the policy of concentration in Home waters was thus carried out.

How fully this policy was justified events have fully proved. The Atlantic Fleet continued to use Gibraltar as its repairing base.

Admiral Jellicoe's first cruise with the Fleets was to Vigo, on the Spanish coast, where manoeuvres were carried out in conjunction with a portion of the Mediterranean Fleet.

These manoeuvres were carried out on a large scale. There was a Naval Review of the Fleets, at which King Alfonso was present.

Afterwards a mimic warfare was waged, the Home Fleet, under Admiral Sir W. H. May, representing the "Red," the Mediterranean and Atlantic Fleets under Admiral Sir E. S. Poe and Vice-Admiral Jellicoe, respectively, being the "Blue."

The princ.i.p.al "action" took place at night, and Jellicoe manoeuvred his ships so cleverly that they almost escaped a vastly superior force.

After the "battle" was over Admiral May signalled to Jellicoe that he had put up a fine fight, and given the superior forces against him a very hard job.

Just at this time Sir John Jellicoe suffered a sad bereavement, losing his little daughter, Betty, at the age of five and a half years. She was the second child, and was born on May 21st, 1905.

Sir John and Lady Jellicoe have four daughters, the eldest in her ninth year. They are delightful children, and all bear a strong family likeness to the "Little Admiral"; they possess many of their father's characteristics, too: overwhelming good spirits and a keen sense of humour.

The author's first introduction to them was when he was waiting in the hall of Sir John's town house.

They were just going out for their morning const.i.tutional, but as they were about to start, the eldest suddenly discovered that "some one"

was missing who should have been present. A hurried search was inst.i.tuted. Upstairs and downstairs the young Jellicoes raced, peering here and peering there, and continually calling for "Nanna!"

Believing that the nurse was the object of their search, the author told Miss Jellicoe that he had just seen her go upstairs. She shook her head:

"Oh, no she hasn't. She came down with me just now and I _know_ she hasn't gone back. She does run away sometimes."

It seemed a strange thing for a nurse to do, and while the author was debating in his mind whether he ought not to inform Lady Jellicoe, one of the little girls gave a cry of triumph and pointed to the sideboard standing against the wall in a dark corner of the hall.

"There she is. Isn't she naughty!"

A sideboard did not seem the right place for the nurse--even the nurse of a Naval family--to choose as a hiding place; but though the author searched he could not see the culprit.

Little Miss Jellicoe grew impatient: "Oh, do try and get her out!" she begged. "Don't you see, she's crawled underneath!"

Down on his hands and knees went the author of this book--and there, tucked away under the sideboard, crouched the missing nurse.

"Please pull her out, we can't go for our walk without her."

Obediently the author seized the nurse by the scruff of the neck and dragged her from her hiding place.

"Nanna,"--on this occasion--was a Scotch terrier!

Undoubtedly the Admiral's daughters have their father's sense of humour.

[Ill.u.s.tration: H.M.S. "IRON DUKE."]

Dear little Freda

I must write and thank you for your kind thought of the sailors. The one seaman to whom I gave your m.u.f.fler was so much touched

Thank you dear

Yours John Jellicoe

Admiral Jellicoe's affection and consideration for children is shown in a variety of ways. The letter to a schoolgirl, reproduced on page 83, thanking her for a gift of a m.u.f.fler for one of the sailors on the flagship, is a striking example of his thoughtfulness and the personal interest he takes in everything, and everyone, connected with the welfare of his men and with his fleet.

Another letter to his wife, which Lady Jellicoe kindly allowed the author to read and reproduce, was written on board the _Iron Duke_ early in November. Though it was sent to Lady Jellicoe it was intended for all the wives, mothers, sisters, sweethearts and children of the British sailors at sea throughout the Empire, for Sir John wished them to know how gallantly his men (which are _their_ men) were behaving and how proud he was to command them.

It is a brave letter, containing a brave message for the women and children.