Admiral Jellicoe Part 7

_H.M.S. "Iron Duke."_ 14-11-'14.

_I know you will be meeting the wives and families of the men, and I hope you will tell them of the magnificent spirit which prevails. Our troops have covered themselves with glory during this war. The Navy has not yet, as a whole, had the opportunity of showing that the old spirit which carried us to victory in the past is with us now, but when our men have had the opportunity of fighting a foe above the water, they have shown that they possess the same pluck and endurance as our comrades ash.o.r.e. Nothing can ever have been finer than the coolness and courage shown in every case where s.h.i.+ps have been sunk by mines or torpedoes. The discipline has been perfect, and men have gone to their death not only most gallantly, but most unselfishly. One hears on all sides of numerous instances of men giving up, on these occasions, the plank that has supported them, to some more feeble comrade, and I feel prouder with every day that pa.s.ses that I command such men._

_And during the period of waiting and watching they are cheerful and contented in spite of the grey dulness of their lives. I am sure you will tell the wives and children, and the sisters and mothers, of our men, of the spirit that prevails, and I know that it will make them too desire to show in their own lives that they are animated by the same desire to do the best they can for their country, so that they will be worthy of their men-kind, of whom it is difficult to say too much._ _JN. JELLICOE._

When the Atlantic Fleet visited Gibraltar, Lady Jellicoe and her family joined Sir John at the Rock, staying at the Villa Victoria.

Jellicoe's flags.h.i.+p was the _Prince of Wales_, and while she was in dock, many delightful entertainments were given on board, the Admiral's daughters doing their share--even Miss Norah, "the baby of the fleet," inviting equally small craft (of the human kind) to tea on the flags.h.i.+p with the request that they would "bring their own bottles."

The Rock benefited considerably by the three months' visit of the Fleet, under Vice-Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, and by the presence of Lady Jellicoe and her family.

All work and no play make Jack a dull boy, but Lady Jellicoe saw to it that Jack got his fair share of amus.e.m.e.nt. At the Annual Rifle Meeting, the Vice-Admiral's Cup, presented by Vice-Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, was won by the Vice-Admiral's B Team from his flags.h.i.+p, with A team, also from the flags.h.i.+p, second.

In the individual compet.i.tions the Five Hundred Yards was won by Sir John himself with the Commander of his flags.h.i.+p--Commander Dryer--second. The _Prince of Wales_ took many other firsts and seconds, and to just show that he still kept hand and eye in practice, Sir John Jellicoe and Naval Instructor Holt, representing the Navy, won the Garrison Racquet Tournament against the Army, by four games to one. Sir John also won the Racquet Handicap of the Atlantic Fleet, defeating Mr. Wardlaw in the final by three games to love.

Sir John's handicap was minus eight.

These meetings took place during the first anniversary of King George's accession; the celebrations lasted a week, and the Kaiser's yacht, _Hohenzollern_, and the German cruisers _Konigsberg_ and _Sleepner_ were both in port and took part in the festivities; the Emperor's Imperial Band from the _Hohenzollern_ played at the Victoria Villa before Sir John and Lady Jellicoe and their guests.

It is rather interesting to note that the _Musikfolge_ on this occasion commenced with a selection from Wagner and ended with the "British Grenadiers" March.

Vice-Admiral Sir John Jellicoe returned from Gibraltar to England in time to take part in the great Naval Review at Spithead on June 24th.

H.M. King George, on board the Royal yacht, received a splendid welcome from the hundred and sixty-seven British s.h.i.+ps anch.o.r.ed off Spithead and the eighteen foreign wars.h.i.+ps which were also present.

Our boats included twelve Dreadnoughts, thirty cruisers and seventy-two destroyers.

Among the foreign s.h.i.+ps present were the _Danton_ (France), _Rossiza_ (Russia), _Kurama_ (j.a.pan), _Radetzky_ (Austria), _Von der Tann_ (German) and _Hamidich_ (Turkey), all of which afterwards became involved in the world war.

After the Review the Naval Manoeuvres took place, in which Jellicoe commanded the Atlantic Fleet. It was at the conclusion of these manoeuvres that vague rumours of a crisis with Germany over the Moroccan affair appeared in certain newspapers. The "scare" was short-lived, and there was no real ground for the rumours of war between England, France and Germany that were circulated.

At this time a German training s.h.i.+p, with several young officers on board, was cruising in Home waters, doubtless picking up much valuable information. The commander of this s.h.i.+p is reported to have said that war between England and Germany was unthinkable.

Late in July the Atlantic Fleet went to Cromarty for general exercises, and afterwards the Atlantic Fleet Regatta was held at Berehaven. On this occasion Jellicoe's flags.h.i.+p, the _Prince of Wales_, again distinguished herself in a remarkable manner.

Out of thirty events on the programme for the first two days' racing, her boats were first, second or third in twenty-eight events, taking fourteen "firsts." In the Veteran Officers' Skiffs Race Vice-Admiral Jellicoe stroked the winning boat. Of course the _Prince of Wales_ was first on the list of points in the regatta, getting fifty-and-a-half to the _Argyll's_ forty, and won the silver trophy--a figure of a giant c.o.c.k.

One amusing incident occurred at the conclusion of the regatta, when bands from the various s.h.i.+ps went down the course in their big barges playing a selection of tunes. When they pa.s.sed the _London_, last but one in the "race" for points, they played "When London Sleeps"--a sly dig at that boat's poor performance.

On pa.s.sing Jellicoe's flags.h.i.+p each band played "c.o.c.k of the Walk" to the accompaniment of deafening cheers.

Sir John, as every man in the Senior Service knows, is a keen temperance man; it was he who was credited with the phrase "the grog curve." He believes that a sailor should have his gla.s.s of grog so long as he never takes more than he can carry, and he does not "carry"

even that amount when on duty.

Jellicoe delivered an epoch-making speech on this very important question at a great temperance meeting held at Gibraltar in November, 1911. On this occasion he said that everyone responsible must recognize the value of temperance in fighting efficiency.

In the Navy there are three qualities upon which efficiency mainly depends--discipline, shooting, and endurance, and temperance unquestionably tends greatly to the promotion of these qualities. In regard to discipline one has only to look at the punishment returns to realize how many of the disciplinary offences are at the outset due to intemperance.

As for endurance, medical research has amply proved the fact that temperance is a great a.s.set in improving the physical qualities, and therefore the endurance, of the human race. As regards straight shooting, which is so largely a question of eye, it is everyone's experience that abstinence is necessary for the highest efficiency.

"If I am going to a rifle meeting in the afternoon," Vice-Admiral Jellicoe said, "I don't take a whisky and soda after lunch. If I did, I know I should have no chance of making a possible."

It was the late Captain Ogilvy who pointed out that efficiency in shooting was thirty per cent. better before the issue of grog than after.

In the Honours' List at the time of the Coronation celebrations a K.C.B. was bestowed on Vice-Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, and on November 28th he was given the command of the Second Division of the Home Fleet. There were numerous changes now made at the Admiralty, Admiral Sir Francis Bridgeman becoming First Sea Lord in place of Sir Arthur Wilson. With him were H.S.H. Prince Louis of Battenberg and Captain William Pakenham, all men of the new school.

At the time the changes made were considered to be startling. Mr.

Winston Churchill, the new broom, practically made a clean sweep of the old Board. It was a case of putting youth (as youth is counted in the Senior Service) at the helm--and youth had the courage to give youth, allied with experience, a chance--for Mr. Churchill himself was at the time only thirty-seven years of age. Sir Francis Bridgeman was sixty-two, Prince Louis of Battenberg fifty-seven and Captain Pakenham fifty. Jellicoe's age was fifty-two.

Mr. Churchill in his speech in the House of Commons explained that the changes on the Board were necessary, and said it would lead to a more effective working in the interest of administrative efficiency. All former precedents had been observed. As to the question whether the Sea Lords had resigned or been removed he had to say that when he apprised them of the fact that His Majesty had given his a.s.sent to certain changes on the Board they accepted those changes in the true spirit of the Naval Service.

CHAPTER IX

1911-1913

In December of 1911 Vice-Admiral Jellicoe was back in Gibraltar, which thanks to the presence of the Fleet and its Commander's popularity experienced quite the most successful season it had ever known. The American cruiser _Chester_ was in port and did her share in the round of b.a.l.l.s, dinners and sports which were held. The Gibraltar Jockey Club held its winter meeting on the picturesque North Front racecourse and attracted a remarkable and cosmopolitan gathering.

It was on December 13th that the Peninsular and Oriental steamer _Delhi_, conveying the Princess Royal and the Duke of Fife and their family to Egypt, ran ash.o.r.e on the Moroccan coast off Cape Spartel.

The _Delhi_ left London on December 8th, and just outside the Straits of Gibraltar she encountered a terrific gale.

The Atlantic Fleet should have left the Rock on the thirteenth, but when news was received of the disaster Jellicoe immediately sent battles.h.i.+ps and cruisers to the a.s.sistance of the _Delhi_.

Great anxiety had been felt at Gibraltar throughout the previous night at the non-arrival of the _Delhi_, which was due the previous day, and arrangements had been made by the Governor and Admiral Jellicoe to visit the Princess.

The French cruiser _Friant_ was the first to learn of the wreck, by wireless, and she was immediately sent to the scene: the sea was running very high, but at ten o'clock in the morning a steam launch put out from the _Friant_ and succeeded in taking off twenty women and children and transferring them to the cruiser _Duke of Edinburgh_, which had arrived.

The gale increased in violence, but once again the _Friant's_ launch attempted to cross the boiling waters and rescue more of the _Delhi's_ pa.s.sengers. The heavy seas, however, put out her fires and drove her ash.o.r.e; nevertheless her plucky French sailors re-lit the fires and again launched their boat. But the breakers soon capsized her and threw her crew into the water, three of whom were drowned.

Towards the afternoon the seas went down and the British cruisers managed to establish communication between the _Delhi_ and the sh.o.r.e.

Admiral Cradock was able to reach the _Delhi_ in his pinnace and took off the Princess Royal and the Duke of Fife and put them ash.o.r.e. But in landing they were nearly swept away and only reached the beach after a desperate struggle.

Eventually, all the pa.s.sengers were safely got off the _Delhi_, and though part of her cargo was saved--including bullion to the extent of 500,000 which she was bringing back from India--she became a total wreck.

Admiral Jellicoe reached England in time to meet the King and Queen on their return from India, in the New Year; and in command of the Second Division of the Home Fleet he had the honour of escorting their Majesties--in the _Medina_--up the English Channel.

The s.h.i.+ps under Jellicoe's command which performed this duty were the _Agamemnon_, _Colossus_, _Hercules_, _Lord Nelson_, _Britannia_, _Dominion_, _Hindustan_ and _Orion_, together with five cruisers.

Early in February Admiral Jellicoe had the honour of being received by His Majesty at Buckingham Palace, when the King invested him with the insignia of a Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.

At this time Mr. Arnold White wrote a very interesting appreciation of Jellicoe which appeared in _The Throne_ and which in many respects was almost prophetic. The article was headed "The Man and the Moment," and in referring to the task which would confront Admiral Jellicoe--if war ever broke out--as Commander of the British forces at sea, he wrote as follows:

"Vice-Admiral Sir John Jellicoe is the Emir upon whom our rulers have thrust the heaviest responsibility that rests on the shoulders of any man born of a woman. He is the man who has been told off to the job of commanding the British forces at sea when war breaks out.