My Memoirs. Vol. I. by Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz Anon

Author:Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz, Anon. [Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz, Anon.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781782891147
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Lucknow Books
Published: 2013-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

V

The reproach which is levelled at me from time to time of having pursued a one-sided and obtuse battle-fleet policy, is based upon an error. In comparison with the historical progress of our empire, we were late in going out into the world and upon the sea. In the bustle of the world, however, we had to expect conflicts of interests. It was important that we should avoid such things, and indeed impose no restrictions upon our activity so long as the understructure of our power was not secure. Until this was strengthened by our fleet and by political support, we could not move with any freedom upon the seas of the world and demand equal rights. Our, and particularly my, personal task therefore lay primarily in the creation of this sea-power, and this could only be done by the institution of the battle fleet. Moreover, we were compelled by the threats of the British in the first decade of this century to concentrate our fleet in force in home waters. Under these conditions trans-Atlantic expeditions, such as the China campaign, the action against Venezuela or the Agadir affair seemed to me altogether undesirable, quite apart from their particular disadvantages, for they only gave rise to jealousy of a State which could not yet be regarded as an equal at sea. During the last few years before the war, however, I saw the time approaching in which England’s inclination to attack us would cease, and give place to an attitude which would invite trade on an equal footing. This opened up a prospect of greater liberty of movement, which I also considered advisable for reasons affecting the service. The Prussian military spirit on which the whole national existence and the higher economic life of our people was founded, and will also have to be founded in the future, has one weak spot; the tendency to routine. It needs great personalities and keen judges of human nature like Moltke, Roon, and the old Emperor, to keep the live spirit going in the machine. The Prussian must have his pig-tail cut from time to time or else it will grow too long. Thus a certain rigidity in diligent, correct but subordinate work threatened to deprive the over-strained officers of the navy of any width of horizon. Particularly owing to the short period of service in our military organization, the life of our battle fleet in home waters ran the danger of losing through continual drill its enlivening contact with peoples and countries overseas. I not only wanted to train the officers in navy routine, but I also wanted to enable them to feel at home in Berlin society and the great world. The training of squadron commanders in particular to a more liberal and universal way of thinking can scarcely be effected without their appearing as independent individuals in the great world. Further, as I have said before, the gathering together of Germanism over the whole world required the support of the fleet more strongly than ever.

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