1 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:24,680 "O, do but think you stand upon the rivage and behold a city on th' inconstant billows dancing 2 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:28,360 "For so appears this fleet majestical." 3 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:39,120 In August 1914, Britain went to war with a very small army 4 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:42,800 and the greatest navy the world had ever seen. 5 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:47,640 The first duty of the Royal Navy was to defend the British Isles 6 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:51,200 against dangers defined earlier by Sir Walter Raleigh. 7 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:55,520 There are two ways in which England may be afflicted - 8 00:01:55,520 --> 00:02:01,280 one, by invasion, the other by impeachment of our trades. 9 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:15,880 100 years after Raleigh, the Marquis of Halifax wrote: 10 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:20,440 To the question, "What shall we do to be saved in this world?" 11 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:25,000 there is no other answer but this - "Look to your moat." 12 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:30,360 The first article of an Englishman's political creed must be 13 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:32,880 that he believeth in the sea. 14 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:37,640 Ever since Trafalgar in 1805, 15 00:02:37,640 --> 00:02:44,280 Britain's "fleet majestical" had been the envy and despair of other powers. 16 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:50,880 "Wherever there's water to float a ship," said Napoleon, "we're sure to find YOU in the way." 17 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:11,960 In 1900, Germany began to build a fleet - a BATTLE fleet. 18 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:15,560 Admiral von der Goetz told the Reichstag: 19 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:23,280 The maritime superiority of Great Britain, overwhelming now, will remain considerable in the future, 20 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:29,160 but she is compelled to scatter her forces all over the world. 21 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:33,720 With the increases about to be made in the German fleet, 22 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:40,400 we will be able to measure our strength with ordinary British naval forces in home waters. 23 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:46,960 The very foundations of Britain's security were placed in hazard. The threat was unmistakable. 24 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:51,520 Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Secretary, expressed its extent: 25 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:58,320 If the German fleet ever becomes superior to ours, the German army can conquer this country. 26 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:00,880 There's no such risk to Germany, 27 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:07,600 for however superior our fleet was, no naval victory would bring us any nearer to Berlin. 28 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:15,400 There were two courses open to Britain - negotiate to limit the German fleet or increase her own. 29 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:19,240 In 1908, the Kaiser ruled out negotiation. 30 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:23,600 A good understanding with the English is not desirable 31 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:27,160 at the cost of the completion of the German fleet. 32 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:31,840 If the British want war, they can have it. We are not afraid of it. 33 00:04:31,840 --> 00:04:36,400 Britain met the challenge by stripping her overseas stations 34 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:39,480 and concentrating her navy in home waters. 35 00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:44,040 Sir John Fisher, First Sea Lord, wrote reassuringly: 36 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:49,040 We will soon have in home waters two fleets, each of which is superior 37 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:53,520 to the entire German fleet fully mobilised for war, 38 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:56,440 so sleep easy in your beds. 39 00:04:56,440 --> 00:05:01,040 Battleships and cruisers returned home from distant oceans - 40 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:05,640 a holiday for the Arab smuggler or the Malay buccaneer. 41 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:12,600 It was not enough. In 1906, Britain had launched HMS Dreadnought - faster, bigger, more heavily armed. 42 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:16,160 All existing battleships were rendered obsolete. 43 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:20,720 In theory, all the shipbuilding nations were now on equal terms. 44 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:23,800 The naval race began. 45 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:18,760 Bigger ships, 46 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:21,200 heavier armaments, 47 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:23,600 12 inch guns, 48 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:26,840 13.5 inch guns, 49 00:06:26,840 --> 00:06:29,280 15 inch guns. 50 00:06:29,280 --> 00:06:33,760 When war began, it was Britain who had won the race. 51 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:39,920 She had 24 dreadnoughts and battle cruisers ready to fight, to Germany's 16, 52 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:44,760 AND the moral advantage of a century of unchallenged supremacy. 53 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:48,200 One officer said at the outbreak of war, 54 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:55,040 "I'm quite sure all of us will find our bones lying at the bottom of the sea within the next ten days 55 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:59,880 "and I have decided to eat nothing till my death but caviar." 56 00:06:59,880 --> 00:07:05,600 He kept that up for three days and then gave up to avoid bankruptcy. 57 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:10,360 To Britain's naval strength was added that of France. 58 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:15,400 German policy had made allies of the old enemies of Trafalgar. 59 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:22,440 Together, the allied fleets ringed the German and Austrian fortress of Europe. 60 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:30,840 Colonial possessions provided the British, French and German fleets 61 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:34,400 with bases for supplies and repairs. 62 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:37,960 They also formed a network of radio stations, 63 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:41,520 connecting distant squadrons with their home command. 64 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:45,080 Above all, they served as coaling stations. 65 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:47,640 To steam ships, coal was life. 66 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:52,680 A heavy ship ate a ton of coal for every mile steamed at high speed. 67 00:07:56,040 --> 00:08:03,080 When she refuelled, up to 2,000 tons of coal would have to be loaded into her bunkers. 68 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:13,320 So, across the world, the naval powers had built up chains of coaling stations. 69 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:19,360 The filthy colliers that replenished them were the sinews of naval glory. 70 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:46,720 Coaling ship was a hated task, which might take from dawn to dusk, or longer. 71 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:54,280 Breaking the surface of the coal was fine, but as you got lower and lower into the hold, it got terrible. 72 00:08:54,280 --> 00:09:01,520 You was eating coal dust all the time you were down there. Your nose, your eyes got blocked up. 73 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:05,120 We was jolly thankful when we was finished. 74 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:09,000 # Only one more day of coaling 75 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:11,560 # One more day 76 00:09:11,560 --> 00:09:15,000 # Oh, rock 'n' roll me over 77 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:18,880 # Only one more day! 78 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:23,520 # Only one more day a-working 79 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:26,400 # One more day 80 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:30,120 # Oh, rock 'n' roll me over 81 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:33,920 # Only one more day! # 82 00:09:45,680 --> 00:09:50,240 In 1914, Britain placed entire trust in the Royal Navy - 83 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:54,400 supreme, invincible repository of imperial might. 84 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:57,840 "Sleep quiet in your beds," Admiral Fisher had said. 85 00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:03,360 "We will be incomparably superior to the entire German fleet." 86 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:08,000 Yet there were those who were uneasily conscious of new factors. 87 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:11,400 A naval revolution had been in progress... 88 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:13,440 underwater. 89 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:20,000 The mine and the submarine created dangers to which the largest dreadnoughts were vulnerable. 90 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:25,520 No-one knew how these underwater weapons would affect the great fleets. 91 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:30,800 One American admiral said, "Damn the torpedoes. Full steam ahead." 92 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:36,920 Observers knew Britain had lagged behind in developing underwater armaments. 93 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:40,840 We had no efficient mine, no proper minesweepers, 94 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:47,880 no measures for guarding our ships against mines, no anti-submarine precautions, no safe harbour. 95 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:55,400 Poor defences for the fleet in its own waters upset Commander-in-Chief Admiral Jellicoe. 96 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:59,440 I was far more concerned for the safety of the fleet 97 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:04,320 when it was at anchor in Scapa Flow in the early days of the war 98 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:08,000 than I was when the fleet was at sea. 99 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:14,040 Unsuspected uncertainties hovered around the Royal Navy as it went to war. 100 00:11:30,680 --> 00:11:35,720 Germany had acquired a colonial empire in Africa and the Pacific - 101 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:40,040 more than four times the area of her homeland, 102 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:43,560 and she had developed a huge export trade. 103 00:11:43,560 --> 00:11:50,680 In the Far East was the only naval force outside the North Sea to carry the flag of Imperial Germany, 104 00:11:50,680 --> 00:11:54,760 the German Asiatic Squadron under Admiral Graf von Spee. 105 00:11:54,760 --> 00:11:58,800 This alone defended Germany's Pacific colonies. 106 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:02,840 The allies planned von Spee's immediate destruction - 107 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:10,240 take away his bases, his radio and coaling stations, and his squadron would be helpless. 108 00:12:10,240 --> 00:12:13,240 The first to be seized was Samoa. 109 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:20,520 Palms and sands and lazy islanders ringed by the glamorous South Seas. 110 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:28,840 This was where Robert Louis Stevenson of Treasure Island had died and been buried. 111 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:32,960 "That ridiculous island!" the Kaiser called it. 112 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:38,000 There was no fighting in Samoa. 113 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:44,360 A party of New Zealanders came ashore to accept the German surrender with due ceremony. 114 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:52,080 The black and red and white flag of Germany came down the mast and the Union flag flew in its place. 115 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:56,840 On the same day, the BEF was marching back from Mons 116 00:12:56,840 --> 00:13:00,320 and Le Cateau in dour exhaustion. 117 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:12,200 On September 10th, the remote tropical war moved to another German island, New Pomerania, 118 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:14,640 off the coast of New Guinea. 119 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:29,480 There was a brisk action, ending in an Australian victory. 120 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:34,320 On September 15th, the whole of German New Guinea surrendered. 121 00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:37,920 Australia, in her first campaign of conquest, 122 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:42,360 had added 90,000 square miles to the British Empire 123 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:45,840 at a cost of six dead and four wounded. 124 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:50,600 But Germany's strongest Pacific colony and von Spee's main base 125 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:54,840 was Tsingtao on the Kiaochow Peninsula of China. 126 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:57,400 Its Governor telegraphed Berlin: 127 00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:04,440 Tsingtao is impregnable. It cannot be taken from the sea and no-one would try from the land. 128 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:07,320 But it could be besieged. 129 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:12,760 Japanese, British and Indian troops landed on September 2nd. 130 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:22,360 The Japanese had a problem. 131 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:27,440 They couldn't tell a German European from an English one. 132 00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:32,920 We sent out a mixed patrol - ourselves and the Japanese. 133 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:38,040 They shot one of our men. They say we look the same as the Germans. 134 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:42,960 They gave us Japanese kimonos, down to our thighs, with capes. 135 00:14:42,960 --> 00:14:49,600 When we all wore kimonos, we were all chaps together. There were no more accidents. 136 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:53,120 The siege of Tsingtao went on for nine weeks. 137 00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:59,880 The Japanese brought Howitzers to smash the forts as the Germans had smashed Liege and Namur. 138 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:09,040 We were out resting now on the 6th and 7th and we were behind a range, nice cover. 139 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:15,480 And all of a sudden, there was a Japanese officer coming on horseback, full gallop. 140 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:20,400 He said, "Germans finish, Germans finish. White flag is up." 141 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:24,040 They surrendered on Sunday morning, 7th November. 142 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:32,840 Now the last islands to fly the German flag in the Pacific fell one by one. 143 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:37,840 The Marianas and the Carolines and the Marshalls and Bougainville. 144 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:44,040 One by one, Admiral von Spee lost his hopes of coal and succour. 145 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:50,560 His sleek ships steamed on in isolation. Winston Churchill described his dilemma: 146 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:58,080 With the blockade of Tsingtao, he was cut off from his only base on that side of the world. 147 00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:03,120 To steam at full or high speed for any length of time on any quest 148 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:06,160 was to use up his life rapidly. 149 00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:12,640 He was a cut flower in a vase - fair to see, yet bound to die. 150 00:16:20,320 --> 00:16:24,480 Germany's African empire was crumbling too. 151 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:27,240 In August, Togoland fell. 152 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:29,880 In September, the Cameroons. 153 00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:32,440 South West Africa was attacked. 154 00:16:32,440 --> 00:16:36,560 The operation was delayed by a rebellion of Afrikaners 155 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:41,480 who wanted to reverse the result of the Boer War. 156 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:49,400 Rebels were killed, dispersed or captured, but the Germans had been granted a respite. 157 00:16:50,640 --> 00:16:57,640 But by the summer of 1915, the Union flag flew over the whole of this vast territory. 158 00:17:04,600 --> 00:17:09,280 The first invasion of German East Africa ended in rout. 159 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:17,120 A British and Indian force, poorly commanded and poorly trained, 160 00:17:17,120 --> 00:17:20,320 landed on the swampy coast. 161 00:17:20,320 --> 00:17:28,360 Amid muddles and misunderstandings, they were attacked by well-trained African askaris 162 00:17:28,360 --> 00:17:32,600 under a great German commander - Colonel von Lettow-Vorbech. 163 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:39,520 The British, their invasion hopes shattered by dysentery and gunfire, withdrew after four days, 164 00:17:39,520 --> 00:17:43,560 leaving behind 800 dead and many prisoners, 165 00:17:43,560 --> 00:17:50,000 as well as enough guns and ammunition, coats and blankets, to supply the Germans for years. 166 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:54,640 Von Lettow-Vorbech and his mobile force of never more than 15,000 167 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:58,240 harassed up to 130,000 allied troops 168 00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:00,840 till the very end of the war. 169 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:20,160 East Africa held out but the German Empire disappeared from the map. 170 00:18:20,160 --> 00:18:23,320 Her merchant fleet also disappeared. 171 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:29,800 The blockade, mounted by the British Navy on the first day of war, was doing its work. 172 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:34,840 German merchant ships were penned up in ports all around the world. 173 00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:48,400 Ships of neutral nations were prevented from bringing her any materials of war. 174 00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:54,760 This created instant friction between Britain and America. Lloyd George wrote: 175 00:18:54,760 --> 00:18:59,320 Germany's chief power was on land, Britain's on the sea. 176 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:06,720 Germany's invasion of Belgium, her devastation of France might arouse disinterested wraths in America, 177 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:11,280 but it did not touch American pockets. 178 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:16,120 On the other hand, Britain's firm measures to stop contraband of war 179 00:19:16,120 --> 00:19:21,800 from reaching Germany and her wide interpretation of "contraband" 180 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:28,840 caused serious inconvenience to American shipping and direct interference with American business. 181 00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:35,480 It was a test of diplomacy, as Britain and Germany competed for America's sympathy. 182 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:39,040 President Wilson's confidential advisor said: 183 00:19:39,040 --> 00:19:43,960 The British have gone as far as they could in violating neutral rights, 184 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:48,040 though they have done it in the most courteous way. 185 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:57,600 President Wilson had determined to keep America out of war. He contented himself with protests. 186 00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:01,760 And now, under the protection of the Royal Navy, 187 00:20:01,760 --> 00:20:08,600 soldiers from Britain and the British Empire poured unmolested into France and Egypt. 188 00:20:24,280 --> 00:20:30,560 In October, the first Canadian contingent left Halifax, Nova Scotia, for France, 189 00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:33,120 over 31,000 soldiers - 190 00:20:33,120 --> 00:20:38,120 the greatest concentration ever carried by ship in one journey. 191 00:20:38,120 --> 00:20:43,120 Everywhere the oceans were a broad and safe high road for the allies - 192 00:20:43,120 --> 00:20:48,240 for troops from India sailing to protect the oil fields of the Gulf, 193 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:54,920 for Australians and New Zealanders bound for Egypt where Indian and British soldiers 194 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:59,320 were defending the Suez Canal against the Turk. 195 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:05,280 In all this vast traffic, not one soldier was lost through German naval attacks. 196 00:21:05,280 --> 00:21:09,840 The same sea power protected Britain's merchant trade, 197 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:12,880 more vital now than ever before. 198 00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:30,120 Everywhere the allies sailed safely over the oceans, under the wing of the Royal Navy. 199 00:21:36,680 --> 00:21:41,320 But it is the duty of a fleet to destroy enemy warships. 200 00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:47,960 On August 28th, the Admiralty planned a daring assault, deep into German home waters. 201 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:50,520 The destination, Heligoland Bight, 202 00:21:50,520 --> 00:21:55,480 the stretch of sea between the armed island fortress of Heligoland 203 00:21:55,480 --> 00:22:02,120 and the mouths of the Elbe and the Jade, where the main German fleet was concentrated. 204 00:22:02,120 --> 00:22:08,560 The Admiralty knew that German destroyers patrolled this area every night. 205 00:22:08,560 --> 00:22:12,120 They'd planned a trap for the Germans. 206 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:24,480 But when German light cruisers appeared, the British destroyers found themselves in difficulties. 207 00:22:35,120 --> 00:22:41,760 Then an impressive new element surged into the battle - Admiral Beatty's battle cruisers. 208 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:47,280 They quickly pounded the German cruisers into wrecks with their big guns. 209 00:22:54,000 --> 00:23:00,440 Admiralty signalling muddles caused much confusion amongst the British squadrons, 210 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:05,040 but the action was an unqualified British success. 211 00:23:05,040 --> 00:23:10,720 They lost no ships. The Germans lost three cruisers and a destroyer. 212 00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:14,760 Admiral Tirpitz, creator of the fleet, lamented: 213 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:18,480 It was a day fateful for the work of our navy. 214 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:22,520 The Emperor did not want losses of this sort. 215 00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:30,360 Orders were issued by the Kaiser to restrict the initiative of the commander-in-chief of the fleet. 216 00:23:30,360 --> 00:23:38,200 The loss of ships was to be avoided. Sorties and other undertakings must be approved by the Kaiser. 217 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:41,960 Germany turned to her underwater weapons. 218 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:48,200 The frightening potential of mine and torpedo were still a haunting enigma. 219 00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:07,360 Soon, they gained an outstanding and ominous success. 220 00:24:07,360 --> 00:24:10,920 On September 22nd, near the Dutch coast, 221 00:24:10,920 --> 00:24:15,000 one of Germany's oldest U-boats, the U-9, 222 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:18,720 sighted a patrol of three British cruisers - 223 00:24:18,720 --> 00:24:22,280 the Hoog, the Aboukir, and the Crecy. 224 00:24:22,280 --> 00:24:27,320 Within an hour, all three were sunk with the loss of 1,400 lives - 225 00:24:27,320 --> 00:24:31,400 more men than Nelson lost in all his battles. 226 00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:37,920 On October 27th, Audacious, a new British dreadnought, hit a mine and blew up. 227 00:24:37,920 --> 00:24:44,920 All the crew were saved, but it was another alarming sign of the shift in balance of naval war. 228 00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:56,800 On the surface, Germany boasted one conspicuous success. 229 00:24:56,800 --> 00:25:01,120 The cruiser Emden, detached from von Spee's squadron, 230 00:25:01,120 --> 00:25:07,800 was pursuing a brilliant career of destruction in the busy sea lanes of the Indian Ocean. 231 00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:13,320 She was a Scarlet Pimpernel of the sea - gallant, elusive, surprising. 232 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:20,000 Emden's exploits rang round the world. 233 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:24,120 She captured or sank merchant ship after merchant ship. 234 00:25:27,560 --> 00:25:32,600 If they were colliers, she filled up and took a new lease of life. 235 00:25:32,600 --> 00:25:37,640 Eight British men-of-war combed the Indian Ocean for her in vain. 236 00:25:37,640 --> 00:25:40,200 Marine insurance rates rocketed. 237 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:44,760 She delayed the sailing of a New Zealand troop convoy. 238 00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:49,800 She entered Penang Harbour and sank a Russian and a French warship. 239 00:26:05,200 --> 00:26:12,600 One night, she entered the port of Madras, turned on her searchlights and gunned the shore oil tanks. 240 00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:17,600 They were wrecked and a 1½ million gallons went up in smoke. 241 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:21,800 In Britain, the Admiralty's prestige was shaken, 242 00:26:21,800 --> 00:26:26,160 as even the First Lord, Winston Churchill, had to admit: 243 00:26:26,160 --> 00:26:33,040 The press and the public was not in a position to understand all that the Admiralty was doing. 244 00:26:33,040 --> 00:26:39,640 They saw only a few German cruisers doing whatever they chose and sinking British merchantmen. 245 00:26:39,640 --> 00:26:43,920 A great deal of discontent made itself felt and heard. 246 00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:48,960 After two profitable months, Emden sailed to the Cocos Islands 247 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:53,440 and sent a landing party ashore to wreck the radio station. 248 00:26:58,920 --> 00:27:03,640 But the new weapon of radio was her undoing. 249 00:27:03,640 --> 00:27:07,160 The operator had already signalled for help 250 00:27:07,160 --> 00:27:11,360 and the Australian cruiser Sydney was on her way. 251 00:27:20,320 --> 00:27:23,360 HORN BLARES 252 00:27:36,920 --> 00:27:41,640 Emden, outgunned and outranged, ran herself onto a reef. 253 00:27:44,760 --> 00:27:47,320 The Indian Ocean was safe again. 254 00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:55,400 Now the flame of German naval imperialism was flickering out. Only von Spee remained. 255 00:27:55,400 --> 00:28:02,960 From the outbreak of war, he eluded his pursuers, alone, with his five ships, cut off from his colonies, 256 00:28:02,960 --> 00:28:07,120 he steamed on in the empty vastness of the Pacific. 257 00:28:07,120 --> 00:28:11,760 Every day, Churchill studied charts of his possible position, 258 00:28:11,760 --> 00:28:15,480 pondering where the Asiatic squadron may be. 259 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:20,520 At last, news came that it was sailing towards the coast of Chile. 260 00:28:20,520 --> 00:28:27,560 Admiral Cradock, commanding a British squadron in the Pacific, was ordered to hunt him down. 261 00:28:27,560 --> 00:28:30,120 Cradock wrote: 262 00:28:30,120 --> 00:28:35,160 Somehow I think we will say, "How do you do?" to the Teutonic gentlemen. 263 00:28:35,160 --> 00:28:38,600 We don't want any more disappointments. 264 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:43,280 Cradock with the old cruisers, Good Hope and Monmouth, 265 00:28:43,280 --> 00:28:48,280 and the light cruiser Glasgow and the merchant cruiser Otranto, 266 00:28:48,280 --> 00:28:53,160 found von Spee near the bay of Coronel, off the coast of Chile. 267 00:28:55,480 --> 00:28:58,400 We formed single line ahead... 268 00:28:59,760 --> 00:29:06,120 ..and Good Hope fired a ranging shot, which was short. 269 00:29:06,120 --> 00:29:11,240 The enemy then opened up with relevant salvoes. 270 00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:14,960 We did not possess that method of firing, 271 00:29:14,960 --> 00:29:17,520 but it soon became apparent to us 272 00:29:17,520 --> 00:29:24,280 that both the Monmouth and the Good Hope were under severe punishment for about an hour. 273 00:29:24,280 --> 00:29:28,800 There was a terrific explosion in the Good Hope 274 00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:32,360 and she went up like a huge bouquet... 275 00:29:32,360 --> 00:29:34,920 and disappeared. 276 00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:42,400 And after that, they concentrated on the Monmouth and us. 277 00:29:43,880 --> 00:29:50,440 And the Monmouth was soon in trouble and could make little effective reply. 278 00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:55,000 The Monmouth sank and the whole crew was drowned. 279 00:29:55,000 --> 00:29:59,560 Cradock too was drowned with the crew of the Good Hope. 280 00:29:59,560 --> 00:30:02,120 A fellow admiral said of him: 281 00:30:02,120 --> 00:30:08,480 Poor Kit Cradock - he'd always wanted to die on the hunting field or in action. 282 00:30:09,440 --> 00:30:14,080 News of the black defeat at Coronel staggered a British public 283 00:30:14,080 --> 00:30:18,040 reared on the legend of an unconquerable navy. 284 00:30:18,040 --> 00:30:24,280 U-boats, mines, the Emden, and now a British squadron smashed in a fair fight. 285 00:30:24,280 --> 00:30:29,240 The Admiralty, already under heavy criticism, reacted ferociously. 286 00:30:29,240 --> 00:30:37,120 The battle cruisers Invincible and Inflexible were ordered out to find von Spee and destroy him. 287 00:30:37,120 --> 00:30:41,960 There was to be no delay. The admiral's superintendent Davenport 288 00:30:41,960 --> 00:30:48,560 reports the earliest completion date of Invincible and Inflexible is midnight, 13th November. 289 00:30:48,560 --> 00:30:54,240 Admiralty to C-in-C Davenport, ships are to sail Wednesday 11th November. 290 00:30:54,240 --> 00:30:58,480 They are needed for war service and must conform. 291 00:30:58,480 --> 00:31:05,080 If necessary, dockyard men should be sent away IN the ships to return as opportunity may offer. 292 00:31:05,080 --> 00:31:10,360 YOU are responsible for despatching the ships in an efficient condition. 293 00:31:10,360 --> 00:31:15,400 On Wednesday November 11th, the two great ships under Admiral Sturdee, 294 00:31:15,400 --> 00:31:21,040 steamed south towards the South Atlantic and the Falkland Islands. 295 00:31:27,600 --> 00:31:32,160 45 allied warships were now after von Spee's blood. 296 00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:34,520 He had no illusions. 297 00:31:34,520 --> 00:31:41,040 We have at least contributed in a certain measure to the glory of our arms. 298 00:31:41,040 --> 00:31:47,680 Although that cannot signify greatly against the enormous number of British ships. 299 00:31:47,680 --> 00:31:54,720 Unknown to each other, von Spee and Sturdee were steaming towards the same place at the same time - 300 00:31:54,720 --> 00:31:57,640 the Falklands. 301 00:31:57,640 --> 00:32:04,040 Sturdee arrived first. He was coaling the morning after and received the signal - 302 00:32:04,040 --> 00:32:08,640 a four-funnelled and a two-funnelled man-of-war in sight. 303 00:32:08,640 --> 00:32:13,640 The ships he was scouring the ocean for were sailing into his arms. 304 00:32:13,640 --> 00:32:19,400 The British crews worked feverishly to prepare their ships for the chase. 305 00:32:27,240 --> 00:32:32,280 The Germans, at first, thought they had surprised a cruiser squadron, 306 00:32:32,280 --> 00:32:37,200 then suddenly the Germans saw the tripod masts - battle cruisers. 307 00:32:37,200 --> 00:32:39,680 They meant certain death. 308 00:32:39,680 --> 00:32:43,680 The battle cruisers swept out of the harbour. 309 00:32:43,680 --> 00:32:49,360 For three hours, they chased von Spee, eating up his 15-mile lead. 310 00:32:49,360 --> 00:32:52,600 At nine miles, Sturdee opened fire. 311 00:32:54,760 --> 00:33:01,840 The Scharnhorst and the Gneisenau fought back gallantly, but they had no hope. 312 00:33:01,840 --> 00:33:06,600 We could feel one or two shots coming and hitting us. 313 00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:14,480 We could hear the shots piercing the funnels and the superstructure and the casings and... 314 00:33:14,480 --> 00:33:20,720 but we were assured, from time to time, from the bridge, that all was going well. 315 00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:27,120 Sturdee's advantage was overwhelming, 316 00:33:27,120 --> 00:33:34,760 but British gunnery was uneven and many shells that did land on target failed to pierce the German armour. 317 00:33:54,480 --> 00:34:01,320 It was five hours before Scharnhorst sank and Gneisenau soon followed her. 318 00:34:01,320 --> 00:34:05,360 The Kent finished off the light cruiser Nurnberg. 319 00:34:05,360 --> 00:34:11,920 She was on fire, fore and aft, and some of them were jumping into the water, 320 00:34:11,920 --> 00:34:16,960 on bits of wreckage, so as to get to us, but the seas were icy cold. 321 00:34:16,960 --> 00:34:21,880 We all had the impression that those Germans were very plucky people. 322 00:34:21,880 --> 00:34:26,560 I actually saw one man pull out a flag that was aft. 323 00:34:26,560 --> 00:34:31,600 He got hold of it and I saw him as he was sinking under the water 324 00:34:31,600 --> 00:34:37,920 still waving that flag as that ship went down - "Deutschland still uber alles". 325 00:34:37,920 --> 00:34:40,920 Only one light cruiser escaped. 326 00:34:40,920 --> 00:34:47,520 Coronel was avenged at the expense of three-quarters of the battle cruisers' ammunition, 327 00:34:47,520 --> 00:34:52,320 and some disturbing questions about the quality of British gunnery. 328 00:34:53,440 --> 00:34:58,320 A month later, another battle raised more questions - 329 00:34:58,320 --> 00:35:00,920 this time about British signalling. 330 00:35:00,920 --> 00:35:07,720 A British battle cruiser force in the North Sea met a smaller German one near the Dogger Bank. 331 00:35:17,320 --> 00:35:20,240 MAN SHOUTS COMMANDS 332 00:35:25,160 --> 00:35:29,720 Their heavy cruiser Blucher was badly hit and burning. 333 00:35:29,720 --> 00:35:36,400 She began to slow down. The British flagship also damaged and her radio gone 334 00:35:36,400 --> 00:35:41,960 flag signalled the other ships to continue chasing the fleeing Germans. 335 00:35:41,960 --> 00:35:48,280 By a combination of mistakes, the force stopped pursuing and turned on the doomed Blucher. 336 00:35:57,200 --> 00:36:00,880 We annihilated her, brought her to rest, 337 00:36:00,880 --> 00:36:03,440 and she was in a very bad position, 338 00:36:03,440 --> 00:36:05,880 but the most extraordinary thing about it 339 00:36:05,880 --> 00:36:10,920 was that she was heeling over and there must have been over 1,000 men 340 00:36:10,920 --> 00:36:17,480 clambering up the deck onto the side of the ship and she steadily rolled over again, 341 00:36:17,480 --> 00:36:22,280 so they were sliding down the side of the ship into the water. 342 00:36:23,280 --> 00:36:25,880 The German battle cruisers escaped. 343 00:36:25,880 --> 00:36:31,600 Safe in harbour after their brief foray, they returned to their passive role, 344 00:36:31,600 --> 00:36:34,160 but recreation was not victory. 345 00:36:34,160 --> 00:36:38,760 The German fleet had little to show after six months of war, 346 00:36:38,760 --> 00:36:42,160 except confirmation of the Kaiser's fears - 347 00:36:42,160 --> 00:36:48,200 the British grand fleet was too strong for them. Morale was in danger. 348 00:36:48,200 --> 00:36:52,480 The Kaiser had to issue a special order to his fleet. 349 00:36:52,480 --> 00:36:57,360 I urge you to maintain a spirit of cheerful fulfilment of duty, 350 00:36:57,360 --> 00:37:02,680 even when there has so far been no opportunity in the face of the enemy 351 00:37:02,680 --> 00:37:09,240 or where in all human probability no such opportunity is likely to occur at all. 352 00:37:09,240 --> 00:37:11,800 The German navy had failed. 353 00:37:13,760 --> 00:37:18,120 But the British had not entirely succeeded. 354 00:37:18,120 --> 00:37:22,400 Six months of war revealed weaknesses in British training - 355 00:37:22,400 --> 00:37:29,040 a training of character and seamanship in the tradition of Drake and Nelson, 356 00:37:29,040 --> 00:37:33,880 but less adapted to the technology of modern naval war. 357 00:37:33,880 --> 00:37:40,360 There had been grave signalling errors and Sturdee took five hours to sink von Spee, 358 00:37:40,360 --> 00:37:45,320 whereas, at Coronel, von Spee had destroyed Cradock in an hour. 359 00:37:45,320 --> 00:37:50,080 The main base at Scapa Flow was weakly defended against U-boats. 360 00:37:50,080 --> 00:37:54,760 Observers noted defects in British equipment and in tactics. 361 00:37:54,760 --> 00:37:59,600 The long lack of a naval staff was beginning to tell, 362 00:37:59,600 --> 00:38:03,200 yet the balance sheet was in Britain's favour. 363 00:38:03,200 --> 00:38:07,240 The German Navy might still be powerful and intact, 364 00:38:07,240 --> 00:38:12,960 but her fleet was in harbour, her merchant ships were gone, and her colonies were seized. 365 00:38:32,040 --> 00:38:37,080 In the first months of the war, the Royal Navy had done its job. 366 00:38:37,080 --> 00:38:41,640 Only a few sensed the absence of the Nelson touch, 367 00:38:41,640 --> 00:38:45,960 and of the tremendous superior might of Nelson's day.