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CHAPTER 3 Part 7: England Expects More....

SEVEN

Jackson was the first to recover. “Now, Mr. Balfour. You had important matters to discuss.”

“Yes, thank you, Admiral.” Balfour paused a moment to decide which items to go with first.

“First, I have heard from the French and they have promised one of their most experienced anti-submarine officers. They do not know when he will be available, but will try to give the Admiralty more information by the end of the working day tomorrow. It seems the problem is that last week he got his ship sunk from under him, for the second time, and is home in the countryside on a brief leave.”

“That's one kind of experience,” Moore said dryly.

“Yes. Quite.” Balfour added, equally dryly. “Their Minister of Marine says he is considered a very good officer, and very intelligent. He described him as: 'A man to whom you give your problems.' Admiral Moore, I have come to know Rear Admiral Lacaze since he became Minister of Marine, and even with all the trouble we have working out our Mediterranean priorities with the French Navy, he is a solid man. If says he is sending his best, I believe him.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you.”

“Second, I am here to pass on to you, Admiral Jackson, that Cabinet has today approved your request to transfer two fully operational RNAS squadrons of Sopwith 2-seaters from France to Cornwall and County Cork. They have further instructed me to say that the squadrons are to be moved with all dispatch, and to be provided with any replacements or supplies they may require. More may follow if they are found useful for additional anti-submarine patrols. Certainly the preliminary information suggests they are useful.”

“That's good. Thank you.” Jackson hesitated. “We will commence movement forthwith. But what of my request to plan for use of the big new Handley Page bombers for patrols? They have the range and endurance aloft to provide much more effective patrols, and with two engines can be risked farther from shore.”

“I have no favourable answer for you there – they want to use them to strike directly at the Germans, at least for now. Just as they are reluctant to part with the Sopwiths."

Balfour took an extra breath before going on. “Finally, I am here to tell you that Cabinet has discussed convoys and has determined that convoys are not to be considered for our overseas trade. Their disruption of shipping flows and effective capacity would hand the Germans their victory. The idea of every ship waiting for days until the group is ready, and then sailing at the speed of the slowest – and all that kind of argument – has been quite persuasive.”

“The Admiralty has had its doubts about the workability of convoying so many ships, as we have discussed several times,” Admiral Jackson added. “Gordon, the Admiralty analysis of this was to be, is still to be, the main subject of our meeting tomorrow morning with your Commander Torrance Smythe.”

Balfour continued: “Very good. I leave the operational discussions to you, and merely pass on the Cabinet view at this time. That is that while convoys may work for taking troops through war zones, such as across to France or even to the Dardanelles, that is predominantly in the face of potential surface attacks. Against unseen U-boats it will be gathering their prey for them. Unless and until you have some new information, that is the government's decision.”

He paused. “Admiral Jackson my office will pass along additional information for your meeting tomorrow – the document is being prepared even now. And with that, gentlemen, I should go in pursuit of the King and try to make sure he doesn't get up to any further royal mischief here at the Admiralty.”