aid
an officer. "We wash decks only twice a week instead of every day.
This means that quarters are not so moist, and the men have more
freedom of movement. We want them to have as much freedom as
possible."

Waiting, waiting, in such confinement for thirteen months; waiting for
battle! Think of the strain of it! The British temperament is well
fitted to undergo such a test, and particularly well fitted are these
sturdy seamen of mature years. An enemy may imagine them
wearing down their efficiency on the leash. They want a fight; naturally,
they want nothing quite so much. But they have the seaman's
philosophy. Old von Tirpitz may come out and he may not. It is for
him to do the worrying. They sit tight. The men's ardour is not imposed
upon. Care is taken that they should not be worked stale; for the
marksman who puts a dozen shots through the bull's-eye had better
not keep on firing, lest he begin rimming it and get into bad habits.

Where an army officer has a change when he leaves the trench for
his billet, there is none for the naval officer, who, unlike the army
officer, is Spartan-bred to confinement. The army pays its daily toll of
casualties; it lies cramped in dug-outs, not knowing what minute
extinction may come. The Grand Fleet has its usual comforts; it is
safe from submarines in a quiet harbour. Many naval officers spoke
of this contrast with deep feeling, as if fate were playing favourites,
though I have never heard an army officer mention it.

The army can give each day fresh proof of its courage in face of the
enemy. Courage! It takes on a new meaning with the Grand Fleet.
The individual element of gallantry merges into gallantry of the whole.
You have the very communism of courage. The thought is to keep a
cool head and do your part as a cog in the vast machine. Courage is
as much taken for granted as the breath of life. Thus, Cradock's men
fought till they went down. It was according to the programme laid out
for each turret and each gun in a turret.

Smith, of the army, leads a bomb-throwing party from traverse to
traverse; Smith, of the navy, turns one lever at the right second. Army
gunners are improving their practice day by day against the enemy;
all the improving by navy gunners must be done before the battle. No
sieges in trenches; no attacks and counter-attacks: a decision within
a few hours--perhaps within an hour.

This partially explains the love of the navy for its work; its cheerful