The Death of Hope by Andrew Wareham (inspirational books for women txt) 📕

to the City and all of its financial power; he was tobe the face and voice of the Isaacs clan, acceptable publicly because he wasGentile not Jew. That also made him valuable to the clan – a link that they hadpreviously lacked.

The sole question was whether he wouldchoose obvious eminence, a place in government as a minister, or a less visiblerole as an advisor, a voice of wisdom to be consulted before precipitate actionmight be taken. Was he in fact to be the Admiral or the senior flag captain,the man who actually read the words from the Admiralty and made clear what theaims of any action must be?

The Admiral posed for the photographersthese days, while the flag captain reported to Their Lordships, commonlyenjoyed a greater degree of true responsibility.

He returned to Harwich and to the house onthe outskirts they had rented where Alice would create a home for him to returnto when possible.

Tyrwhitt greeted him and sent him off tosea.

“Increasing activity around Heligoland andthe islands there, Sturton. All of our patrols are to pay particular attentionto the north of our area. The Dover Patrol is being beefed up from Portsmouthand Plymouth temporarily and is to take over some of our work on the Belgiancoast for a few weeks. You are to see what may be seen and keep an eye out for minelayersespecially.”

“Why, sir? A peculiar place to lay fields,I would have thought. Not much chance of our venturing towards the Friesian Islands.”

“Word is – from those people who claim toknow such things – that the latest plan is for the High Seas Fleet to sail andmake a demonstration of their presence in the North Sea and then retire,drawing the Grand Fleet out from Scapa Flow and Queensferry and bringing them ontothe new-laid minefields. As they pull away, possibly towing some of ourbattleships, certainly in some disorder, they will cross a line of submarines.Assuming the submarines to achieve some success, flotillas of destroyers in nightactions to follow.”

It was a recipe for disaster.

“We could lose a dozen battleships in thespace of a day and a night, and never bring the High Seas Fleet to action, sir.”

“We could. Jellicoe, I am told, believes itto be a strong possibility. Beatty does not. Beatty believes his battlecruisersare fast enough to avoid submarines and destroyers alike. Provided theminefields are spotted, and can be avoided, then he can get on the heels of theHigh Seas Fleet with his big guns and turn the tables.”

“That is crazy, sir! Battlecruisers arealmost unarmoured. They are to chase cruisers and scout for the fleet. Theyhave no place in the line of battle and must never come in range of battleships.”

“I know that, Sturton. So do you. Beattywants to win the battle and to Hell with any nautical sense! Glory first and foremost,and the damned newspapers support him and pressure the government to give himfree rein! You must do what you can the thwart the Germans and Beatty alike,Sturton!”

Chapter Fourteen

“Around of golf in the morning, Adams?”

The nine-hole golf course was one of thefew relaxations available to officers at Scapa Flow. It was not elegant and thesheep provided a mobile hazard but it was better than hour after hour sat inthe wardroom talking to the same people about the same things, day after dayafter day. Christopher was happy to accept.

“Getting up a boxing tournament again,they tell me, Proctor.”

Boxing – the Manly Art - was one of thefew sports available to officers and men alike. Proctor had fought as a middleweightat Dartmouth, showing well there.

“Not for me this time, Adams! That damnedstoker, Ferguson, has been posted up to Iron Duke – being champion he has a berthon the flagship! He will be competing and he is far better than me. I have methim twice in this last five years and been well thumped each time. A thirdlesson is not necessary. They say he will turn professional after the war. Ishall be happy to watch his fights!”

Christopher laughed. Boxing had neverappealed to him; he did not consider himself classically handsome but had nowish to see his nose rearranged by a skilful fist.

“Your lady would not approve of you enteringthe ring, I must imagine, Adams. Just a month until you wed, is it not?”

“End of June, Proctor. You have receivedyour invitation, have you not?”

“I have, dear boy, but I can never rememberdates. I shall certainly be present, the Kaiser permitting.”

“I doubt it will happen this year, Proctor.The Big Smash, that is. I don’t think the High Seas Fleet will stir out of itscomfortable moorings this summer. They must be content to sit in a harbour witha railway line direct to the fleshpots of Berlin and with hotels and clubs andrestaurants to hand onshore, laughing as they think of us stuck up here in thewilds, in the middle of nowhere. Seems to me they are winning hands down sofar, this war!”

“Won’t be when they come out, Adams.Eventually they must fall under our guns and that will be an end to it.”

Proctor was a turret officer, in charge ofone of Black Prince’s main battery guns and convinced that he would fire theshell that would destroy a German battlecruiser when the great meeting of thefleets eventuated.

“Armour-piercing into the magazine atthree thousand yards, dear boy! An end to all their troubling.”

Quite how Black Prince was to come soclose was left out of his calculations, it seemed.

“At night, dear boy! Just how the Captainhas it planned!”

Christopher made no response, excusinghimself to go to his chartroom, checking on the last instructions for course onleaving harbour.

“Changes every week, Proctor. The CruiserDivision seems to be put to a new position relative to the battleships everytime Jellicoe wants something to do with a couple of hours!”

A few minutes working on courses andprocedures for leaving Scapa in various states of wind and tide and Christophersat back, wandered up to the bridge to get some fresh air – something readilyavailable at Scapa – and to take a glance at the great anchorage. There wasalways some sort of movement, destroyer flotillas going out on exercise andpatrol, battleships