ABSTRACT
The history of the seizure of the Danish fleet in the Napoleonic wars was taken from its context and mentioned again and again in public discussions about the German navy. The German fleet must be powerful enough to inflict serious damage upon the fleet of the strongest naval Power. The strongest naval Power would not venture to attack a powerful German fleet, since its own fleet would be so much weakened in the process of destroying the German navy that it would be at the mercy of other naval Powers. The constitution of the German Empire placed enormous responsibilities upon the Emperor. The Emperor’s telegram gave some colour to the statements of those who planned the raid that Germany was encouraging the Boers to attack British interests. From a political point of view, the chances of a mercantilist war could hardly seem serious at a time when Great Britain was making overtures to Germany.
