ABSTRACT
The question of the relative facilities for the rapid construction of ships in Great Britain and Germany had been raised earlier in 1908. The German Naval Law of 1900 had already been modified; every modification had increased the striking power of the German fleet. According to the German version Grey said that the English Admiralty reckoned that, at the normal rate of building, Germany would have thirteen Dreadnoughts ready by February 1912. If Krupp’s worked at full pressure, and if the necessary material were accumulated in advance, Germany might suddenly accelerate her programme of construction and take Great Britain by surprise. The productive capacity of Krupp’s and the shipbuilding yards was amply sufficient for an anticipation of this kind; Germany might accelerate the time-table of the 1908-1909 and 1909-1910 ships. The British Government, in their anxiety to keep down their own naval expenditure, put definite and plain questions to the German Ambassador.
