Page:The Next Naval War - Eardley-Wilmot - 1894.djvu/30

 reference to the Intelligence Department, which one day was directed to draw up a statement showing our squadrons everywhere stronger than any two others combined, while shortly afterwards a new Government, desirous of support to a demand for increased Navy estimates, had a form prepared which clearly demonstrated that we had now sunk to a second-rate naval power.

At last the chief of the department suggested that to save time he should be given instructions beforehand what it was wanted to prove, as anything in this direction was possible with a slight modification in the classification of battle-ships. In the meantime the Board were engaged—and it had occupied their time for some months—upon a detail of uniform. Each branch of the service now carried on its arm the emblem of its speciality. One had crossed torpedoes. The seaman gunner had guns in an impossible position. A shovel decorated the stoker, and the carpenter was known by his axe. The point now was, how should domestics be distinguished. A section of the Board advocated with warmth a crossed knife and fork on the left arm above the elbow. Another member, a great advocate for teetotalism and the abolition of rum, was equally firm in desiring the emblem should be a cup and saucer. They were now discussing this point, and had decided to refer it to the First Lord, when a message from him turned their thoughts into another channel. It informed them