battle-navy

Updated: May 14, 2025

Meanwhile fruitless efforts were made by successive English Governments to limit armaments, to promote arbitration, and extend the scope of the Hague Tribunal. In vain. Germany would have none of them. Year by year, in a world of peace her battle-navy grew. "For what can it be intended but to attack England?" said the alarmist. But how few of us believed them!

Mrs. Humphry Ward - The War on All Fronts: England's Effort: Letters to an American Friend