“We forget today that Britain still depends for its livelihood and, indeed, its day-to-day survival, on the sea. But the Royal Navy is now pitifully small and has been reduced in size by the current Government, seeking economies to finance its social programmes. Fine while there is no threat to our security. But what use would schools and hospitals be if we could not protect our imports?” IfsHas BeensStillsUseGovernmentTodaySchoolSocialForgetEconomySeaSecurityFineDependsProtectSurvivalThreatSizeCurrentsSeekingFinanceBritainHospitalsDay To DayRoyalNavyProgrammesLivelihoodImportsRoyal Navy Author:John Keegan
“The reason territorial monarchs failed time after time against maritime powers was not that absolutist, non-consensual governments were incapable of building great fleets in peace - quite the reverse - but that they were unable to fund them in the crises of war. Mainly this was because they were forced to divert resources from the fleet to their armies, to fight territorial rivals frequently financed by their maritime enemy from the profits of sea trade.” WarReasonGovernmentFightingEnemySeaBuildingResourcesArmyCrisisTradeProfitFundReverseIncapableRivalsMonarchsTerritorialMaritime Author:Peter Padfield