My War Memories, 1914-1918
XII
I had followed the doings of our Navy with much interest. In peace time we had set great store by it. Now, as a fighting weapon side by side with the Army, it had to fight for victory to save us from strangulation by England. It was to be expected that in accordance with England's historical traditions, her share in the war would take the form of a ruthless fight against the home populations of the Central Powers, regardless alike of international law or the laws of humanity. It was clear from the start that our warships could not keep the seas open The Mediterranean division went to Constantinople.
After the successful Japanese attack on Kiao-chau, whose garrison put up a brave fight, our cruiser-squadron in East Asia and the Southern Pacific was left without any support and compelled to return to the home harbours. The battle of Coronel on November ist, and that of the Falkland Islands on December 3rd, 1914, mark the victory, distress and extinction of our cruiser squadron. These battles fill every German heart with pride and sorrow.
Our cruisers and auxiliary cruisers had sown enemy waters with mines, and from time to time even made the high seas dangerous to the enemy. They brought fresh laurels to German valour, but were unable to accomplish anything decisive. All the same, their deeds were not in vain, for they will ever be a source of pride to the Germans.
The Mediterranean division in the Bosphorus was, on the whole, doomed to inactivity, after the Entente had given up the attack on Constantinople. The enemy had a great superiority in the Black and Mediterranean Seas. The, Austro-Hungarian Navy was not very enterprising. After Italy's declaration of war, it made only a few unimportant raids along the east coast of that country. In the Baltic the fighting strength on each side was such as to enable us to maintain our merchant service
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