The disposal of this great array of ships became the subject of delicate discussion between the Allies. Great Britain wanted to destroy them all but France and others wished to add their share to their fleets. The question was partially settled by the Germans themselves, when on June 21, the fleet interned at Scapa Flow, was scuttled. There were at anchor in the war base of the Grand Fleet, 11 battleships, 5 battlecruisers, 8 light cruisers and a number of destroyers. At io A.M., by preconcerted signal, the crews opened the valves and the ships began to sink. Only four, the "Baden" (the latest battleship) and three light cruisers remained afloat. This act cost Germany dear, for she had to surrender in place of the battleships, 300,00o tons of floating docks, her re maining five light cruisers and 42,000 tons of floating cranes, etc., in lieu of the destroyers.
with his Continental System (q.v.), to strike a vital blow at
Britain's seaborne trade. Like the Continental System, the Sub merged Blockade came near to success, but, in the end, under the steady pressure of the Allied navies, it failed. With supplies unlimited the wasteful struggles between the great armies might have been prolonged indefinitely, but with the Central Powers denied their wants by the Allied blockade at sea, whilst the Allied armies received their every need from overseas, there could be but one end.
Upon the British Merchant Navy fell by far the greatest burden of carrying the seaborne trade that kept the Allied armies in the field and fed the civilian populations; heavy indeed was the price it paid in the faithful performance of this duty. To the Royal Navy fell the lion's share of the fighting upon the sea: its great traditions were maintained and glorified and when the Armistice called a halt the two navies of Britain had once again carried the country in triumph to the end of a great war.