96

Command

of

sea.

Transport.

Stopping

supplies.

CHAPTER VI.

THE NAVY IN THE BOER WAR.*

SECTION I. THE GENERAL WORK OF THE NAVY.

The duty of the Navy in this, as in all war was :—

(1) To acquire and keep the command of the sea.

(2) To undertake, by full use of our great mercantile marine, all sea transport.

(3) To carry out the instructions of Government for stopping the enemy’s supplies by sea.

(4) To render any local or temporary assistance to the Army that circumstances might require.

During the Boer War the command of the sea was never disputed, so that it gave rise to no anxiety after the first few months. The second duty, that of transport, at once assumed extreme importance owing to the 6,000 miles distance of the base of operations (Cape Town) from England, the large number of men and animals, and the great quantity of stores to be dealt with. The third duty, involving the much disputed matter of contraband, etc., was, and is always likely to be, a difficult one, owing to the rather nebulous state of International Law on questions which were likely to, and did arise, and to the many interests, belligerent and neutral, which might be involved. It was further complicated by the fact that the enemy possessed no seaport and no carrying trade of his own, so that all goods for him from over sea had to be landed either at a neutral port or in a British colonial port. The fourth duty, that of local * For vessels serving on the Cape station during the war, see Appendix 5.