STORMING THE MOLE.
Drawn by Charles De Lacy from details supplied by the Author
THE BLOCKING OF
ZEEBRUGGE
BY
CAPTAIN A. F. B. CARPENTER, V.C., R.N.
WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY
ADMIRAL EARL BEATTY
AND APPRECIATIONS BY
MARSHAL FOCH, REAR-ADMIRAL SIMS
AND
COUNT VISART
(BURGOMASTER OF BRUGES)
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
BOSTON AND NEW YORK
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY
The Riverside Press Cambridge
1922
COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY ALFRED F. B. CARPENTER
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
The Riverside Press
CAMBRIDGE — MASSACHUSETTS
PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.
TO
THE MAN-IN-THE-STREET
INTRODUCTION
BY ADMIRAL EARL BEATTY
In appreciating the military reasons which directedthe operations connected with the blocking ofZeebrugge, it is desirable to recall to mind thegeneral naval situation at the beginning of 1918.
Briefly stated, the German High Seas Fleet wascontained within the waters of the Heligoland Bightby the British Grand Fleet, whilst German submarineswere engaged on vast operations, having fortheir object the stoppage of the trade of Great Britain,and interference with our lines of communication.
In the face of such an attack, the aim of GreatBritain was either to destroy the enemy submarines, or,failing destruction, to prevent their egress from theirbases. Convoy operations, patrol operations, andmining operations in all seas were carried out to achievethe former aim, and accomplished great results.
But enemy submarines continued to be built almostas rapidly as they were destroyed. It was essential,therefore, to take what measures were possible torender useless their bases and interfere with theirfreedom of exit, and it was with this military objectthat plans for the blocking of Zeebrugge were initiated.
Emphasis has been laid on the military reason whichunderlay this operation, because an erroneousimpression has existed in some quarters that the Zeebruggeoperations were more in the nature of an offensivedesigned to lower the morale of the enemy and enhancethat of the British Navy, which, as a whole, had littleopportunity of coming to grips with the enemy.
Whilst these moral results undoubtedly were feltafter the operation, they were not the militaryreasons, reasons alone which justified so complex anddifficult an undertaking, reasons which were neverlost sight of during the planning and carrying out ofthe operations.
The plan was surely laid; simple in general design,details were worked out with foresight and exactitude.The factors of surprise, mystification, and diversionwere utilised to the utmost. The resources of sciencewere given full scope. Training to carry out the planproceeded with energy and understanding, co-ordinationand co-operation being apparent throughout.It was carried out with determination.
In Captain Carpenter's book we are let into thefull secret, and are led step by ste