Walter Cowan's forceful temperament suited sustained wartime action, but could create difficulties in a limited Baltic intervention. Some sailors had gone with their ships and shipmates without actively objecting. That was a weaker form of consent than deliberately volunteering for the operation, and they could remain unsure why they were there. An admiral eager to pursue the fighting could therefore demand more than those men believed they had agreed to undertake. This interpretation connects the government's volunteer promise to the expectations of crews serving under Cowan.
Notable Point · 22:49-23:50
Admiral Cowan and the Baltic command climate
Walter Cowan's aggressive command style could clash with sailors whose Baltic service reflected loyalty to their shipmates more than a deliberate choice to join the intervention.