Fleet concentration and a possible deterrent cruise

A public cruise around Britain is proposed as a way for Battenberg to demonstrate readiness without stationing the fleet off Germany. The suggested route runs down the North Sea, through the Channel, and around the UK, keeping the ships close enough for service. Press coverage and a firing demonstration visible from the French coast could advertise readiness and reassure France. This cruise is not expected to prevent the war. A deployment directly off an enemy coast could have a stronger deterrent effect, but it could also provoke an earlier war and make the Allies appear responsible. Cabinet willingness to support an aggressive deployment therefore matters as much as the fleet's strength.