British political division directly affects naval force posture. Churchill favored France more strongly than Grey, McKenna, or Lloyd George, while Asquith remained reluctant to enter the war. The ships immediately available in the Channel were older cruisers and pre-dreadnought squadrons, with the Grand Fleet deployed farther north. These Channel forces could only delay a German rush until the main fleet came south.
Chapter · 57:33-1:06:32
Cabinet hesitation and the Channel Fleet problem
British ministers are split over France and Germany while the available Channel forces are too thin to stop a German rush by themselves.