The Boer War gave new urgency to efforts to coordinate British defence. Balfour established the Committee of Imperial Defence as a regular meeting place for political leaders and the professional heads of the services. Its purpose combined strategic direction with lower expenditure. The Esher Committee's reforms and a permanent CID staff offered a way to move the higher direction of war beyond the separate service ministries. Fisher expected maritime strategy to dominate, with the army supporting imperial defence and operations enabled by sea power. Army officers who believed their service was losing responsibility saw a continental strategy as a way to restore its position.
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The CID's attempt to direct defence policy across the services
The Committee of Imperial Defence linked strategic direction to spending cuts, while proposed naval and military staff threatened existing service authority.