Troubridge, Goeben, and ambiguous orders

The pursuit unfolded amid French troop movements, Italian and Austro-Hungarian possibilities, and an unsettled Mediterranean command picture. Troubridge believed Goeben’s 11-inch guns could engage beyond the reach of his cruisers, while Churchill’s instruction not to engage superior forces was not clearly limited to particular opponents. His flag captain, the respected gunnery specialist Fawcet Wray, reinforced the judgement that a daylight action would be suicidal. Troubridge first sought a night torpedo attack and then a narrow-water interception before abandoning the chase. The resulting court martial acquitted him because of the nature and ambiguity of the orders.