Chapter VI: Some Experiences in the War Office...................... 107

A reversion to earlier dates -- The statisticians in the winter
of 1914-15 -- The efforts to prove that German man-power would
shortly give out -- Lack of the necessary premises upon which to
found such calculations -- Views on the maritime blockade -- The
projects for operations against the Belgian coast district in
the winter of 1914-15 -- Nature of my staff -- The "dug-outs" --
The services of one of them, "Z" -- His care of me in foreign
parts -- His activities in other Departments of State -- An
alarming discovery -- How "Z" grappled with a threatening
situation -- He hears about the Admiralty working on the Tanks --
The cold-shouldering of Colonel Swinton when he raised this
question at the War Office in January 1915 -- Lord Fisher
proposes to construct large numbers of motor-lighters, and I am
told off to go into the matter with him -- The Baltic project --
The way it was approached -- Meetings with Lord Fisher -- The
"beetles" -- Visits from the First Sea Lord -- The question of
secrecy in connection with war operations -- A parable -- The
land service behind the sea service in this matter -- Interviews
with Mr. Asquith -- His ways on such occasions.