JF Ptak Science Books, LLC Post #126
This lovely and invented panorama (40x28 inches, published 21 September 1912 in The Illustrated London News) was intended, I think, to display the extent and power of the German Navy in an easily digested view, reminding the viewer to be ever-vigilant, and not be afraid to have the British government spend more money on its own navy.
The print was titled “Instantly and Constantly Ready for War: the Striking Force of the German Navy as it will be in the Near Future”. It was drawn by Norman Wilkinson (1878-1971), a ubiquitous and very accomplished, quick-working artist (whose association with the ILN began in 1898 and would last past the Second World War), who also made a huge military contribution during WWI with his invention of dazzle camouflage (a sort of camo that used contrasting color in strong geometrical shapes on ships). In any event Wilkinson hammered the message home with tremendous effectiveness, filling up this imaginary harbor with Britain-bombing German warships—this was far more understandable in human terms to actually see the threatening ships beyond their stark numbers.
It is interesting to quote from Prime Minister Hon. R.L. Borden’s speech of 5 December 1912, responding to the German threat, in which he moved for leave to introduce Bill (No. 21) to authorize measures for increasing the effective naval forces of the Empire. 
As follows:
“Whereas in 1898 the German fleet consisted of:
9 battleships (excluding coast defence vessels),
3 large cruisers,
28 small cruisers,
113 torpedo boats, and
25,000 men.
maintained at an annual cost of £6,000,000,
the full fleet of 1920 will consist of:
41 battleships,
20 large cruisers,
40 small cruisers,
144 torpedo boats,
72 submarines, and
101,500 men,
estimated to be maintained at an annual cost of £23,000,000.
These figures, however, give no real idea of the advance, for the
size and cost of ships has risen continually during the period, and,
apart from increasing their total numbers, Germany has systematically
replaced old and small ships, which counted as units in her earlier
fleet, by the most powerful and costly modern vessels. Neither does the
money provided by the estimates for the completed law represent the
increase in cost properly attributable to the German navy, for many
charges borne on British naval funds are otherwise defrayed in Germany;
and the German navy comprises such a large proportion of new ships that
the cast of maintenance and repair is considerably less than in navies
which have been longer established.
3. The naval expansion of
Germany has not been provoked by British naval increases. The German
Government have repeatedly declared that their naval policy has not
been influenced by British action, and the following figures speak for
themselves:
In 1905 Great Britain was building 4 capital ships, and Germany 2.
In 1906 Great Britain reduced to 3 capital ships, and Germany increased to 3.
In 1907 Great Britain built 3 capital ships, and Germany built 3.
In 1908 Great Britain further reduced to 2 capital ships, and Germany further increased to 4.
It was not until the efforts of Great Britain to procure the abatement or retardation of naval rivalry had failed for 3 successive years that the Admiralty were forced in 1909, upon a general review of the naval situation, to ask Parliament to take exceptional measures to secure against all possible hazards the safety of the Empire. In that year, 8 capital ships were laid down in Great Britain, and 2 others were provided by the Commonwealth of Australia and the Dominion of New Zealand respectively -- a total of 10.
In the spring of the present year the fifth Germany navy law was assented to by the Reichstag. The main feature of that law is not the increase in the new construction of capital ships, though that is important, but rather the increase in the striking force of ships of all classes which will be immediately available at all seasons of the year.
A third squadron of 8 Battleships will be created and maintained in full commission as
part
of the active battle fleet. Whereas, according to the unamended law,
the active battle fleet consisted of 17 battleships, 4 battle or large
armoured cruisers, and 12 small cruisers, it will in the near future
consist of 25 battleships, 8 battle or large armoured cruisers, and 18
small cruisers; and whereas at present, owing to the system of
recruitment which prevails in Germany, the German fleet is less fully
mobile during the winter than during the summer months, it will,
through the operation of this law, not only be increased in strength,
but rendered much more readily available. Ninety-nine torpedo boat
destroyers, instead of 66, will be maintained in full commission out of
a total of 144; 72 new submarines will be built within the currency of
the new law, and of these it is apparently proposed to maintain 54 with
full permanent crews. Taking a general view, the effect of the law
wiill be that nearly four-fifths of the entire German navy will be
maintained in full permanent commission; that is to say, instantly and
constantly ready for war.
So great a change and development in the German fleet involves, of course, important additions to their personnel. In 1898 the officers and men of the German navy amounted to 25,000. To-day that figure has reached 66,000. The new law adds 15,000 officers and men, and makes a total in 1920 of 101,500.”
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