February 10, 2015

The year ended with a bitter storm in Parliament over Churchill’s behaviour in forcing the resignation of Sir Francis Bridgeman as First Sea Lord. On 20 December an acrimonious debate occurred in the House of Commons. The criticism was led by Andrew Bonar Law and Lord Charles Beresford. Although Churchill vigorously defended his actions, it was generally believed that he had not behaved well and that Bridgeman had been a victim. Criticism of the First Lord within the Navy was considerable.

Ultimately, Churchill required the assistance of the King to quieten the episode. Immediately after his audience with the monarch, Bridgeman withdrew his request for publication of all correspondence.

In January, Churchill accompanied the Prime Minister on a tour of naval facilities in the north of Scotland. Speaking at his home constituency of Dundee, he claimed that the Navy was strong and the Army was efficient, and that that strength would be used “to preserve peace, to bring disputing parties together, to smooth away difficulties and to compact an abiding settlement … based upon justice and equality.” On 30 January he boarded the Admiralty yacht Enchantress and headed south. Four days later he was at Portsmouth and Spithead where he was joined on board by King George V.

He loved working on Enchantress. Between 1911 and 1914 he would spend a total of eight months aboard it. A critic in the Commons charged that it was not necessary for the First Lord to go to sea at all, and that, because naval stations were dotted round the coast on land, they would be visited more quickly and cheaply by rail. Churchill responded that in the event of war the personnel of the yacht would be transferred to fighting ships and the vessel itself would be used as an auxiliary hospital ship.

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While Winston was afloat, Clementine visited the Asquiths at their country home even though she strongly disapproved of the Prime Minister’s open appreciation of feminine pulchritude.

Ulster continued to be a serious problem for Britain. In a speech before a Home Rule Council Luncheon, WSC called for moderation in language and accused the Tory leader of preparing himself for Prime Minister by recklessly adopting the extreme language of the rabid partisans in his party.

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