“We may judge the naval prospects of the year 1917 from the events which have occured at sea since the outbreak of hostilities in August, 1914… With every month that passes the Allies’ command of sea will be reinforced by new units and by the strength which comes from sea-keeping”.

Archibald Hurd, Naval Prospects in 1917, pp. 2, 11 [SPEC S/D525 (P.C. 273)].