Great Britain. Royal Navy

Robert Means Thompson reports on a successful return of the Channel Fleet from exercises in the North Sea. Thompson also plans to take a yachting trip to meet with several Japanese generals he had previously befriended and asks President Roosevelt if, given the current tensions between the United States and Japan, there are any talking points he should or should not bring up.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-26

As part of the Second Hague Conference, the British Admiralty wants to discuss banning the use of mines in warfare. Barring that, they want their use significantly limited in both duration of use and geographical area.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-06

Arthur Hamilton Lee enjoyed reading what President Roosevelt enclosed. While not familiar with long-term battle practice, Lee would like to compare Britain’s methods with those described by William Sowden Sims. Lee has written to the Admiral for more information and hopes to hear back by the time he returns to Washington, D.C. to visit Roosevelt early next month. There were photographs of the HMS Deadnought in a recent issues of the Illustrated London News and can be now rated a complete success.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-19

Lieutenant-Commander Sims addresses recent conclusions A. T. Mahan drew in an article on the battle of the Sea of Japan during the Russo-Japanese War. Sims contends that while Mahan’s conclusions may have been correct given the facts he was working from, the facts were inaccurate. Addressing each argument, Sims refutes Mahan’s arguments prioritizing gun-power over speed, asserting that all-big-gun ships are mistakes, and saying that the size of ships should not greatly increase. Sims illustrates how the converse of each of these would lead to a stronger, more modern navy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-27

British Ambassador Durand writes to William Loeb to discuss the dates of Prince Louis’s visit to Washington, D.C.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-03

Ambassador Durand writes to William Loeb to discuss the visit of the British Cruiser Squadron to the United States. The squadron has received numerous invitations and Prince Louis of Battenberg, the rear admiral, would like President Roosevelt’s guidance.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-01

Admiral Beresford sends King Edward VII’s good wishes and offers suggestions for a combined British and American fleet. He strongly believes in the success of such a fleet based on the common language, customs, and habits of the two English-speaking countries.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-07

Article from the “Journal de St. Petersbourg” describing England in 1903 as the most powerful Navy in the world and quoting President Roosevelt as wanting the U.S Navy to be the most powerful by the Inauguration of the Panama Canal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-24

Silk handkerchief owned by Charles C. Myers. “Gibraltar Present” and the crossed flags of Britain and the Royal British Navy are embroidered in the corner of the handkerchief.

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Creation Date

Unknown

William N. Tilchin argues that President Theodore Roosevelt understood the importance of maintaining a friendly diplomatic relationship with Great Britain, and he further recognized that British naval power did not threaten American power or interests. Tilchin asserts that by maintaining cordial relations with Great Britain, the United States did not have to match or exceed British naval strength and that if the two nations interests were aligned, American naval power could complement the British fleet. Tilchin closely examines a diplomatic row that occurred between Great Britain and the United States after a devastating earthquake in Jamaica in early 1907. Tilchin says that Roosevelt’s handling of this incident, which could have upset relations between the two nations, demonstrated his deft diplomacy and underscored the realignment of naval power in the western hemisphere. 

Two photographs of Roosevelt onboard the presidential yacht USS Mayflower and a photograph of Tilchin appear in the text. 

It has been confirmed that Edward Marjoribanks, First Lord of the Admiralty, communicated with German Emperor William II in private letters about a variety of topics, including British and German naval policy. It does not seem that the present Navy Estimates were affected by the letter, and it may even be possible that the letters did not directly reference the estimates, but it is unacceptable for the First Lord of the Admiralty to communicate with foreign leaders on questions of British Naval Policy. Full publication of the letters is a matter of urgent national importance.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-07

Reuters reports that while German Emperor William II wrote a letter to Edward Marjoribanks, Lord Tweedmouth, he did not attempt to interfere in British naval policy. There is no objection to the publication of the Emperor’s letter, but officials in Germany regard the correspondence as personal between the Emperor and Lord Tweedmouth. There has been much discussion about the letter in various countries.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-07

This report records a series of documents, primarily from Admiral W. L. Capps, Constructor of the Navy, answering recent criticisms about some naval vessels in the United States Navy. These criticisms centered on the height of the freeboard of the ships, their water-line armor distribution, and the ammunition hoists used, among other topics. The report contains a statement by Capps, a report of a relevant discussion by the British Royal Navy, a number of diagrams detailing armor distribution, and a record of hearings conducted by the House Committee on Naval Affairs. Capps refutes the criticism by correcting several misunderstandings about terminology, explaining the rationale behind some shipbuilding decisions, and mentioning that several issues have already been corrected in newer ships.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-19

President Roosevelt tells Prince Louis of Battenberg that it was a pleasure to receive him and his 2nd Cruiser Squadron. He sends his good wishes to the prince, and to King Edward VII of Great Britain.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-20

The article states that Thomas Gilbert-Russell is the true inventor of the naval innovation which uses telegraph apparatus to aim heavy machinery. Gilbert-Russell took this idea to his superiors, William Henry May and Arthur C. Leveson, who passed the idea off as their own.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

Unknown

Admiral Beresford expresses condolences to President Roosevelt regarding the April 13, 1904, fatal fire aboard the USS Missouri.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-18

A table of the naval statistics of Great Britain, France, the United States, Germany, Japan, Russia, Italy, and Austria, including the types of vessels built and in the process of being built. The total tonnages are listed in order from greatest to smallest in a separate table.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-01

Theodore Roosevelt praises the accomplishments and spirit of the British Navy. He abhors the German cause but also admires their organization and daring. Roosevelt feels that he can separate gallantry and devotion from a side’s cause as members of his family fought for the Confederacy. He can admire their service but deplore the cause they fought for. The Progressive Party is seeking to run Roosevelt as a third party presidential candidate but he will support the Republican nominee, Charles Evans Hughes. Hughes is an upright man who will do better than President Wilson. Roosevelt has a low opinion of Wilson and the “professional intellectuals” that support him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-06-19

Henry Bazeley Wolryche-Whitmore sends a book he is editing about the Royal Navy. President Roosevelt has proven popular with the British press and Wolryche-Whitmore will be traveling to the United States in January.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-12-17

Summary of reports from Lieutenant William Sowden Sims regarding the defects of the USS Kentucky when compared to the designs and target practice results of Royal Navy vessels.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-12-17