During the first decade of the 20th Century, Britain's traditional naval supremacy was maintained against the German challenge by two factors. Admiral Fisher's vigorous reorganisation and reform of the navy, culminating in the introduction of the dreadnought in 1906, and new diplomatic alliances, with Japan in 1902 and France in 1904. These factors made possible a greater concentration of British sea power in the North Sea to meet the German menace.

This article is located in the History of the First World War Volume 1 (REF D522 .H58 1969 V.1).