Bleaugh!
Sir,
I have read with interest the article your august journal has seen fit to publish about the plight of our Royal Navy.
It seems a mere blink or an eye ago that mighty vessels like the Dreadnought, Ark Royal and Troutbridge flew the White Ensign far and wide across the seven seas, while these days we seem to have insufficient vessels to patrol the Severn Estuary.
A mere 120 years ago, if one of the local potentates was getting a bit uppity, we would send three cruisers and a couple of gunboats to help along our diplomatic negotiations. Should the potentate fail to take our advice, then 45 minutes later the locals would be sweeping up the rubble, while we invoiced them for the ammunition used. Now we can barely send a whining note by rowing boat.
In my opinion our politicians should spend more time on naval manoeuvres and less time navel gazing.
I remain,
Admiral Buckfast-Guzzler (retired)
Biting the hand that feeds IT
