It is also conceivable that some satisfactory arrangement as to the blockade can be made with the States affected.

As regards the splitting up of the fleet, no especially disadvantageous conditions are thereby produced.

It is easy to reunite the temporarily divided parts, and the strength of the combined fleet guarantees the superiority of the separate divisions over the German forces at sea.
Nevertheless, this division of the attacking fleet gives the defending party the chance of attacking some detached portions before junction with the main body, and of inflicting loss on them, if the enemy can be deceived and surprised by prompt action.

The demonstrations which are the ordinary tactics in war on land under such conditions cannot be employed, owing to the facility with which the sea can be patrolled.
This blockade would ultimately weaken and weary the attacking party.

But it must be recognized that it is a far easier plan to carry out than the close blockade, and that it would tax the offensive powers of our fleet more severely.