England has just one _big_ land gun--no more.

Now it has turned out, as you have doubtless read, that the British Government were as good as told by the German Government that Germany was going to war pretty soon--this in 1912 when Lord Haldane[7] was sent to make friends with Germany.
The only answer he brought back was a proposition that England should in any event remain neutral--stand aside while Germany whipped Russia and France.

This insulting proposal was kept secret till the other day.

Now, why didn't the British Cabinet inform the people and get ready?
They were afraid the English people wouldn't believe it and would accuse them of fomenting war.

The English people were making money and pursuing their sports.