Unless it is clear, however, that any ship, especially a battleship, _would be an embarrassment_, her place is clearly with the fighting fleet.

The issue of the battle cannot be known in advance; and as everything will depend upon that issue, no effort and no instrument should be spared that can assist in gaining victory.

And even if the older ships might not be of material assistance in the early stages of a battle, they would do no harm because they could be kept out of the way, if need be.

In case either side gains a conclusive victory at once, the older ships will do neither good nor harm; but in case a decisive result is not at once attained, and both sides are severely damaged, the old ships, held in reserve, may then come in fresh and whole, like the reserve in land engagements, and add a fighting force which at that time will be most important and may be decisive.
Probably some of the ships will be too old, however, to fill places of any value in the active fleet.

These should be fully manned and equipped, however, for there will be many fields of usefulness for them.