162         The Russian Navy in the
insignificant Republic, and as to such ships having lately reinforced our squadron through having joined it at some unknown point in the ocean, and so on.....
Personally, I can place no faith in such fables. No! our hide-bound bureaucracy (and this especially applies to the War Department) is not exactly fitted for carrying out successfully a difficult matter of the kind, requiring as it does both fearlessness and considerable tact. I do not believe that our officials would have the requisite initiative, ability or versatility for, as a rule, they seem glued to their principles and scarcely to know how even to take advantage of favourable circumstances.
Of course I should be only too pleased to admit the fact, and should be the first to rejoice at its being the case. But then, would it not be exceedingly foolish to count seriously on these phantom vessels ? These would be calculations after the manner of Napoleon III. and not after that of Moltke. If these ships could join our squadron so much the better, but, if otherwise, we must so arrange matters that our plans will not be jeopardised by their absence—even if we