The author, writing from his experience as First Lord of the Admiralty before and during the opening years of the war, provides a detailed, document-based account of naval policy and operations. He describes prewar strategic preparations and shipbuilding, the mobilisation and concentration of the fleet, blockade and convoy measures, ocean-wide searches for enemy commerce raiders, countermeasures to submarine attacks, and the planning that led to operations in the Dardanelles and on the European coasts. The narrative interweaves published memoranda, minutes and telegrams with analysis of victories, losses and administrative controversies, and includes technical appendices, maps and tables.