Jutland--so what? Scott Thomson notes the importance of the major sea battle that took place in the North Sea a century ago and calls on New Zealanders to redevelop a sea-sense.

• Author: Thomson, Scott

Shortly after 6 pm on the 31 May 1916, the combined force of Germany's High Seas Fleet blundered into the encircling arc of Britain's Grand Fleet. During the following ten minutes all that Admiral Scheer could see was 130 degrees of the hazy horizon, ringed with flashing gun-fire. Scheer ordered Gefechtskehrtwendung. This was a 'battle-turn-around'--a dodgy manoeuvre. The alternative was destruction. Scheer returned to harbour and advised the Kaiser that 'not even the most successful outcome of a fleet action will force England to make peace'. Germany turned to unrestricted U-boat warfare, which soon had the momentous consequence of bringing a new and dangerous enemy into the forces arrayed against it.

The United States had been ambivalent about the war. It possessed decisive industrial power, but little will to become involved, feeling itself safe. Many Americans--German, Irish and Jewish refugees from Russia--had no love for the Allies. Britain's blockade deprived the Central Powers of war materials and food. It also deprived Americans of the ability to trade where they wished.

Both combatants trod carefully in dealings with America --until after Jutland. Unrestricted submarine warfare attempted to blockade the blockader. It did not quite succeed. A few American citizens got drowned. It moved American opinion to consider Germany, not Britain, as the bad guy. Extremely rash German diplomatic moves completed the U-turn. Thus America's decisive entry into the First World War began on 31 May 1916, when Scheer turned away at Jutland.

The centennial of the Battle of Jutland--Skagerrakschlacht in German--passed largely unremarked in New Zealand. Some Jutland memorabilia were loaned to the Royal Navy with due ceremony. In this country, sailor's descendents, together with serving Royal New Zealand Navy members, gathered for a small ceremony at Devonport, Auckland. Compare that with the commemorations and exhibitions focused on the land war, and Gallipoli in particular. What does this say about our perceptions of the past and posture for the future?

Taxpayers throughout the British Empire had invested heavily in the Royal Navy. From August 1914 they awaited a second, and decisive, Trafalgar. But Jutland looked more like a defeat. Fourteen ships were lost, compared with eleven German ones: over 6000 dead, as against around 2500. The Germans got back to port first and won the debrief easily, trumpeting their 'victory'. The British PR was appallingly bad. But once the German euphoria died down, the result brought no pleasure to those in the know...