After they had lain hove-to for 14 hours, the wind slackened, the seas became less violent, and the small flotilla got under way again.
In three days two flotillas of destroyers burn nearly 5,000 tons of oil.
One flotilla leader and eight destroyers have been sent out.
Is it not obvious that we shall again need, for anti-submarine duties, our already overworked flotillas of destroyers?
We are forming a seventh flotilla of twenty destroyers this year.
There will be only 65 flotilla leaders and destroyers, amounting to 90,000 tons, within the age limit at the end of 1936.
In war the real work of trade protection has always been primarily carried out by small cruising ships and flotillas.
My opinion is that your commerce protecting flotilla will really become death traps for gallant lives.