The trident would have changed hands, for the defeat of England could only be brought about by the destruction of her sea supremacy.

Unless help came from without, a blockaded Britain would be more at the mercy of the victor than France was after Sedan and Paris.

It would lie with the victor to see that the conditions of peace he imposed were such as, while ensuring to him the objects for which he had fought, would be the least likely conditions to provoke external intervention or a combination of alarmed world interests.

Now, putting aside lesser consideration, the chief end Germany would have in a war with England would be to ensure her own free future on the seas.

For with that assured and guaranteed by a victory over England, all else that she seeks must in the end be hers.