40 The Great War Balancing these considerations were certain others which were at least as influential. Ten years before Germany had begun to challenge British naval and commercial supremacy. German battleships had begun to increase at a rate which provoked first a protest and then a panic. Tory journals frankly de- manded the destruction of the German fleet. Mean- time the German commercial fleet also began to com- pete with the British on the Seven Seas and the Ger- man manufacturer to invade successfully the world's markets. In this situation England had been driven back upon her traditional policy of preserving the balance of power In Europe by joining with the weaker na- tions against the dominant power. Begun by Ed- ward VII, the Triple Entente, the understanding with France and Russia had become the opponent of the Triple Alliance, now successful, now checked, but always strong enough to restrain German su- premacy. In July the English had to consider that if France and Russia were defeated by Germany and her al- lies, not only would Germany have her hands freed for the eventual struggle with Great Britain for naval supremacy, but Russia and France, angered by British desertion of them, might be potential al- lies. If Germany were successful, there could be no power left to prevent her occupation of Belgium and Holland, and thus her close approach to British shores.