Pursuit of Goeben and Breslau On the entry of the British into the First World War in early August 1914,
Germany had two ships in the Mediterranean, forming their
Mittelmeerdivision, the
battlecruiser and the
light cruiser . The German ships, under Rear-Admiral
Wilhelm Souchon, had been shadowed by a British battlecruiser force, while Milne deployed his fleet to bottle up the German ships. After carrying out a shore bombardment, the Germans were observed to coal at
Messina, causing Milne to send most of his force to wait west of
Sicily, to prevent Souchon from interfering with French troop convoys. Troubridge and his force of four cruisers were sent to cruise west of
Cephalonia in case Souchon should try to enter the
Adriatic and join the
Austro-Hungarian fleet. Troubridge was still unaware of German intentions, and feared they might double back to the north-east and effect a junction with the Austro-Hungarian fleet. Troubridge was reluctant to do so anyway, knowing that his ships would be both outranged and attacking in daylight, but felt it was the only honourable option. Wray argued that it would be suicide for the squadron to fight the bigger and longer-ranging guns of the
Goeben and, as Wray had a particular reputation in the fleet as an expert on gunnery, Troubridge allowed himself to be persuaded. In tears, Troubridge ordered the chase to be abandoned, a decision that caused Wray to say 'Sir, this is the bravest thing you have ever done.' The chase abandoned, the Germans made it to
Constantinople, and the ships were almost immediately turned over to the Turkish Navy.
Court-martial Both Troubridge and Milne came under considerable criticism for their failure to engage and destroy the German squadron, criticism which intensified when it appeared that the presence of the German ships had been influential in the subsequent Turkish decision to enter the war. Troubridge was ordered back to Britain in September, and faced a court of inquiry held at the Navigation School,
Portsmouth. After investigating the events surrounding the chase of
Goeben and
Breslau, the court of inquiry decided to court-martial Troubridge on the grounds of his failure to engage the enemy. The court-martial was held on board , moored at
Portland, from 5 to 9 November 1914. After deliberating, the court came to the conclusion that the charge was not proved, owing to the nature of his orders and the
Admiralty's failure to clarify them, and Troubridge was 'fully and honourably acquitted'. Despite this verdict, the criticism lingered, with accusations that he had let the fleet down. Neither Troubridge nor Milne received another seagoing command, and in January 1915 Troubridge was appointed to head the British naval mission to
Serbia. ==Balkan service==