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| | "A Fleet in Being" |
 | | Today’s books of reference indicate that this was introduced in the Channel Fleet in 1903, when the old fl, white and buff paintwork gave way to grey. |
 | | The title, "A Fleet in Being", was borrowed by Kipling from the pages of British naval history, where it has a special significance dating back to 1690 when Lord Torrington, commanding William III's naval force in the Channel, found himself facing a stronger French fleet. |
 | | Though often called the Channel Fleet, which was natural enough in view of the number and variety of its ships, officially this force was the Channel Squadron, until June 1903, when for eighteen months it was a Fleet. |
| www.kipling.org.uk /kiplingsociety/rg_fleet_intro_p.htm (1198 words) |
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