Until the Boer War the British basked in Imperial glory: domination of the seas, world power, world Empire, peace and progress. But there were some who saw dangerous weaknesses; educational, social and industrial development lagged sadly behind the new state of Imperial Germany. British naval guns missed their target twice in every three shots; the Army was more fitted for fighting ill-armed natives than a modern European foe. Yet by 1918 the German challenge had been defeated; the British Empire had united and acted as a single, collective power - a super state. But in this moment of triumph, the Empire stood at the turning point of its destiny.