<P> Historians have debated the role of the German naval build - up as the principal cause of deteriorating Anglo - German relations . In any case Germany never came close to catching up with Britain . </P> <P> Supported by Wilhelm II's enthusiasm for an expanded German navy, Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz championed four Fleet Acts from 1898 to 1912, and, from 1902 to 1910, the Royal Navy embarked on its own massive expansion to keep ahead of the Germans . This competition came to focus on the revolutionary new ships based on the Dreadnought, which was launched in 1906, and which gave Britain a battleship that far outclassed any other in Europe . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="4"> The naval strength of the powers in 1914 </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Country </Th> <Th> Personnel </Th> <Th> Large Naval Vessels (Dreadnoughts) </Th> <Th> Tonnage </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Russia </Td> <Td> 54,000 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 328,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> France </Td> <Td> 68,000 </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> 731,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Britain </Td> <Td> 209,000 </Td> <Td> 29 </Td> <Td> 2,205,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> TOTAL </Td> <Td> 331,000 </Td> <Td> 43 </Td> <Td> 3,264,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Germany </Td> <Td> 79,000 </Td> <Td> 17 </Td> <Td> 1,019,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Austria - Hungary </Td> <Td> 16,000 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 249,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> TOTAL </Td> <Td> 95,000 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 1,268,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="4"> (Source:) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="4"> The naval strength of the powers in 1914 </Th> </Tr>

Identify the factors that led to world war 1