New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-18

General results of the defensive policy were GER
tainly not such as to Justify its retention Inc Eng
lish practice was TO bear down upon the cheihS
stem on. Necessarily this order exposed ule 'S-
sailant to the broadsde fire OF his opponent LOT
some time before he could use his own guns
effectively: and by the theory the defensive size
ought to have been in the most adNahtascous
position But i'm fact the hcadlong attack oil the
English Navy. when carried out in due concert,
most often succeeded in breaking the order OF inc
enemy, and it does not yet appear that this mode
Of attocl, has been discredited by modern lnNen-
tions and changes or by the substitution OF steam
for canvas What Captain Mahan brings out
most clearly however, in the course of his re-
searches is the immense superiority which her
ncrsistence and generally harmonious development
If a sincle policy gave 70 England's sea power.
While France and Spain conducted their wars
for the greater part on land, only systematically
ottomptinr TO hold their own upon the ocean,
England. made independent of continental at
lacks bv her geographical position, was left free
10 bcstow undivided attention upon the develop
mept of maritime commerce and colonies.
For and this is a most vital considerations
rs Captain Mahan proves, no country can hope
70 build up a great sea power without strong
navy and no country can maintain strong navy
without an extensive merchant marine. Here,
then. is a lesson for the United States which is
seriously enforced by the author, and he con-
meets with it q second point Of capital conNe-
ouoncc, also namely the absolute necessity, and
cspecially to n modern navy. Of coal and supply
depots in many parts of the world. Without
these extended operations must fail. Bal!i Suh-
rem. in the Indian Ocean. succeeded in maintain
ing himself for SIX months without a depot Of
any kind Every port within reach was closed
l. L., Gob ar a lon
time be had nowhere to go to rcft after action.
But what a great captrn could do in the days
of sailingship could not be repeated at present.
Had Bailli Suirren commanded squadron Of
modern ironclads he would have been compelled
TO run for the Isle Of France after his first action.
for he would have been short Of coal. The
modern navy depends upon the hunkcrs far more
than upon the magazines. and no great sea power
can row exist without abundant. well-placcd
and easily defended dcpots Captain Mahan
thinks that the American people may take warn
ing from the fate Of the Dutch, whose passion for
economy was 50 great that the United Provinces
refused 10 make the necessary appropriations for
maintaining the fleet until an enemy almost
upon their seaboard and he warns them that in
the end Of the nineteenth century il takes much
more time 10 prepare for war than il did during
the seventeenth. ON the policy Of making war
by commcrce-destroycrS alone Captain Mahnn is
emphatic. He diSapprovcs such a course, and
adduces many illustrations in support Of his
position.
II is impossible to do more than indicate the
character and scope Of Captain Mahans valuable
and lucidly written work. The questions which
il discusses of grave importance 10 the people
of the United States III many ways. and their
dispassionate treatment by naval officer Of dis
tinctOn should cause more serious attention I"
he paid 10 them. The vindicaton Of the fpnctionN
and uses of the sea power is thorough. ana thc
new lights thrown upon n number u historical
situations through the change OF viewpoint give a
freshness 10 the old matter necessarily Introduced
which practically rcconstructs It. Tie accounts
Of the naval battles and slshter engagements are
carefully illustrated by diagrams 50 simply ar
ranged that the vcIicst andlubber should iino
10 difficulty in experimenting them. The author :
critical commentaries are valuable and Ienctrt
iu. and will no doubt ave rise IL some instance
| 70 professional controversy. 40 statement Il ha1
ardcd however without deliberatIon, and the dis
uncuishing Characteristic .. tie book Is ls fuIh"s
of information and sodty Of JUDGMENT HE con
ccp,ion Of the work original It's execution ha'
! been extremely able II is an honor to the author
md to the United States Navy he well Nprc-cn
and if must be received everywhere rs most IN
nortan, and scasouablc contribution 10 history
from a direction hitherto virtually uncN ploicd