The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-08-18
THE SEA POWER OF THE UNITED
 STATES.

the War College-Dellvered at New
 port-The Glorious Record of Our
 Navy-War College Needed by the
 Army-Its Claims Urged by Major
 Field.
 We print verbatim a cutting handed us by Captain Townshend of Secretary of the Navy Herberts late address at the War college, Newport, R. l., which institution 1t will be remembered was established through the efforts of Ad- miral s. B. Luce, United States Navy 1t Is interesting to note that the success or Admiral Luce is a remarkable exam pie of what can be accomplished by one who knows how to make proper effort for establishing such valuable instl- tuition. A former president of the col lege was Captain Mahan, U. s. N., whose writings on naval warfare have a worldwide reputation. The efforts of these officers have been followed by Admiral Bunce and Captain Taylor, U. $. N, and all that is required to make the Naval War college a magnificent success is for the people to insist that liberal appropriation shall be made for 1t by congress.
 Admiral Luce's efforts induced the state of Rhode Island to convey ninety two acres of almshouse land in New port to the United States government, the national government agreeing to establish the naval war college on the site; and the property with it's valua- ble water front for naval manoeuvres, is worth millions. Admiral Luce is personally known to many of New Ha- ven's prominent men, as he was here in command of the North Atlantic feet at the dedication of the soldiers and sailors monument on New Ha- ven's East Rock.
 We also append paper from Major Edward Field, of the Fourth Artillery, U. S. A., which shows that the army sorely needs what the navy has ob- tained.
 MIR. HERBERTS ADDRESS.
 Before a distinguished audience Hon. Hillary A. Herbert, Secretary of the Navy, delivered most interesting lec- ture on the subject, "The Sea and Sea Power as Factor in the History of the United States" In conclusion the speaker paid Captain H. c. Taylor, U. s. N., the president of the college, most deserved compliment, and made a pleasant reference, too, to the college itself.
 Among those present were United States Senator George Peabody Wet more, Congressman Melville Bull, Gov ernor Charles Warren Lippitt, Colonel Richard Lodor, U. s. A., Commodore R. R. Wallace, U. S. N, Commanders George A. Converse and F. w. Dickins, Commander William McCarty Little, Hon. Perry Belmont, Colonel c. L. Best, Mir. John Worthington, Major Theodore K. Gibbs, Admiral $. B. Luce, the French admiral and staff, Colonel John Hare Powell, Professor Wolcott Gibbs, Mr. R. c. Derby, Colonel Reginald Nor man, Lieutenants Joy and Hendrie, Hon. Oscar Lapham, United States Senator Chandler, MT. o. H. P. Bel mont, Commodore B. M. Brown, Com modore w. F. Sampson, MT. c. C. Bald win, Mr. Henry White, Major Lloyd Bryce United States Senator Calvin s. Brice, Major W. H. Lockwood, Captain 7 c. H, Davis, Admiral Henry Erben, of ficers of the Training and Torpedo sta tions, Fort Adams, and the entire class of the college.
 In opening, the distinguished speaker declared that when the first colonists came to this country from Great Brit ain, the people there under such leaders as Hampden and Sidney had secured the comparative civil liberty guaran- teed by the Magma Charta, Petition of Right and Bill of Rights, but true reli- gious liberty was unknown there. The colonists sought both here setting by the rivers and bays near the sea, for they depended on vessels for protection by the home governments, and for com mercial relations with Europe and with each other. This extent of unprotected seacoast was source of great weak ness and danger at the outbreak of the Revolution, as the British were ena- bled by their ships to select bases of operation on the coast and sever the colonial communications.
 By nature seafaring people, the col onists made a gallant resistance on the ocean The Continental congress built twenty-six vessels and several colonies made ships of their own, and such was the cruisers activity that in 1776 they captured 32O sail; ITS, 467 sail, and in 1779 Paul Jones, in addition to other feats of daring in the Bon Homme Richard, captured the Serapis, after one of the most memorable battles in naval history.
 These little fleets were finally swept from the sea and the interior lakes, and the struggle for independence devolved entirely on the land forces At Penob- scot, Newport, Gardiner's Bay, Chesa- peake Bay, Charleston and Savannah, the British established bases from which they could carry on offensive op- erations, their ships bringing reinforce ments and relief. They captured Phil adelphia, the capital, by means of their fleet, and were compelled to evacuate 1t on the approach of the French fleet.
 How much British success depended on its fleet was shown by the history of Charleston, S. c. An attack on this failed in 1776, and the Americans held it for three years. Captured in 17S0, ii was the last point to be evacuated by the English forces that overran South Carolina and Georgia.
 Washington thus saw that for the revolution to succeed a maritime force was essential, and accordingly secured the services of De Grasse, the com mander of the French fleet. Belea- gured on land by the Americans and