The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-01
THE NAVAL WAR COLLEGE,.
Opening of the summer Course-Leoture ny
Commander stockton on Preparation
for War'-Commercial GeoEraphy-Sea
Power in Our War with Spain.

NEWPORT May 81 The first lecture OF the
course OF the year at the War College was de-
livered to-day by the President of the College.
Commander G. H. stockton. II was upon tho
subject Of " Preparation for War. and included
discussion Of some of the various elements
to be considered in the formation OF plans OF
operations aud In the study Of campaigns. 1t
opened with the statement that tho great
masters in the art OF war have announced as
an axiom that Of ali things which contribute
most directly and efIectually to the sue
cess Of military undertaking. preparation
holds the first place. This announcement and
rule. made for the first time many centuries
ago and repeated often since. was never truer
or more pertinent than at tho present day.
Wars are shorter warlike appliances more
effective and complicated and military move
ments moro rapid; while the masses OF men
and material to he manipulated are greater
now than ever tefore in the history Of the
world. Hence the time for preparation is.
necessarily longer and more absorbing, the
actual war time shorter. more concentrated
and more overwhelming.
The lecturer then continued as follows
" If preparation. then. is the first thing nee
essary to success in war. to no country is prep
aration more essential than to ours. whose expe-
rience In actual war has been meagre. whose
peaceful. and whose situation and isolation
heretofore has allowed growth so rapid and
50 great that we have attained rank as one OF
the great powers in the world. without having
been obliged to establish our position by the
test OF an extensive or great foreign war
1T has been said that great States which
have arisen out OF chaos require time to con-
solidate and organize themselves. their whole
power and energy being chiefly directed to-
ward that point. During this period OF consol-
idation and organization. their foreign wars
are few. and the wars that do take place bear
the stamp OF State unity not well cemented.
In repeating this statement thus made. we
are not only repeating general truth. but we
arc also summarizing. to great extent the
military experience of our country.
Il think can safely say that the United States.
made independent by the Revolutionary war.
only became coherent nationality entitled to
international respect after the war OF 1872. w.
Henry Adams. the historian. says Vol. IN. ..
22OI:
doubt the path they were to follow. Not only
the unity OF their nation established. but its PROF,
Defined.
The war gave a severe shock to the Anglican sym.
path1Hs Of society and peace seemed TO widen the
breach between European and American tastes
tend toward American ideas was possible. but that
America should. under any circumstances. follow
be Of reiEoGeG as
can character Was formed if not fIed.
And Mr.. Carr Schurz in his life OF Henry
Clay tNO!. |. p. l2lj says:
For the war OF 1872. with all the losses in blood
and treasure entlled by it, and in spite Of the peace
formed the American republic. in the estimation Of
III" world from feeble ;NpeTimtna! curi.sity into
claws and teeth. 1t made tho American people, who
had far consisted OF the peoples Of SO many little
hg eo pr6by nSsr eo
sciously united nation. with a common country,
natouul destiny nobody could say how great; and
EEm common nat" % Hrde at tina: time nlGs every
such results was not Tough: In vain
After discussing the bearing OF historical
studies on preparation for war. and declaring
Others" Commander Stockton proceeded to
snow how Questions Of Commercial GcOg
c"hnry nY f@Sr nfS nm9 ssH
relate to the interference caused by blockade.
stroypG. with the movements Of great staples
in such quantities to materially affect the mar
kets and industries Of the world. We had an in
the blockade oil. the Southern ports caused a
cotton famine throughout the world, which. IN
made excessive, prices everywhere. stimulated
production in Egypt and India. fgrtherei ad,
GoSfna aed rnHGnE and brought to
tions that hecaro grave as we'll as vexatious
Any offensive operations against certain Of
our ports. or certain OF our territory. would be
likely to repeat the same scarcity OF cotton in
the world. while operations against some OF
ously interfere with the worlds supply Of
treadstut1s, In the same way; the blockade
or s6G Nth the trade Of India
similar Interference wi tn Australian ports
would affect the supply Of wool or the great
STHRpSy o of Eel for the Pacific emana'i"G from
This distress would not he alone to the
could
markets or to substitute products. but the
producing country. having large population
depending for livelihood upon the produc-
ton and sale 81 the staples would feel dis
tr"ss that would become so severe and 80 gem
the war. Even in the turbulent countries Of
Central America 1t has been found that peace
prevails during the season for Gqtheripg the
coffee crop. rs not only quiet but large bodies
of men are needed for picking. preparing and
trannSportation Of the crop to the senboard. .
The serious interference with the supply of
coal to a country like California. whore coal is
| only mined In small quantities; OF that Of pro-
Ike that to q Ensny woaa be an
| and, in the latter case, vital matter. The pro-
| lection of or interference with such movements
of staples can readily become a naval matter OF
the first magnitude. The deprivation OF such
SSSssntas is q legitimate object in war time.
by the defeat OF a fleet or force the COM
| mnnd OF the, sea will be, secured and we will
Of any kind, Tor It is worse than useless to pre-
| pare for such a movement unless the fleet is
| first disposed OF. in the war with spain there
| was more than one evidence OF this. The re-
| port of the existence Of what is now known as
and naval effort and delayed the sailing OF the
| Santiago expedition. with considerable and
| Instantaneous result. The termination of
| the war was due to the loss Of sea power by
| Spain. With colonies nsulAr in character and
| separated by sea from the mother country. the
| hopeless inability to command the sea shown
aftcr the defeat of Cervera's fleet. preceded as
| it was by the destruction of the Manila fleet.
made the loss Of these colonies only question
| of time. Undoubtedly much loss OF lite and
| material would have occurred by the continu-
| aucc Of the war, but tho results were inevita-
| bic. Neither supplies nor reinforcements
could be supplied by Spain. while military and
other supplies. as well as reinforcements.
could DO poured in steady streams from. the
| Atlantic and Pacific coasts Of the United States
| by seas over which our forces had complete
| command. When the sea power Of Spain was
| hopelessy lost Cuba, like ripe fruit on a tree.
fell as such fruit would fall, with a single but
| necessary shake. That shake was the attack
and capture Of tho town and defending force OF
| Santiago by the land forces OF the United
| States
The lecturer also defined the difference be-
| tween coast and harhor defence. Coast defence
| il n term very much used. especially by our
| brethren of the army. when defence Of n harbor
| or wort IL meant. Both have their value: har-
a