New-York tribune., 1900-12-31
CAPTAIN MAHAN.
HIS DISCUSSIONS OF WAR AND PEACE
AND HUMAN PROGRESS.

LESSONS OF. THE WAR WITH SPAIN. And
Other Articles BY Alfred T. Mahan d c r,
IL D. Captain United States NaVy. Win tWo;
maps Octave, PIP. xvi $40. Little. Brown & Co
THE PROBLEM OF ASIA. And Its Effect Upon
D. c L. IL D. Captain United States Nav
With map Octave. p2. XVI, 2s3. Little. Brown
In the first of the collected and reprinted
essays which compose the volume Lessons of
the War with Spain" Captain Mahan strongly
commends Napoeon's saying that exclusive
ness az purpose is the secret of great sue
cesses" The volume itself is a proof OF the
authors fidelity to that principle. 1t contains
i've separate essays widely varying topics,
from war 10 peace, from shipbuilding TO the
government OF dependencies; yet through them
all runs the single dominant purpose, to awaken
the minds Of the American people to the duties
and responsibilities which nave been imposed
upon them in the new order OF things ushered
in by the war with Spain. In discussing the
: tlessons Of the war Captain Mahan cursorily
reviews the chief features of naval strategy:
while giving TO the service which he himself
adorns fun credit for its victories he points out
how narrow at times was the margin of safety
and thus he emphasizes with convincing force
the moral of the present and future needs Of
our Army and Navy, and, not least, Of coast
and harbor fortihcations as adequate adjuncts
10 them. The same purpose is maintained in
his considerations Of the Peace Conference at
The Hague. in which he reminds his readers Of
the debts which law and justice. and peace
itself. owe to the armed force of the Nation,
and dwells upon the obligation-even the Chris
tan obligation-of the United States TO be
ready at all times TO maintain right by force
81 need be. In the more technical discussions
OF naval construction he dismisses effectuaIly
the notion that We should have Navy for
fensive is generally disastrous war, and
that the strongest defence a navy can make is
vigorous aggression AS might naturally
suppose, therefore he favors the development
OF navy strong in line-of-batt1e ships Of no
excessive size nor extreme speed. Their fight
ing power is 10 be the first consideration
Mobility is good. but mobility is for force. no
force for mobility. So, TOO, his strong objection
20 monitors is not that they lack speed, bu
that they are lacking in aggressive qualities
The brief essay the relations Of the Natol
10 its dependencies is an appeal to the enlight
ened self-interest of the Nation to do righteous
ness. TO develop material welfare and TO guar
the whole with a strong hand. The Unite,
States is irrevocabIy committed to an over-se
policy. and for the maintenance thereof 1T Wi
need both lofty political conceptions of righ
and honor and the power, of Army and Navy
10 support and 10 enforce the action which sue
conceptions may demand. Such is the keynot
OF this suggestive volume from the pen of on
who well embodies a himself those very prin
ciples OF high aims and Of prevailing force.
In his volume upon 1.-The Problem OF Asia,
which is also a compilation OF magazine and re
view articles. Captain Mahan pursues the sam
theme. throughout a further stage. The Chimes
Empire is. IN his mind. the great market Of tn
future and the chiaf scene OF future materis
development Our interest in IL is naturall
great in view Of frontage on the Pacif
opposite 10 IL; and that interest has been enol
xnously enhanced and quickened by our acQuis