The Washington herald., 1907-12-09
TELLS OF FLEETS MISSION.
Capt. Mahan Says Cruise Gives No
Cause for War Talk.

Condemning those who would interpret
the movement Of the countrys battle ship
squadron to the waters of the Pacific as
warlike demonstration likely to rouse
the animosity OF the japanese. Capt.
A T. Mahan. recognized the world over
as an authority in naval matters, has
furnished to the Scientific American a
comprehensive article in which the true
significance Of the cruise. as naval men
generally see, is made plain.
Capt. Mahan's contribution begins with
sharp criticism of certain publications
which, it is alleged, have sought TO
shroud the features of greatest impor-
tance In cloud of smoky war talk. He
points out the fact that the United States
has a precedent for concentrating its
forces in home waters, referring TO Great
Britain's custom. which has not prevented
the exchange Of peaceful assurances be-
tween that country and Germany.
Practice for the men of .he ships is the
first consideration, says the author. It is
the one sufficient reason, and il is ade-
quate and imperative. He says the ex-
pertinent should have been made sooner.
rather than be now postponed. and be-
lieves that it was not sooner ATTEMPTED
because the growth of the navy has only
now reached the numbers, sufficiently
homogeneous. to make the movement ex-
haustiYely instructive.
Let it be said at once. definitely. "
says Capt Mahan. that there is
In international law or in interna-
tional comfy absolutely no ground of
ofense to any state, should another state
neighbor or remote, see fit 10 move its
navy about its own coasts in such manner
as 1t pleases- Whatever Germany may
think of the new distribution of the Brit
ISM navy, she says nothing, but will si-
lently govern her own measures accord
ingly. The Statesmen of japan. VINO nm
derstand perfectly the proprieties of inter-
national relations, know this well. and
doubtless retain their cOmposure; but the
result of the action of certain of the
American press has been TO stir I'D popu-
lar feeling in both countries. by the fmnu-
tation 10 the United States government of
motives and purposes which cannot be
known. and which prima facie are less
probable than the object officially avoUed
Whether this endeavor to rouse III blood
has been intentional or not. OF course
known only TO the editors, but grave
ground for suspecting even so unworthy
a motive as TO injure the national admin
istration, is fairly to be inferred in some
instances.
Shortly after the purpose to send the
fleet became known. and counter agita-
ton to be made, | had occasion to write
to a British naval friend: and I said To
him then that. while | had no clew to the
motives of the administration, IL seemed
to me that a perfectly sufficient reason
was the experience to be gained by the
fleet in making a long voyage, which
otherwise might have TO be made for
the first time under the pressure of war.
and the disadvantage of not having ex-
perienced at least once the huge admin
istrative difficulties connected with so dis
tant an expedition by a large body of
vessels dependent upon their own re-
sources. BY our resources must be un-
derstood, not that which each vessel car
ries in herself, but self-dependence as
distinguished from dependence on near
navy yards-the great snare of peace
times.