Evening star., 1909-08-29
THE ANGL0-GERMAN ANTAGONIST

against one for the armored ships. forty
seven against one for the submarines.
So much for tho present.
For the future the situation 10 differ
ent. The German shipyards are finishing
six Dreadnoughts. They have four on
the ways. and win construct twenty-four
between now and 1917. In the spring OF
1012-a critical date-England can op-
pose fourteen Dreadnoughts to the thtr-
teen Dreadnoughts Of Germany and to the
tion formed by the confederated German
states. Tho Dreadnoughts. 1t is main
tained. render practically useless all
former constructions
What in fact il the "Dreadnought" :?
Briefly explained. 1t is an armored ship
Of the maximum
What Is q ton mage (20.o0O).
'Dreadnousht", Of Of, .sass' great ,trOes1 s0esa
ly protected and armed only with a
few guns OF the highest caliber 90 can
mons Of oO5 millimeters). The Dread
nought Is generally assumed to have been
inspired by the result of the battle of
Tsushima, which proved the preponder-
ance Of heavy-caliber guns and begat
the era Of long-distance combats. This is
legend. The reality Is different.
The plans of the Dreadnought were
| worked out by the Italian engineer, Cuni-
berti, before the battle Of Tsushima. Be-
sides, the battle of Tsushima was fought
at close quarters and manifested the de-
cisive role Of heavy explosives delivered
/ in profusion by cannons of all calibers,
and especially Of the medium.
Since 1904 England has never ceased to
modify the subdivision of her fleets in the
sense of q vast concentration in home
Of an idea which has been adopted in
France. and 1t 10 significant as the mani
festation Of approximations In both coun-
tries.
This condition no longer resembles the
proud attitude OF former years; in this
progressive concentration one may easily
perceive the disQuiet of an organization
which falls back upon its home basis for
defense or for attack. In 1904 the ad-
miralty recalled eight vessels from the
divisions of the North Atlantic and the
Antilles In 1907 the movement was ac-
centuated; the Mediterranean and the
Atlantic were deprived of a part Of their
unities Of combat, and formed into q new
group known an the home fleet.
4 +
Tho principle Of concentration, as
stated by the great German tactician.
Clausevttz, was applied:
Concentration There Is no rule more
punc,nl. simple and yet more
imperative than that of
concentration Of the greatest number
OF ships at q decisive point. Any de-
tachment or fraction Of forces should
be an exception which should be fully
justified"
| The decisive point in the event of an
AngIo-German war is More. which COW
ers London and faces Germany.
The channel deet Is composed Of q
group OF eight armored ships Of the
Edward VII type. launched in 1904.
man ships. adding four Tight enders''
Of the Formidable type. launched in
1889. SO named because Of non-protected
bow and stern.
The German leet, commanded by
Prince Henry Of Prussia, is composed
armored cruisers, belonging to the
Deutschland and Wittelsbach types.
| OF course. from the point OF view of
figures the channel fleet and that OF
the More division possess, with thirty
two battleships. unities of an offensive
power superior to the twenty-five uni
| ties Of Prince Henry. The combined
deet possesses 1876 cannon OF high cali
Der and Z6S medium pieces to the 06
and 300 equivalent pieces Of the enemy.
But II the latter should execute an
| energetic movement In order to over
come that numerical superiority. and
| using Its own strategical superiority, 1t
will surely take the offensive. A vigor-
Gus offensive constitutes for the Ger
man deet the only chance to act In
place Of receiving the attack OF the
British fleet, concentrated and assured
Of q superiority OF three to one. It is
necessary, therefore, to execute q
| movement OF the most hardy and au
| dacious character and in a minimum of
time.
The author foreshadows what he thinks
must occur. It Is night in winter. somber
and wet. The German
Prophetic squadron is at Wilhelms-
| haven ready to steam, as
1t has been habitually for
months. The ships Of the channel feet
protect Portland: the More division is at
anchor before Sheerness. At dawn Of day
| the fieet at Wilhelmshaven weighs anchor,
~ dod hxy< bo sAy,or ino