The Washington herald., 1909-04-18
WAR OR BANKRUPTCY
Lewis Nixon So lnterprets Rivalry Between England
and Germany Over Dreadnoughts.


more wakeful. German activity in the
Dreadnought line did not look good 70
them. And as they turned the matter
over IN their minds, II looked worse. The
Kaiser. always at heart hater OF the
English. as they believed, evidently
plotted some evil against them Perhaps
he meant TO invade Engisnd-why not.
Lord Roberts said Il could be done. And
the German people, hearing what the
English were saying about them, finally
began 10 mutter so much that Il seemed
advisable for King Edward and Queen
Alexandra 70 journey to Berlin. which
they d.d last fall, 20 cement the friend
ly relations that bound the two great
nations" and show all the world that
Briton and German loved each other
dearly
A Plays Influence.
But the cement that was used 70 nj up
the cracks in the aforesaid friendly re-
lations evidently was not properly mixed.
Rumors began 20 sweep over England
that Germany had secretly begun addi-
tional Dresdnoughts that were being
rushed 70 completion. A statement 70 this
effect was made IN, Parliament. The
German admiralty denied IT, and the
British people didn't believe the denial
In each country the feeling grew that the
other was planning 70 attack e. In
England Du Maurier's play, An English
mans Home." came along and famed
this feeling into a frenzy. Recruits
thronged the stations Of the war Office
II hos'illties had been only sixty DAYS
away the excitement could hardly have
been greater.
All OF this leads up 70 a profoundly I'm
portant fact and a question. The fact is
that the building or the Dreadnought
practically destroyed the rest OF the Brit
ish navy and gave every other nation IN
the world a chance 70 begin almost on
even terms with England In building the
type OF ships that viii decide the battles
of the future-an opportunity that Ger
many has accepted with prodigIous enthu-
siasm.
The question is. What form IS the
crisis likely 20 take that must soon end
the exhausting rivalry Of Great Britain
and Germany in the building Of SO 900 coo
battle ships?'
This question was PUT 20 Lewis Nixon
battle ship builder and the designer OF
the Oregon and a half dozen other Amer
lean war ships.
Flight II Out"
7 see only Two ways that this contest
can end" he said. and bur one way that
Il Is likely 20 end one way would be
for the two nations 10 continue TO match
battle ships until one becomes financially
exhausted and Is willing 20 give up and
drop back 70 place IN the list Of second
rate powers. The other way is 10 light
q out
What I mean by that IS this: Germany
has more potential financial strength than
England. Germany Is increasing more
rapidly than England in wealth and pop
ulatiOn. In a mere endurance contest
therefore. Germany would win. because
Der money would hold out longer.
England knows this. And knowing g.
denly some day by forcing war on Ger
many. The time may come when the
English government win say "a Itself. AS
the German navy stands to-day. We can
whip a. As 81 viii stand next year n We
let her alone. We cannot defeat IL because
our resources are nearly at an end and
Germany's navy year hence. viii be
larger than our own
Personally. 7 believe that IS the way Il
VIII end. I expect 20 see within five years
the most terrific war IN the worlds his
tory between England and Germany.
And mind you II that war comes and
England Is beaten-end 7 would not be
surprised II she should be-she viii drop
10 the rank OF Spain as an Unlmportant
nation. She VIII drop because she VIII
lose her maritime prestige. and foreign
trade Is all that has ever made England
great Already the Germans have made
great inroads upon this trade. A few
years ago British ships were everywhere
and they were busy. while Germany was
not regarded as a maritime ration. Now
many British ships are idle. and the Ger
mans are creating an enormous mercan-
tile feet IL one wants 20 60 from almost
any port In Europe 20 South America he
is more than likely 20 learn thar he must
40 on a erman ship. and Il, after reach
ing South America. he wants 10 buy
draft on an American or European bank
the chances are that A German bank VIII
be the only one available TO sell IL 20 him.
Germany plainly seeks 20 control the
maritime trade of the world and Il she
and England go TO war the one that wins
viii have this trade for a generation al
least"
what Colonies Might DO.
Mr.. Nixon was reminded that the Brit
Ssh colonies. several Of which have al
ready offered 10 build Dreadnoughts for
the mother country. might enable her 70
continue matching battle ships with Ger
many for quite a while.
IT'S true-they can" he replied. but
have you ever thought OF this That II
England ever permits her colonies 70 be
gin building battle ships for her that this
one act viii bring about a revolutionary
change in the government OF the British
empire? II Carsda. New Zealand. and
the states OF the Australian common
wealth build battle ships for England /
how long VIII It be before they VII de-
mand the right Of helping 10 tx the for
eign policy OF England? IN my opinion. /
Il would be a nightly short time And
With 50 many dissimilar interests repre- /
Sented. England would give an exhibition
that might be expected 10 resemble the
present scramble Of conflicting interests
In the American Congress over the tar
H."
"But. disregarding this possible phase
-