New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-25

will be the possibility Of such ~.
engagements as will give a guarantee ~
the position Of Italy and leave bs,
free from any fears Of hostile prs.
dominance"
An Affair Of Land, Not Sea.
81 think the great events Of this VA,
that will affect Italy are taking rlaee
on land rather than on sea Italy would
have nothing to apprehend nayglly
from a victory Of England and France
She would always be strong enough 10
deal with Austria on the seas, unless.
of course, victorious Germany came IA
the aid of Austria. IF Germany sue.
ceeded in the war and English power
was broken Germany could, Of course.
send as many ships as she liked 10 ioin
the Austrian feet, and could send them
much quicker than Italy could build
them, out still, repeat, that for Italy
this Is primarily an affair of land rath.
CT than the sea-"
"There appears to be at this moment
danger Of an lslamic movement in the
north o. Africa, promoted by Germany.
That would eventually menace British.
Italian and French interest equally on
the northern shore of the Mediter.
ranean. Do you think it possible that
on this basis there would be room
for an agreement between the three
chief Mediterranean poweTs?'
"The great issues of the hour are in
Europe. not in Africa. and If they can
be regulated satisfactorily, as far as
Europe is concerned Africa Is an easy
matter"
"The argument is put forward BY
Al IL L.
decisive engagement between the Ger.
man and British fleets and, conse.
duently, they regard this AS 2 success.
Do you think there is any foundation
for this belief, and whether the fact
that the German feet still remains in
being is in any way likely to affect the
outcome of the war;"
Britannia Still Rules the Sea.
"a great battle on sea has not yet
} been fought, but although it has not
yet been fought we enjoy as great
command Of the sea and as free use Of
sea power as we should have after a
decisive engagement. What is there
for instance, that we could do then
that we are not doing now? German
trade has ceased. German supplies
have been largely strsngled British
trade, in all essentials, is going on IN
interruptedly. Materials of industry
and food for the people arc entering
the country daily in vast quantities al
commercial prices. We are moving
scores Of thousands Of men across al.
the oceans of the world. Our sub
marines are blockading the very throat
Of the Elbe. We started with a sub
stantial naval prepOnderance, much
more like , TO than Is to 10. In the
next twelve months We shall have twice
as many battieships competing and
three or four times as many cruisers
as Germany il the losses we're een
equal.
"Our position this time next year
would be far stronger than 1t is To-
day. You must remember that none
Of the ships built in my tenure Of o.
fee, except the small cruiser Are
thusa, have been commissioned, yet
these are the most powerful and most
expensive ships that have ever been
built.
They are the fruits of the greatest
naval effort England ever made. They
are all coming along the road. We
always regarded the first month OF war
as our most difficult and critical monta
from naval point Of view, and VIC nave
nothing to complain of IN the way tnS'
the month has gone"
zone argument constantly employed
especially by German diplomats deal
ing with Italians, is that II Italy re-
mains alone in the Mediterranean Sea
she will be exposed 10 Ango-Frenea
dictation. should be glad il you eouIs
give me any reinsurance on that polnI
No Danger to Italy.
81 cannot think OF any danger that
friendly Italy would run from EngiisS
and French naval strength. We ST.
both great Mediterranean powers We
do not seek expansion We have got a!
the territory in the Mediterranean tnA.
we want. We only want to live quls,
life, enjoy our possessions and reSPes.
those of others. Therefore, hoWs1e.
strong we are, | cannot see how IasI'
could be any danger to Italy. On "
contrary, if Italy had been our a,i{ I,
the war our naval interests Woul9
hers and our views about her lSieps
possessions and naval bases would v
free from the slightest Jealousy o' 80
picion." ,..L.,
am case Italy should decide that n,.
national interests require active nv
Yention how would IL be received ="
this country and by the Allies !,.,d
"We are very confident IN EhSisJ.
about winning the war. We have mso
mp our minds to win il il costs inc a. ,ss
sovereign and the last man ~
British Empire .uv
Time is on our side. Personally,
never expected the campaign 10 ~ So
far and so we'll in the first two OF M
months. have always been looA'ns
the seventh, eighth and ninth m0uSS
OF TIE war 10 produce the greSSI
cision, but the extraordinary gaIiAhn.
of the French army and the im lIl'sy.
power which Russia has so quilessg-
erteG, the pluck and energy OF o.,;,n
combined with the great Aust IA
smash-up, have created at tbs enL;eh
the second month situation W.
we Nigh. have been well conIehs bh
at the end of the seventh OF soes
month. OF course II is mueh 700 mas
TO speculate. We are not building I'VE
the accidents Of the battlehelas, thf
are measuring the vital forces o. -,
nations engaged In the war. v. S,r
satisfied that Germany has aOT p,ssa
worst and is fully extended sa
has only Just begun. In less tns.siios
months time we shall have one ~. srt
soldiers in line, all volunteers W. rss
taken by compulsion, ana 49, IA
will be equipped with eyerytA.aSS boh
sciencS can invent or money AZ
drawn from the naval powers '"
whole world"