The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1914-08-06
GERMANY AIMS
At DOMINATION
Deemed This PTOpiiioGS Tim
TO Strike Blow
CAUSES O.: WAR Outlined

American Naval Authority, Rear Az .
miraI W. 7. Mahan, U. S. NJ, Re /
tired, Describes Conditions as H.
Views Them-BeIieves Britain ana
Italy Should Join With Russia ana
France-kaiser Fears Russia.
New York, Aug. 4.-Rear Admira
W. T. Mahan, U. S. N, retired, the
foremost American naval authority, II
an interview today asserts that Eng
land and Italy should at once take III
arms against Germany and austria
as a matter of self protection.
The admiral analyses the causes OF
the war and predicts that if the am
billions of The Germans to obtain c
dominating position in Europe is not
restrained, the other great power'
will suffer in the future.
In my opinion" he says, "a riga,
appreciation of the situation should
determine Great Britain to declare wal
at once. Otherwise her entente agre,
ment, whatever the letter, will be II
spirit violated and she will earn the
distrust of all probable future allies.
Italy likewise owes it to herself tc
declare war against her recent allies
and with Greece reinforced by the tW'
American battlesnips just purchased
she can doubtless maintain the b2l
ance of maritime power i'll the Med
iterranean and prevent the Turks from
giving their expected support to Ger
many, keep quiet the Bulgarians, il
these are so advised as to purpose a
diversion in favor of Austria, and, in
brief, consolidate the opposition in the
Balkans to Austria Hungary, who's
ambitions are notcriously inconsiat
ent with those Of Italy"
Admiral Mahan thinks that Germany
began war for two reasons, sett.r2
aside desire to support Austria, be
cause Russia's power was growing
rapidly since the Japanese war and
she would surely have become men
ace to Germany before long and be,
cause French armament is deficient
and the fact was recently admitted.
"The moment was auspicious foI
/ striking down France and Russia be
/ fore they regained strength" he says
1.-The motives are to be found in Aus
trias apprehension of the growing
/ Slav power in the south and that Ct
Germany concerning Russia in the
east"
He believes that Germany's plan is
to overwhelm France al once by con
centration, preparation and impetuous
momentum.
"If she fails in this she is less able
to sustain prolonged aggression. The
British fleet, which is superior to that
of Germany has the power to prevent
all commerce under the German flag
and, by blockade. to close against neu
trails all German rivers except those
emptying into the Baltic.
of the first German rush proves in
decisive or PROLONGED. the fnancia
pressure which it is in the power Ot
England to exe~,, may determine the
issue.
IF Germany beats both France anC
Russia she viii gain a respite whicI
will enable her to build a sea force
equal or superior 10 that OF Grea
Britain, and in that case the work.
will be confronted by a naval power
Of a nation eager for expansion an'
influence and menace to other ma
lions because of that fact"
He believes that the North sea vii
be the theater Of the naval battle
and that Germany must strike at onc'
with her warships in order to have ;
chance for success and to preserv
her carrying ships.
Admiral Mahan says this creates
war will determine the science of nd
val operations and show whether tn
battleship is doomed in favor of tn
submarine, though he thinks the LAT
ter cannot be effective in dayligh
against modern guns.
"The mooted question of the bi
guns will also be tested" he say,
For my part | have always believe
that the volume of fire was the deter
mining factor. The number of shot
and not single shots is the most in
portant element"