The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-07
F AMERICA WERE FORGED INTO WAR
 WOULD II HELP?! Greatest British Authority on Sea Power Writes
 on Subject
LORD SYDENHAM
 ON OUR RESOURCES
Lays Special Stress on Destroyers and Seaplanes as Factors by America in the World
 Conflict

oSdCiihdlus lOiluci ly Sir George Sydenham Clarke. is re- garded as one of the greatest living authorities on ordnance and is also probably the chief authority today on sea power, now that Admiral Mahan is dead. He Is now making notes for the history of the naval operations in the present war. which is to be pub lished in both England and the United States. After brilliant career in tho field, he was made a member of the war office reorganization committee in 1900 member of the late war office reconstruction committee, secretary to the committee of imperial defense, and has filled many other high positions that give the greatest weight of au- thority to his views today in matters pertaining to armament. Lord Syden- hams reply therefore to leading question put to him by four London correspondents is of interest. The question was as follows:
 Provided the United States should be forced into war what, in your opinion, would be the most effective form of contribution she could make to the strength of the allies?'
 The reply, published by kind permis- sion of Lord Sydenham, was as follows:
 You ask me what America, if in volved in the war, could undertake in the allied cause. I feel diffidence in replying, because I am anxious not to appear to offer advice which Americans might resent. No thoughtful man here oesires that our friends should light : ly abandon their neutrality and there is strong feeling that as the most powerful neutral, America may be able to enforce regard for the rights of hu- manity and to secure the civilized world against black piracy and indis- oriminate murder in the future
 But while we all admire the stand which the President has taken. we cant not help noting that he has, so far, met only with rebuffs and with calculated procrastination, which no great power can continue to accept without loss of dignity and moral prestige. Germany has appeared to have discounted Amer ican intervention and her diplomacy nas been so evidently provocative that she may wish to force war upon a peace-loving people, just as war was forced upon the European powers. not one of which harbored any hostility against sthe central empires. or had made any preparations except for de- fense necessitated by the portentious successive increases to German naval and military strength.
 The situation is peculiar. By entering into the war, America would risk nothing from Germany. The British navy stands between her and all ag- gression. The seas are open, except where submarines attack neutral and belligerent shipping alike. Difficulties may exist as to cargoes for certain neutral ports, whence they can go straight to Germany and-as has hap pened--be utilized to prolong the slaughter of men who are freely giv- ing their lives to defend all that Amer jeans hold most dear, but the fact re- mains that American trade as a whole has been wonderfully maintained and intervention would not prejudice its continued development. So much our navy has guaranteed.
 l do not accept the German view that America as belligerent would not count in the scales of war. Our prin- cipal naval want has been destroyers We assumed that submarines would not be used to torpedo merchant ships and fishing craft at sight; because, apart from international obligations. we be- ileved that modern civilization would not LOleTdIe the IuuTueT Ol nelpleSS nOH- combatents pursuing their harmless avocations on the sea. We did not reckon with German standards of nor ality, and we have suffered accordingly. Amcricau destroyers wouid be a well come aid, might be instrumental in sav- ing American lives, and would be need ed if the German threat of sending submarines across the Atlantic were translated into action. while the great building powers of the United States could quickly add to their number. I do not think the American submarines could find opportunities of usefulness in this war, but cruisers, of the light class especially, are always valuable and in the Gallipoli operations battle allies would be most grateful. The air service there and in the west has proved infinitely important This new arm of war could be rapidly developed in America and the supremely gallant airmen of the allies would rejoice in the comradeship of Americans as gal lapt Success in the field has been ruled by artillery power and America, secure at home. could supply guns and how itzers of which the allies cannot have too many. do not forget that,the Uni- ted States could create fine army of .l million of men in six months and the Knowledge that such a force was being formed would be a potential ad- vantage even if 1t were never called upon for service oversea.
 I omit economical consideration as being outside the scope of your ques- tion. but clearly the cooperation of America would remove some existing difficulties, provided that her financial strength, which Is great asset, re- mained unimpaired. as 1t must in the conditions to which I have referred
 From the moral point of view I be- lieve that the importance of American intervention cannot be. overrated. The strenuous activities and the ruthless nendacity of German propagandists in iaboring to convince neutrals that their cause is blameless indicate that all re- gard for civilized opinion has not en- tirely disappeared, but opinion not backed by action may be disbelieved and can at least be safely secuted. In this stupendous world crisis, when Ger many has flung aside the elementary dictates of humanity, the sanctity of international agreements, the liberties of small states and all that makes for the progress and happiness of mankind IL must surely be that all who do not worthily uphold the right with the best means in their power win bitterly rue their lost opportunities and will find their influence for good crippled In the future. Yours faithfully,
 SYDENHAM OF GOMEZ
 P. S--Since writing this letter have seen a statement of the increase proposed to the American navy, in which destroyers figure as an import ant item. s. OF c.
 ROTOGRAvURE!