The Washington times., 1915-02-23
CONTINUED from First Page.)

are--wl1at shall call it?-easy. just az
we Britishers are.
There can be no doubt now that. re-
gardless Of the time It will take to end
the war. or the toll Of men and money
to be exacted. Germany must ultimately
lose. 1t is obvious that Germany's re.
sources, in a test Of endurance, cannot
equal the allies combined resources.
Under the circumstances, 1t is not un-
reasonable to suppose that Germany al
ready Is giving serious consideration to
factors entering into peace negotiations.
Sitting at a peace conference table.
America, with great commercial de-
n1ands for an early settlement and rela-
lively lesser grievances. would un-
doubtedly be a valuable asset for Ger,
'Bnt with this SO obvious. why will
not America avoid the clath?" asked.
Desire Peace Too Much.
Young man." answered Lord Beres-
ford. ''your nation Is democracy. The
weakness Of every democracy is that 1t
desires peace above all else. and In its
determination to maintain peace often
goes to absurd lengths. Democracy is
always more jealous Of it's honor and
quicker to resent any question involving
Its safety than any other form of sov-
ernment. Coincidentally democracy loves
a strong, firm-handed leader in times Of
stress, and SO long as that leadership Is
successful will follow unquestioningly to
the end Of the situation.
found the explanation Of the British con:
fidence in Kitchener. have noted
American press references to the sur
render Of the government to Kitchener
standing Of the situation. There is no
ike Sars eenssrs s su' q s!ssnsie s eas stpussle
efficiency as in a country which has
bowed its head to the yoke OF military
no obtain this efficiency. a nrm hand
Instead Of rejecting upon democracy
and proving 1t q failure, England's ac-
cemplishment in seven months Of what
f9ss SGss.s. Germany forty ysar. is the
Of democracy.
Certainly. II any proof is needed Of
the baselessness Of Germany's charge
in the Situation which Kitchener and
the admiralty have met and overcome.
England was never more unprepared
on land and sea. Had we expected war.
the mining of the North Sea trade
Caught OF Guard.
Deceived by the intensity Of our de-
sire for peace, we were at the outset
caught off our guard. Hence Germany
was given the greatest naval oppor-
tunity she will every enjoy. But she
failed to grasp 1t. Ready and determin-
ed to have war. AS her military acti-
vities have shown. she was, Germany
had the opportunity before the declara-
ton to rush cruisers and armed mer-
chantmen out along all British trade
routes, where upon the opening Of hos
tilities. they could have sunk thousands
of q hefnrp
have protected them.
The extent Of the opportunity Ger
many lost Is best Illustrated by the
10 believe that at the last minute the
Kaiser was rushed into war without
giving to the naval end the considera-
.on undOubtsdy tSs gwen % to the ary
the Kaiser's ear before the break. the
result might have been different"
At the mention Of Won Tirpitz. the
conversation today turned to the sub:
the blockade is a chief topic of con-
versation of the British public. as well
AZ thousands of Americans here. it
might have been supposed that the ref
many claims sounds the death knell of
British naval supremacy, would evoke
heated answer. But, instead, it brought
merely laugh
number Of innovations designed to alter
The course of history" said Lord Beres-
ford. but ! know of nothing that has
heen more Overestimated than the i'm
Dortanee and value of the submarine,
provided 1t is met with precautions of
"peed and screens of small craft pro-
tcctinS squadrons of big ships.
Submarine Problem Met.
II don't mean that the submarine ism t
IN extremely valuable asset, or hasn't
presented new problems, but without
either boasting or divuging secrets.
AN say the submarine problem is be-
ing, and will be. met, so far as ships OF
war are concerned. The suppositior
that the submarine will revolutionze
naval warfare is an utter absurdity.
Given nation possessed of suffi-
cent submarines and sufficiently de-
generated national morality, it is. OF
course, possible considerably to damage
nnarmed merchantmen, but it is as un-
'easonable 10 expect to revolutionize
land warfare by footpads using maxim
s!IcnCers on revolvers as to expcct ma
val warfare TO be revOlutionized by
The present tactics OF German subma
lines.
The Germans greatest accomplish
rnent has been to revive and glorify
riracy and sea murder. 1t is reasonable
10 suppose that this will result in some
changes In construction. but the ulti-
mate issue Of any naval war always
Will rest with battle fleets"
will the final issue between Great
Britain and Germany in this war be
decided by battle fieets?" l asked.
1T must be-" was the emphatic re
sponse. Peace. which in effect result:
in draw. is inconceivable. 1t woult
mean for the allies rivers Of bloodshec
TO no purpose. Peace with Germany
land-locked battle fleet intact, with
tlut nation free again to resume ne
efforts to challenge the neutrality o
the seas and freedom of ocean routes
which British naval supremacy ho
maintained for the world. Is unth!nk
able
Command of the seas, from th'
british viewpoint or British navalism,
as Won Tirpitz describes 1t. has meant
and always will mean, freedom of thu
scas to every nation. Not only thu
menace of German miltarism. with it.
attendant blight upon freedom anc
Ccmorcacy. hut the menace OF German
navalsm. which acknowledges no rule
Of honor. must be wiped from the rec
ord OF umc.
Britain will trust her army an
navv. and the spirit OF Nelson will b
sufficient in the final crises"