The sun., 1916-10-05
THE TIME FACTOR IN WAR.
Has Lloyd George overlooked Certain
Changes Since Napoeon's DayS

To II EDITOR OF THE SCN--SN: IN
THE Sun Of September IS is a despatch
from London reporting an interesting
interview with the Right Hon. David
Lloyd George. the British Secretary of
War. "Britain has only begun to fight.
Time is the least vital factor. II took
England twenty years to defeat Napo-
leon. We have no deluslon that the war
is nearing an end" These are some OF
his comments.
Such fundamental expressions always
deserve the most serious attention OF
everybody who c~onscientiously tries 10
apply both Judgment and vision 70 the
solution OF great problems. Behind the
words quoted lies the conviction that IL
Is impossible to imagine the Contra
Powers surviving with the sea shu;
against them.
This belief is to-day probably held BY
many thoughtful people IN This country.
50 powerful has been the influence OF
British Interpretation OF history. SO mag
ical has especially been the spell OF the
final victory of England in the Napo-
leonlc period a. supposedly caused by
her mastery Of the sea. that many
thoughtful Americans seem to feel ccr-
lain as to the final victory in the present
war: mastery Of the sea, supposed u
be assured to the Entente Powers. and
the potential grasp of these Powers OH
apparently outbaianclng those
Of the Contra! Powers. will. they believe,
finally accomplish allied victory. A good
deal might he said on relative resources.
but IL could hardly be done within the
limits OF a letter.
But II should not be overlooked that
the territory at present accessible 10 the
central fowcrs for economic purposes
covers about two million square miles.
IN area two-,h.rds as large as tho United
states. sustaining a population of nearly
zoo, 600 ,O00. twice the size os the popu-
ittiua II: The tnitcl States, While the
potential resources of this territory oN-
ing to the greater variety Of climate are
far more diversified than those Of the
United States. The resources Of this
great territory are now being developed
Systematically in order TO make them
serve as completely as possible all tho
needs Of the 200. 600, 900 people lnhabl,-
ing II. thus steadily strengthening their
economic self-rellancs.
Attention may DO called 70 two neN
forces bearing on the mastery OF the
sea which have entered since the Napo-
loonlc period the steam engine and the
internal combustion engine. both bear
ing on transportation problems In a way
so radical that the theories based or
sea control will. ! am firmly convinced
have 10 be largely abandoned. The rail-
| rnnl tho s1,hr,. -i1a ar,I t'A 0,t.r ,-.
chine are the three main factors result.
ing from the new forces which should
bring about such abandonment.
Railroads have changed the aspec, o.
land control. from a military and fro,r
an economic point Of view. \ few DAYS
az most will make the military and
economic resources Of the Central Tow.
crs available al II required poin,
within the territory OF the Central Pow.
crs, while in the times OF Napoleon
months would frequently be required fol
such transfers. II they were possible a;
all. The advantage was then entirely
with sea transportation, which il TODAY
slower and, owing to the development
of submarines, less reliable than land
transportation. This is true both in
'''''t' VI" III V'olloIll4N operations
While tho control OF the seas must be.
come less and less secure. and therefore
less n less valuable, chiefly due to the
submarine. the control of the land Is
getting more and more important. chiefly
due to the rapid development of rail-
reading n flying. Tho progress made
during the last ten years in flying indi.
Gates that. especially should the war
be long drawn out, as seems likely in
view of the trust placed by the Entent.
Powers and their adheren;s in an anti.
qnated appraisal Of sea power this field
OF activity will play an increasingly I'M
portant part. For the conduct of flying
operations it is much more essential 10
control large stretches Of land than 70
control vast stretches OF water.
II would seem at least open 10 the
most serious consideration whether
time, instead OF being an element o.
strength. will not prove to be an elcmen,
OF weakness for Great Britain and her
Allies. o., J.. MERKrr.
Executive Secretary. German Unlver.
sity League.
NEW YoRE. October I.