The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-30
LARGE FLEET ONLY
SAFEGUARD FOR j. 5.
SAYS NAVAL ARTIST

zone week after beginning OF war
German commerce ceased to exist, "
writes Henry Reuterdahl, the naval
artist. in the February issue OF Amerl-
can Defense. published for the Ameri-
ran ..Defenss. society In this time
the German overseas engine OF trace
had been brought To a complete
standstin And in the history of sea
nov-er. there is nothing comparable
with this sudden strangulation OF Ger
man commerce all over the world.
More than TWO thousand German
steamers II a total Of nearly i've mill
lion tons, and two thousand, seven
hundred sailing vessels were swept OH
the seas after the war BOOK opened
The mighty Nateriand for a year ana
a half tied 10 a dock IN Hoboken visit
ali2es Germsny's Waterloo at sea
The wear has proved that a pow
erful tice' IS 81 maritime Country's only
safeguard England, because OF the
s4pcr!ority Of her navy, commands
he sea-lnyaslon is impossihle--her
colonies are iutaCt--her trade routes
rnohztruCted The invisible grip Of
the British sea power without the
PRO a hilitv II a dreadnBurht ever get
ting into action. will be the factor
which will decide the terms for peace
and the future Of Europe England
built a navy OF a twO-pQwcr standard
it was able t. back the policy Of the
empire. and the navy's object has
been achieved To the doctrine Of
Admiral Mahan. the influence of sea
power upon history. this way has been
a powerful Illustration. And this IS
tina greatest lesson the war can give
10 us
The object ~ the American navy
Is 10 maintain the Monroe Doctrine.
j. cannot do so. 1t is too weak. That
ia the years greatest lesson to rs.
Our fleet would meet defeat. For
want Of sufficient number of dread
uaughts. battle cruisers, scouts de-
strcyers. sea. going submarines, sea-
planes, and the men &c man them, the
American fleet. in spite OF the bravery
cf its personnel, could not win.
but. though fine and spectacular,
The individual bravery and skin Of
me Won Mullers # the Imperial navy.
has had no bearing on the final issue.
superior Ruu-power and the ability to
h}t hard. not bravery will win the sea
battle OF tomorrow. The object of
the German navy was to secure the
command of the sea. protect German
commerce ana colonies II could not
back up the policy for which II was
designed, hence ii has failed II was
toe "fara 'tbF iuAhlE iits Apui INV
water vas the motto. bat the High
seaF Fleet is still passivelv at anchor
behind the mine fields off Wilhelms-
haycn--its proper place Sticking to
sea would but mean defeat.
Nor can the American navy and
army carry out our policies. Weak
ness invites attack. Unless the ma
tional arm on sea and land is strong
enough 10 successfully defend the ma
tIon policy in case OF war, it Is OF
little use. and the money expended
upon its establishment practically
wasted
NOW, the years lesson for us is
TO be prepared-lay down as many
capital ships and scouts as our ship
yards will hold, increase materially
/ oar enlisted force and the output OF
midshIpmen at Annapolis For the
army. accept universal military train
ing under a universal obligatory sys-
tenla-at least $4,000 officers To train
/ the citizen soldiers-~incrcase our re.
serve Of tield guns, rifles and ammuni,
ton"