New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-02
SEA POWER AND THE WAR
British Confidence in Naval Pressure
Dismissed as Anticipated"
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Your issue of this morning, In press
dispatch from London. publishes very in
teresting interview with the Right Hon.
David Lloyd George, the British Secretary FOR
War. BRITAIN has only begun to fight.
Time is the least vital factor. II took
England twenty years to defeat Napoleon.
We have no delusion that the war 10
nearing an end" are some OF his COM
ments.
Such fundamental expressions always de-
serve the most serious attention Of everybody
who conscientously tries 70 apply both juds.
ment and vision to the solution Of great prob
lens. Behind the words quoted above, OF
course, lies the conviction that II is mpos-
sible TO imagine the Central Powers surviving
with the sea shut against them.
May at the outset state il as my impress
sion that this belief is to-day probably held
by many thoughtful people in this country.
So powerful has been the influence Of British
Interpretation Of history, so magical has espe.
cially been the spell Of the final victory OK
England in the Napoleonic period as sup
posedly caused by her mastery o. the sea-
that many thoughtful Americans seem 10 feel
certain as 20 the final victory in the present
war: mastery Of the sea supposed to De as
sured to the Entente Powers, ard the poten'
tiel grasp Of these powers on resources ap-
parenty outbalancing those Of the Central
Powers will, they believe, finally accomplish
Allied victory. A good deal might be said on
relative resources, but il could hardly be done
within the limits OF letter.
But it should not be overlooked that the
territory at present accessible TO the Central
Powers for economic purposes covers abou'
two million square miles United States,
about three million square miles,, sustaining
q population OF nearly two hundred million
people United States. over one hundred mill.
ion people,. while the potential resources Of
this territory, owing TO the greater yarietys,.
climate. are far more diversified than thoseof
the United States. The resources OF tnS
great territory are now being developed sys'
tematically in order TO make them serve a.
completely as possible all the needs OF tne
200, 100000 people inhabiting il. thus steaoiH
strengthening their economic self-reliancc'
Attention. though, may be called 10 Two
new forces bearing on the mastery OF the sea
which have entered into human activity since
the Napoleonic period--the steam engine ana
the internal combustion engine. both bearing
on transportation problems in a way so rsoi,
cal that the theories based on sea contro'
will am firmly convinced, have 10 be iaIgey
abandoned. The railroad, the submarine s''
the flying machine are the three main factor,
resulting from the new forces which shou'
bring about such abandonment
Railroads have changed the aspect OF lanS
control. from military and from an eev ,
nomic point of view. A few days at most VIII
make the military and economic resources o,
the Central Powers available az any require.
point within the territory Of the Cenus
Powers, while in the times Of Napoe0a
months would frequently be required ior su.p
transfers, if they were possible at all. in'
advantage was then entirely with sea tran,
portation, which is to-day much slower sns'
owing 10 the development OF suDmarln..
much less reliable than land trsnspor'a'Oa.
This is true both in military and in eeono'"'
operations. While the control OF the SCI
must become less and less secure. and tne,s
fore less and less valuable. chiefly due 70 ""
submarine. the control OF the land IS GET.
more and more important. chiefly que ~
rapid development OF railroadlng ana Us
The progress made during the last zen ~
IN nylng indicates thAt, especiai'S IA
war be long drawn out, rs seems hkeT, ~.
view OF the trust placed by the Entente ~.
ers and their adhercnts in an antiqus.o
praisal of sea power. this field OF ae'iF''' r.,
play an increasingly important part
the conduct Of flying operations u - ~
more essential to control large sue''n
lind than 10 control vast stretches OF vat va,
IL would seem at least open TO INC a
scrious confederation II time, insteAo
being an element of strength, will rot PIT
to be an element of weakness Tor "''
Britain and her allies. o. J. Mhhnn
Secretary German University LesS'"
New York. Sept. rs, 1916. --------->-e