The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-10-21
BATTLE FOR COMMERCIAL
SUPREMACY IN MEDITERRANEAN
IL CONTEMPORARY WITH WAR
United States Is Vitally Interested in
Future Trade Wealth Of Region.

Saloniki, Oct. 6.1Correspondence OF
The Associated Press,-The war which
General Sarrail is conducting on the
military front here is not the only war
fare going on in this part Of the world.
Among the diplomats and officials who
circulate between here, Athens. Paris.
Rome and London. IL is recognized that
there is another and Il larger struggle
In progress than the one on the front.
az IL involves the commercial and eco
nomic supremacy Of the Mediterranean
and it's great ports-Marseillcs. Genoa.
Triest and Saloniki-as against the su.
preracy of the North Sea and its great
commerclal cities. Hamburg and Bre-
men.
To the Unltet States this struggle is
said to have a special interest. Tor the
Mediterranean is but an extension Or
arm OF the Atlantic through which the
United States can take part in the fu-
tlire commerce OF the Mediterranean
basin. including southern Europe,
northern Africa aud western Asia,
Until the war began the North Sea
and It's ports had established urdisputed
supremacy in the commercial penetra-
ton" OF Europe. II was the distribut-
INK point not only for northern Eu-
rope, but also for southern Europe way
down to the Mediterranean, which lat
ter WAS quite unnatural. The Mediter-
ranean had almost ceased to be an
avenue Of supply for it's own section
of southern Europe.
Why struggle l. On.
IL is 10 reverse this domination OF
the North Sea and its ports. and re-
store the supremacy OF the Mediterra-
mean basin. that this economic struggle
is now going on all the way from Salon
Xxi to Calais. The modern administra-
ton of European governments has
now taken the place Of barharism all
along tho northern coast from Egypt
and Tripoli to Morocco. Thus for the
first time, the Mediterranean is en-
circled by modern rule and the facili-
ties Of modern trade, opening a new
and vast field of commerce which
should particularly appeal to the Unit
ed States in the commercial extensions
after the war.
The part the four great Mediteri3.
mean cities have taken in this struggle
will come out more fully after the war
1t will then be disclosed that one of the
main causes for Italy's entering the
war was to throw on the domination
which the North Sea cities had Sc
cured over Italy's Mediterranean ports
Genoa and Naples.
Some Experience.
The other Mediterranean cities have
had the same experience In falling un
der domination from the North Sea
Marseilles was the natural distributing
point for most Of southwestern Eu
rope. But it found this field occupied
and largely controlled from the north
Saloniki was the natural emporium OF
the Balkans and all southeastern Eu
rope up to the Danube. But this field
was In the hands of the North Sea
cities. SaloniSi counts its decline large
ly from this fact Triest, being ar
Austrian city. has shared in the advan
tages of the North Sea rule. but always
as an auxiliary Of the north. whereas
il is part OF this economic struggle 10
make Triest an open port for all the
world. and essentially q Mediterranean
iilN ilANN'iN va hii thAJhiANh ~ eA'N @'ti ~
Sea.
The "i5th parallel" is another express
i've term used in this commercial strug
gle. 1t is the east and west highway
Of commerce through Entente terri
tory across Europe. IL seems, also. to
be a sort of commercial belt around the
world. 1t crosses Europe east and
west from Bordeaux. Lyon, Milan, Bel
grade. Odessa and runs close alongside
the Mediterranean from east 10 west
giving land and water routes side by
side.
Explains General Scrrai's Struggle.
The struggle TO restore the Mediter
ranean basin TO its rights and throw
Off the domination Of the North Sea
ports. explains the long and tenacious
stand General Sarrail's forces are max
ing on this Saloniki front The strictly
military part of their functions is con
siderable but aside from these military
ends. the Entente forces along this
Saloni<i front are felt to have a larger
function, To maintain the Entente foot
hold on the eastern Mediterranean un
I'll the whole Mediterranean basin /.
free from the combination Of the north