New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-30
Blu Gherardi Davis

submarine-all make blockading work :dc
more difficult than ever and increase the ci1-
GUILTY of holding the high seas. And yet
Germeny's ports are shut tight to commerce,
except in tie Baltic, and the stream Oh
vessels to and from our ports has never been
stoned. Indeed, | believe that so far no
transport bound for Europe has been lost
Absolute control of the North Sea is not pos
sible to-day as long as the enemy has Suit
able port from which to send out warshlps'
raiders or submarines, and of such ports he
has many on the exceedingly difficult coast
difficult even in peace times-oetween Schles-
wig Hostein and Holland. An occasional
dash must necessarily succeed, like the re-
cent one in the North Sea, but these will not
win the war, disappointing though they may
be to ourselves and our allies. 1t would re-
ouire second navy of cruisers as great as
England's to meet this situation at all points.
and such a navy cannot be built in day.
Effects of Blockade
Coming now to the effect of the prcscn.
blockade. it is but natural 10 recall the
extraordinary condition Of things which ex-
listed in Europe between 1906 ard 1914, wren
Napoleon proclaimed and endcavored to en-
force an embargo against England, while she
at the same time blockadcd tho French coasts.
England at first suffered severely from lack
of grain; the Continent soar completely
lacked sugar, tobacco, coffee and indigo. Of
thes. sugar alone was an essential, and this
led to the perfection by the French of
method of making beet root sugar, the dis
tingushed French chemist Chaptal being one
of the principal workers on TINS new inyel-
ton Thus was developed an industry the
ultimate magnitude of which no one dreamed
of in Napoleon's day. In other respects the
embargo and blockade, while causing financial
losses, had no very serious effects on the
reputation of Europe, for the Continent rio-
duceG everything necessary 10 sustain lie.
Cotton was not yet King, as to-day, and
ritrates were not needed in those days, mol
was coal as much of necessity as 1t is to-
day. England drew supplies even from some
European countries, for the system soon broke
down in places. In Germany today, however,
it is very evident that there is serious lack
of necessaries. She has used up or very largely
depleted her stores of food and other ma
terals. Fat, sugar, cotton leather, copper,
all are daily becoming scarcer; in fact, me
Central Powers are approaching the condition
of the Confederacy in the early part of 'sb4.
1t is true that modern science attempts 10
provide substitutes for foods, for example,
but they do not appear to be successful, for
they are neither paatable nor nourishing.
The best food must go to the soldiers, and
the result is that the civilian population is
slowly and steadily deteriora:ng in vigor.
'hyscal and mental In time tbs will extend
sso to the army. Thus again does the con-
troll of the sea affect the wa. to the disaf-
vantage of the blockaded country, disad-
vantage that must rapidly increase and uiti-
snately be fatal unless peace with Russia
opens the doors to unlimited food and other
necessary supplies of all sorts.
There are other interesting cases of the
do not come within either OF the two classes
have been discussing. Thus, at Yorktown
we were besieging an English army. Inc
English feet endeavored to relieve Corn
wallis, whose forces were on the waters edge
But De Grasses feet prevented the English
fleet from giving the needed aid and Corn
wallis had to surrender. Such an event is a
most unusual one in history, out it again
emphasizes the supreme importance of the
control of the high seas in war In the pres
ent war the English were able, without in
reference on the sea, to send large army
to Gallipoli. After the utter fltility of the
attempted attack on the Turkish positions
had heen proved, such of the troops as wcr,
still alive were safely removed by the Eng.
lish ships, for England still controlled the
seas. Again, to-day, Germany, through her
overwhelming feet, has the Russian Baltic