New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-31
Nst1 York Tr5xn>
Ee1opedn Bsrecy

Nsw York Tri5xns
Eevopedn B.yee.
TNHE Allies escape from overwhelminr
Il disaster in the early days Of the wsr
was due rather TO good fortune than
to foresight. It was due primarily to the
fortunate circumstance that even GERMANY.
Notwithstanding all her elaborate and care
fully prepared plans, overlooked or failed
TO realize the deadly power and immense
possibilities of the weapon within her grasp.
II ether words. if, at the outbreak of war.
Germany had had 4 couple Of hundred sub.
marines ready for active service on the
ocean trade routes which converge on The
British Isles she would certainly hare de.
feated the Allies AID practically conquered
the world The Kaiser's dream of world
domination would have been realized.
Fortunately for the Allies, Germany hst
not made this provision; still more fortu-
natciy. she did not delay the declaration Of
war until she haG established well organ
ized bases in her colonies in Africa and tn
Pacific. Had This been Gone, her subma-
rines would have dominated every ocean
trade route in the world, 10 water high
way would have been safe from these dead.
y craft, and the task Of the British navy
in protecting our sea-bone commerce and
supplies and Of conveying troops from Aus
tralia, New Zealand, India, Csnads and
South Africa would haze been multiplied q
hundredfod 1t might well, indeed, heyo
proved nsuperabLa
Let ME emphasize ny next point. Hal
our navy failed Us ct this critical junctuse
had the submarine campaign been success
full, Germany would have gained that ad-
vantage which. with more foresight, she
might have enjoyed at the outset. No
Victories on land however brilliant, would
have compensated the Allies for OUT loss
OF sea supremacy. The alliance unoues-
tionably, must have collapsed. Neither
troops nor supplies could have reached ths
Western or other theatres OF war from
he overseas doraiuions. America would
have been unable to enter the arena, fer
the simple but sufficient reason that her
troops could not have crossed the Atlantic,
except st appalling risk and probably viii
immense loss Of lie and shipping.
1t is extremely important 20 remind oai-
selves of these facts whenever we hear PRO
posals and discussions respecting tie free
dom os the seas" This somewhat irdefnAs
phrase, it should be remembered, orig
mated some years aeo in GERMANY, then
me greatest military power IN the world
ard Jealous OF Great Britain's naval gu
prcmacy. The phrase hos never been
strictly defined; 10 one seems to know
exactly what It Means. But two things
at Least are plain: first, it was promu.-
gated as an insidious attempt to overthrow
Britain's command OF the seas and, second,
we know from recent experience the inter
probation Germany, at any rate placed upon
il in var time.
Victory has crowned our arms re can
afford 10 be magnanmous 10 TIE ya.-
quished but in the days 70 come, when the
terms of peace are being discussed let Us
BE careful not 10 fall into another German
trap, such as q League OF Nations with
Freedom OF the seas" in the forefront Of
its programme. The freedom Of the seas
has in the past been assured to all nations
IN times OF peace by Great Britain's na,a.
supremacy. This supremacy has saved
britain, her Allies, the Empire. in wa.
Are TO throw aside or weaken our "sure
shield and expose ourselves and the Over
seas Dominions to attack To all such over
lures however plausible, however specious,
cur one reply must be What we hold. ne
hold.