The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-08-15
SEA POWER.

Chicago Tribune: A great American
military intelligence, that Of the late Rear
Admiral Mahan, an intelligence respected
wherever men have functioning brains,
preached to his country to the last hour Of
his life the value of sea power.
He lived long enough to see navalism pit
ted against militarism, but not long enough
to see the actual triumph which his intel
ligence could foresee. He knew that in the
conflict between the British navy and the
German army, between the grand fleet and
the Prussian guard the German army
would be beaten.
The custodian and controller of the
world highways has ruled the world. Lloyd
George, speaking in parliament with full!
perception of the effect of this power upon
the course of events and the destinies Of
nations, gives picture of the tireless, if
obscured, and vital work of this factor
against Germany-sea power in control of
the sea.
The CONTROL one in which the American
navy, the French and Italian navies join
with the British in maintaining, is mainly
British. The British navy is the keystone
could be destroyed, if British control Of the
sea could be eliminated, the allied cause
against Germany would be more than hope
less. It would be instantly lost.
The United States would stand upon it's
own shores in impotent rage. France could
not be coaled or fed Neither could Italy
Great Britain itself would be starved if not
overrun. The munitions and men which
pour to the battlefield would be choked off
The desperate remnants of French and
Italian armies would disappear under the
invaders divisions.
The world is a German world except for
the British fleet, which is constantly at
work, constantly alert, constantly meeting
thrust and possibility of thrust, sending its
ships into every region Of the earth s wat
ers, meeting and conquering the deadliest
menace a great fleet ever knew-the sub
marine.
Silent but never inaetive-not even when
the grand fleet rides at its station with
its antennae reached out-quiet but never
off guard, the navy preserves the military
cause against Germany and in the end will
starve, smother, and crush the army power
which sought to make the world a German
world.
This achievement is unilIuminated except
inpatehes and by flashes American troops
are carried to France by the hundreds of
thousands. The event is recorded. Italy
and France are coaled and fed British
troops have an open highway across the
channel. British expeditions go to every
threatened flank of the British empire.
Wherever a highway is needed for the
intereommunication Of the scattered Allies
against Germany, that highway is cleared
and made safe, BY arduous patrol in cold
and stormy waters, by never relaxing work
in the terrible isolation of the sea, by never
sleeping, never resting, by never relenting
attention to each detail of command and
control, the sea power which saves the
world against Germany is constantly at
work and, as every intelligent and percep-
tive German knows, at work to the destruc-
lion of German presumption and power.
Americans may glory in the accomplish
nlents of sea power. Maritime accomplish
ment is their heritage Their fleet Is cid
ing ID the destruction Of The German men
ac War emergency is building them q