Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-11-26
TUESDAY. . NOVEMBER &c. 1918
FREEDOM OF THE SEAS AND
SEA-POWER.

There is possibility that a split may
occur between the European allies
and the president Of the United States
because of the latter's apparent de-
termination to have the peace terms
include what he is pleased to call
"the freedom of the seas" That is
one point on which the Washington
administration was agreed with the
kaiser's government before We en-
tered the war. Also it is the one point
of agreement, in theory at least, be-
tween the present Berlin government
and Woodrow Wilson.
On the other hand. every express
sion from London and Paris is against
the freedom of the seas contem-
plated by Germany. and there is not
the slightest indication that France
and Great Britain will yield to any
demand by President Wilson on that
point.
Were Admiral Mahan alive he would
consider this war another demonstra-
ton of his contention that sea-powcr
has exercised decisive influence in
the history Of nations.
British sea-powcr from the outset
of this war accomplished the block
ade of the Central powers. Entente
and American sea-power opeated fl
and American sca-power operated fl
nally to create superiority on land
over Germany and her allies. The re-
suit of sea-power was victory in
Mesopotamia, Palestine, Macedonia,
Italy, France and Belgium. Without
this sea power the terms of the armis-
tice would have been laid down by
Germany.
The British sea-power slowly con-
stricted Germany, as n century ago
it squeezed to death the Napoleonic
empire, as did the sea-power of our
fedeal government the southern con-
federacy Because of the blockade
Germany was forced to a fatal deci-
sion. But refusal to make it would
have been equally fatal.
Berlin decided. in 1917, to stake all
on the submarines, by which she
hoped to bring England to terms.
Ruthless warfare By the submarines
brought the United States into the
conflict and the entente and Amerl-
can empower reduced German sub
marine sea- power to a minimum, and
Germany grew weaker. The point is
that Germany, who relied on land
power, was forced to attempt to save
herself by an experiment in sea-
power.
Germany knows now what the Per-
slams under XerXes. the Carthegenians
under Hannibal, the Spanish under
Philip, the French under Napoleon
and the confederates of the south un-
der Jeffeson Davis learned-that sea-
power is ultimately superior to land
power.
German craft would, therefore. BY
diplomacy emasculate this power
which German armies could not with
stand, by invoking freedom of the
seas" which would mean freedom
from menace to Germany on the seas,
and opportunity for Germany in time
to develop such a submarine power as
would terrorize the world.
A wonderful little history from the
press recently, by Professor Breasted,
Ancient Times: A History of the
Early World" tells, in more compact
form and with greater clarity than
we lave seen elsewhere. how the
Greek sea-powor beat the vastly
greater and better equipped armies
of Persia and how the Carthagenians
had Rome at their mercy until the
Romans built fleet that destroyed
the Carthagenian fleet and landed
armies in Africa that eventually
crushed Carthage to her destruction.
IL the Persians had held the seas
against the Greeks, or the Cartha-
genians against the Romans. or the
Spaniards against the English and
Dutch, or Napoleon against Nelson,
or the confederacy against the union,
think what history would have been!
Let us not succumb to sophistry.
British sea-power supplemented by
American has saved civilization from
bondage to Germany. Freedom OF
the seas" as construed by German
chicanery. might after our deliver
ance now again deliver us later bound
hand and foot to German dominance.
Great Britain and America would
observe their agreements; but Ger
many never. has observed any agree
ment when she found it to her ad-