New-York tribune., 1918-12-02
Tribune London Bureau

Copyright lals. New York Tribune Inc)
LONDON, Dec. 1.-The fundamental
difference between the American and
British programmes for league of ma
tions Is indicated by numerous declara-
tions of policy not being made both by
leaders in the fighting services and
statesmen, including avowed Liberals Of
the character of Winston Churchill
All Of them emphatically support the
idea of league Of nations. but main
tain that such a league cannot be sub
stitute for British naval supremacy
which. they maintain, is the actual
guarantee of a practical existence of
the league.
Admiral Sir Percy Scott, who before
the war warned Britain of the sub
marine danger, to-day said to The
Tribune correspondence:
"Fcur Years ot submarine warfare
have tragically demonstrated the truth
Of my warnings. The escape Of the
Allies from Overwhelming disaster in
the carly days Of the war was due
rather to good fortune than foresight
1t was due primarily to the fortunate
circumstance tnat Germany overlooked
the dead y power and immense posi-
o4llIlSS Ol tnG submarine.
Sea Power Miscalculated
"lf, at the outbreak Of the war, Ger
many ahd had 200 submarines ready for
active service upon trade routes that
converge toward the British Isles, she
would certainly have defeated the AL
lies and practically conquered the
world. The Kaisers dream of world
domination would have been realized
Thanks to Germany's implicit faith
IN the invincibility of her army and
her confidence in a speedy, overwne.m
lng victory on land, she miscalculated
the part sea power would play In the
war.
"By holding the Channel Britain was
enabled to pour millions of troops into
France, and by holding the trade routes
she made possible the bringing up of
many millions more, as well as vast
supplies and food materials from over
seas.
without disparaging the men in the
trenches, it may be affirmed that the
British navy practically won the war.
SO long as it held command of the
sea, defeat was impossible. To main
tain close blockade, to exercise silent.
ruthless and ceaseless pressure which
first curtailed and eventually stopped
the enemy's overseas supplies, was
the navy's exacting task.
Germans Blocked on Sea
How Germany made frantic and per-
sistent attempts to free herself from
this stranglehold is matter Of his
tory.
Fearing the risk Of a second Trafal-
gar for her High Seas Fleet, she had
recourse to the submarine. Food re-
CT ,n+ Il; 1xl.+ l..
tions gave the British public an inklinp
of the seriousness of Germany's par
tlal success. No land victories, however
brilliant, would have compensated the
Allles for loss Of sea supremacy. The
alliance would questionably have col
lapsed if neither troops nor supplies
could have reached the Western and
other war theatres from overseas do
rnnions.
"America would have been unable to
enter the arena, because troops could
not have crossed the Atlantic, except
at appalling risk of immense loss of
life ard shipping.
1--WE must remind ourselves Of these
facts whenever we hear proposals re-
specting the freedom of the seas.
This somewhat indefinite phrase
originated some years ago in Germany,
then the greatest military power of
CHe WoIlu ana JedlOuS OF brltaln>S
naval supremacy.
Move Against Britain
"The phrase has never been strictly
defined. but two things are PLAIN: First,
it was promulgated as an insidious at
tempt to overthrow Great Britain's
command of the seas, and, second, as
we know from recent experience, the
Interpretation Germany placed on the
phrase in wartime.
"Let us guard against being misled
by events. 1t is true the Central Pow
ers have been thrashed Prussianism
is crushed. 1t is even confidently pre-
dcted the world will know war no
more That may be. We hope So
Nevertheless, that Britan's naval su-
premacy must remain unchallenged adj
mits of no argument or compromise
"From the days of the Armada the