New-York tribune., 1921-11-06

that Germany would have won the war
had she concentrated on submarines
from the start.
many and England is responsible for
the false deduction as 60 the power
Of the battle feet of any nation to
command the sea" in future war.
Geography blockaded Germany. 1t
was not Britain's Grand Fleet. Ger
many had but two openings through
which to reach the sea. In command
ing the surface of the North Sea alone
the Grand Fleet prevented the exit
Of the High Seas Fleet and also
prevented the German cruisers that
were at sea when@the war began from
getting home. They were soon
cornered and destroyed.
This astonishing failure to realize
the governing influence Of a special
geographical situation has given ri-e to
the absurd and perilous theory that
a Grand Fleet of s4o,o00,ooo dread
noughts can blockade a coast or ccm-
mand the sea in war across an ocean.
Could Britain's Grand Fleet blockade
our coast? Could Japan's feet blockade
us? Could our battle feet, even if the
1915 program were completed, block
ade the Japanese coast? Geography
does not help in such cases-it posi-
lively prevents the blockade Of a
coast beyond seas. What, then, will
our battle feet do in modern war !?
Where will it got How long can it
remain away from home7 Where will
it be safe? Will it fight battle?
Battleships Ouerseas
An article by vice-Admiral Mark
Kerr, Of the British navy, in "The
Nineteenth Century" magazine for Sep
tember contains valuable information
on this subject. Our experta should
read it. We quote:
"In the great war our geographical
position enabled US TO prevent the
enemy's battle-cruisers getting out
and clearing the seas Of our ner-
chant ships and their protecting
cruisers.
"The exit to the open sea through
the Straits of Dover and down the
Channel was too hazardous. The
only other way left for the Germans
to use was round the north Of Scot
land; but in order to clear this
passage the Grand Fleet had first to
be disposed of.
"Let US next consider the problem
Of obtaining command of the ocean
when the bases Of the opposing fleets
are far apart.
What will happen? Will the
seeker after battle send his battle
fleet across the ocean TO an enemy's
coast that is $500 miles away from
his base? Let US suppose for mo-
ment that he embarks on this rash
| adventure"
Admiral Kerr then assumes, quite
| correctly, that the nation on the de-
fensive would not obligingly and fool
ishly send it's fleet to stage a ring bat
tie in the middle Of the Atlantic or
Pacific.
There is no battle fleet to fight,
i there is no harbor to re-fuel in. The
feet must be kept steaming at speed
at all times and in ali weather, with
its guards of destroyers around it.
Everybody has to keep his eyes
skinned at all times looking out for
attacks from air, sea and under
water.
II have spoken to several admirals,
and have not found one who would
like to undertake the job.
Gas blockading by big ships has
been shown TO be impossible in the
face of modern fotillas, it would
appear that there is no use for the
battleship when the bases are far
apart.
IF the above sta Elements and argu-
ments are correct the deduction is
clear. Battle fleets are only of use in
certain geographical divisions where
~ANS @-SS" oAS nv 4d1 dpdIL. uSy
are of no use for wars in which the
combatant countries are separated
by thousands of miles of ocean!
The command Of the great oceans
has passed from the battleship, and
in future must bc obtained by great
strength in iotillas at the points
where the routes touch the land and
where their termini are.
1--WE have at present sufficient
battleships for any eventuality in
Europe; if they are Of no use in
other places we should not spend a
single penny more on them"
Comment is superfuous. If our tex
perts" and the conference realize the
truth-if they are awakened to the
demonstrated fact that battle fleets
are Of little value in aggressive war
overseas, the race for useless and
crushingly expensive armament may
stop and the burden Of taxation may
be lifted
This is the key-the only key-to
success in limiting ornaments Com