The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-01-29
HOLDS
BRITISH NAVY
SUPREME
Former Admiral Says France.
Never Could Win in War
With Empire.
BY WALTER DIETZEL.
International News Service.


. BERLIN, Jan. 29.-"France will
never win a war against England
Great Britain's naval superiority
win VIGOROUSLY resist any al
lance of powers that France may
be able to bring about within the
next few years."
This is the opinion of former Ad-
miral Won Grapow, q German naval
expert, expressed in an article on
the question whether a British
blockade against France might be
successful.
ut is not that England is afraid
of France, but she is simply tired
Of war. That's what was weighing
on proud Albion's mind all the
time and what made England al
low France to take her In tow
politically. The air menace Is a
fact, but it won't bring England
down on her knees before France.
Remember, France never won in
any war against England for CEN
turtles since Great Britain restricted
herself to naval warfare. All wars
waged by France, then allied ito
Spain and Holland, respectively,
did nothing but contribute to
strengthen England's naval power
and to extend her colonial empire.
There is only one chance for
France to decide such war In
her favor-an alliance with the
United States. But under the pres
4ent conditions such an alliance
seems more than doubtful.
There is the steady menace OF
Japan taking an advantage OF such
a war and making herself mistress
of the Pacific. America probably
will prefer to maintain a "benevo-
lent" neutrality. 1t means good
business for her and an extension
and Sterilization of the Monroe
Doctrine. There is enough room
in the world for both America and
England to go fifty-fifty on the
worlds trade without fighting each
other. Besides, America will GER
time to be made a cat's.paw Tor
the sake Of European peace.
'But even If America, France,
Italy and Spain were allied Eng
lands chances would be far better
than ours were in 1914. At first
sight the naval strength Of the
United States and that Of Great
Britain seem to keep the same
level; but after careful investiga.
ton 1t is evident that, though
equal in numbers, British battle
ships are far superior in fighting
quality to American ships Of the
same type. The superiority in
battle cruisers is just as over
whelming as that of destroyers and
U-bOat flotillas. America has to be
protected on two sides, which
means that her navy will have to
fight on two fronts with consld.
erably reduced number Of fighting
units. Great Britain, therefore,
will always maintain the strategic
initiative. She will practically be
mistress Of the seas at the very
beginning of the struggle.
Continental allies need not be
taken into account. They would
only play an important part in the
war If allied to England. Russia,
formerly Frances most formidable
ally, is out altogether.
Remains Japan, which will prob
ably remain neutral at the be-
ginning. It has no interest in a
breach with England, but later on
it may play the same part that
America played during the world
war.
"The attitude ot Spain and Italy
will be of great Importance. Eng
land, in her attempt to be pro-
tected on the road to India. secured
the neutrality, If not the friendship,
of these two powers lately. The
comparative strength of the navies
maintained in the Mediterranean
proves that Spain and Italy will
q their advantage in joining Eng
land against France. This triple
entente could avail Of no more than
thirteen ships of a more or less
obsolete type against twenty-six
most powerful British units"
Summing up the results of his in
vestigation, Won Grapow says:
"Great Britain will maintain an
control OF all important
straits and waterways in a war
against any. combinations of pow
ers possibly allied to France. All
the chances are on her side"