Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-02

To think of maritime questions is
| to think of Mahan-the man without
| o rival as an exponent of sea power,
| its basic elements, its principles, its
crucial effects upon history. Mahan
had an acute mind and a jealous love
! of accuracy, was industrious and knew
the value of concentration. He said to
| himself: Historians have not under
| stood sea power. They have thought
| relatively too much about military
power. I will learn all can about sea
power. I will give my life to it,"
And that Is what he did.
| He did it and won q fame which
| never will grow dina curious and
singularly interesting story.
Became Rear Admiral.
Alfred 'Thayer Mahan was this naval
students full name. He was an Ameri-
| can, and in the later years of his life
the was born In 1910 and died in 1910
ne became q rear admiral in the
United States Navy. The science and
art of war were in his blood. for his
father was q professor in the West
standard text books on civil and mill
tary engineering.
Graduated from the Naval Academy
az Annapolis in 1859. young Mahan
lifted his eyes to an ominous look in
the American political sky. Two years
later that disastrous shot was fred at
Fort Sumter, the American Civil War
began its bloody course, and Mahan
Gas Q lieutenanD was transferred
abruptly from naval academies to serv-
Ice afloat on the Congress, Pocahontas,
Seminole and James Adger.
Not a great deal has been written Of
Mahan as q man of action, though he
rose from lieutenant to lieutenant COM
mander, to commander, to captain and
at last to rear admiral (after retire.
ment). seeing service not only during
the Civil War, but later in the Gulf Of
Mexico, the South Atlantic, the Pacific
and Asia. It is probable, however, that
he did well in action; his conscientious
ness, energy and technical equipment
hardly would have permitted him to do
Ill.
Outstanding Scholar.
But his pre-eminent gift was for re-
search, reflection and expression in
dignifled English. OF all our historians.
1t Is doubtful If any one were more
careful in method, more diligent in
analysis and synthesis, more unaffected
in style than was this incompatible
historian Of the s,a. History to him
was source Of light for everyday
guidance: principles, things for the
upbuilding and maintenance Of civili-
cation.
Serving at the Naval War College.
Mahan las clear-cut in features and
personality as In reasoning) delivered
course OF lectures which must have
impressed his hearers deeply. These
lectures subsequently were issued in
book form and quickly captured the
expert opinion of all nations. The
volume was called 1.-The influence of
Sea Power Upon History, 166O-l783."
1t produced an exceptional sensation in
England. where it was read not only
by politicians. technicians and Journal
lists, but by the thinking portion of the
general public. It was recognized as
q mastery statement of the principles
upon which British safety always had
rested.
Doomed German Navy.
Mahans work also excited keen IN
terest in Germany, where 1t revealed
to that continental people what sea
power means. And Germany had no
sea power In the effective sense: its
lack was her fundamental imperial
shortcoming; Britain's dominant posi-
ton In the world was due to it. How
ever feebly Americans may have grasped
the significance of Mahan'S exposition,
the English and Germans understood
1t. and 1t Influenced the German En-
pire In the direction Of that formidable
fleet which finally went to the bottom
Of Scapa Flow.
THE influence of Sea Power Upon
History, 1660-1763," was published in
1880, when Mahan was so years old.
Two years later he published "Infiu-
ence Of Sea Power on the French Revo-
luton" and Life of Farragut." In 1905
IF he
the Sea Power of Great Britain" and
Sea Power in Its Relation to the War
OF 1872" confirmed q reputation already
unequaled in its field In one way
Mahan liked particularly his study Of
the War Of 1912, for something not true
OF his other works. he had gone to
the sources" for all his material and
pronounced 1t by far the most thor
ough work" he had done. His last book.
From Sail to Steam" l90D, relates
mainly to his own career.
Praised by Roosevelt.
HE (Mahan) founded q new school
Of naval thought" said Theodore Roose-
welt. Indeed" wrote Admiral Viscount
Jellico, commander in chief of the Brit
1sh grand fleet during the FIRST two
years Of the World War, at had fallen
to the lot Of distinguished officer in a
foreign navy, Mahan, to point out the
all-imporatnt influence which sea power
had exerted and would exert on his
tory"
And what did the French say?
Hear Auguste Moireau In the Revue
des Deux Mondes:
After his first book, and especially
from 1895 on, Mahan supplied the
sound basis for all thought on naval
and maritime affairs: and 1t was seen
clearly that sea power was the princi-
pie which, adhered to or departed from.
would determine whether empires should
stand or fall"
There is your curious and sinRu-
larly interesting story"-the fact that
a radical understanding of sea power
should have awaited the labors of a
son, not OF nation historically supreme
at sea, not Of an island people, but Of
continental America. Sea power had
played Its mighty part in history for
upward Of 1000 years-in the wars Of
| the Greeks and PerSians, in the Roman
wars, in the Peloponnesian war. in the
Mohammedan conquests, In the cru
Sades, In every decisive struggle of ma
tons right down to modern times-yet
1t remained for an American, Mahan,
| to interpret its inner nature and Its his
| torical function IS late as the last quar-
ter Of the nineteenth century.
With the principles illustrated In the
explorations and writings of this unique
man, and with the relevant questions
certain and likely to arise at the five-
power naval conference, will attempt
TO deal in subsequent articles.
(Copyright, 1882
(The second article, appearing tomor-
] row, will point out the importance OF
sea power to modern nations)
expedition had forbidden it on the