Page 148 - The interest of America in sea power, present and future

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Anglo-American Reunion. 129

perfectly understand — the difference between
the guerre-de-course, which is inconclusive, and
commerce-destroying (or commerce prevention)
through strategic control of the sea by power-
ful navies. Some nations more than others,
but all maritime nations more or less, depend
for their prosperity upon maritime commerce,
and probably upon it more than upon any other
single factor. Either under their own flag or
that of a neutral, either by foreign trade or
coasting trade, the sea is the greatest of boons
to such a state; and under every form its
sea-borne trade is at the mercy of a foe deci-
sively superior.
Is it, then, to be expected that such foe will
forego such advantage, — will insist upon
spending blood and money in fighting, or
money in the vain effort of maintaining a fleet
which, having nothing to fight, also keeps its
hands off such an obvious means of crippling
the opponent and forcing him out of his ports ?
Great Britain's navy, in the French wars, not
only protected her own commerce, but also
annihilated that of the enemy; and both con-
ditions— not one alone — were essential to her
triumph.
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