Page 200 - The interest of America in sea power, present and future

Preparedness for Naval War. 181

confidence and from exaggerated fears. Napo-
leon s caution to his marshals not to make a
picture to themselves— not to give too loose
rein to fancy as to what the enemy might do,
regardless of the limitations to which military
movements are subject — applies to antece-
dent calculations, like those which we are con-
sidering now, as really as to the operations of
the campaign. When British writers, realizing
the absolute dependence of their own country
upon the sea, insist that the British navy must
exceed the two most formidable of its possible
opponents, they advance an argument which
is worthy at least of serious debate ; but when
the two is raised to three, they assume con-
ditions which are barely possible, but lie too
far without the limits of probability to affect
practical action.
In like manner, the United States, in esti-
mating her need of military preparation of
whatever kind, is justified in considering, not
merely the utmost force which might be
brought against her by a possible enemy, under
the political circumstances most favorable to
the latter, but the limitations imposed upon
an opponent's action by well-known conditions