Page 217 - The interest of America in sea power, present and future

198 Preparedness for Naval War

only the point affected, but every corner of
the land.
The offensive in naval war, as has been said,
is the function of the sea-going navy— of the
battle-ships, and of the cruisers of various sizes
and purposes, including sea-going torpedo-
vessels capable of accompanying a fleet, with-
out impeding its movements by their loss
of speed or unseaworthiness. Seaworthiness,
and reasonable speed under all weather con-
ditions, are qualities necessary to every con-
stituent of a fleet; but, over and above these,
the backbone and real power of any navy are
the vessels which, by due proportion of de-
fensive and offensive powers, are capable of
taking and giving hard knocks. All others
are but subservient to these, and exist only
for them.
What is that strength to be ? Ships answer-
ing to this description are the kind which make
naval strength ; what is to be its degree ? What
their number? The answer— a broad formula
— is that it must be great enough to take the
sea, and to fight, with reasonable chances of
success, the largest force likely to be brought
against it, as shown by calculations which have