GAUGING THE PROSPECTS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue LXXXVIII, 10 September 1914, Page 8

GAUGING THE PROSPECTS

-■'■" <^i ' AN AMERICAN ESTIMATE. Several days before Germany, precipitated the European war, tho New York Sun had an editorial article entitled "Sea Power in a General European War." After discussing the factors, the writer's summary was:— "Tho failure of Germany to triumph quickly in her land campaign against France and Russia (leaving out of consideration the rather dtjjbious aid she would receive from Austria and Italy) would be disastrous to her aa a naval and mercantile Power. If she managed to avoid a decisive engagement with the British and French fleets her overseas commerce would be destroyed or crippled, with dire conse-, quences to her dependent population. But she would probably put her navy to the test, as other combatants inferior in armament have always done in the past, relying upon the efficiency of her rank and file. It Is unnecessary at this time to consider the bearing of sea 'power in the Mediterranean upoo the issue of a widespread European conflict. It ia of minor importance."