The Wanganui Chronicle. "Nulla Dies Sine Linea." MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1912. THE EVOLUTION OF SEA POWER.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 30 September 1912, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. "Nulla Dies Sine Linea." MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1912. THE EVOLUTION OF SEA POWER.

Of: late years one of the most important questions before the 'public lias been that of sea power in relation tonational efficiency. The most recent addition to its literature has been provided by Mr. P. A. Silbury, D.5.0., in "Tho Evolution of Sea Power." The author* who is a member of the iSouth African Union Parliament, is a wellknown writer upon Imperial subjects, but according to the reviewers—the book itself has not yet reached iis — bis latest work does not depend for its interest upon any particular dogma; it is history rather than propaganda. He sets himself to trace the influence which the possession of sea power has exercised upon the world's destinies in days gone by, and while doubtless lessons plain to read are conveyed, that is not the primary purpose of the book. Mr. Silburn has been inspired by a. passage in Admiral Mahan's epoch-making work, which complains that historians have in general been unfamiliar with the sea, and have in consequence overlooked the profound importance of naval supremacy in determining national supremacy. His object is "an examination of the gl"(Qwt|i otvsea.-.power from that of the Phoenicians to that of the maritime nations- of the present day—-an attempt to show the disaster which inevitably follows the neglect of its general principles." In accordance with this scheme, the author takes his readers through tho ups and downs of naval .warfare from Salamis to Tsushima. Of course, much of this is a twice-told tale. It is the merest commonplace that, where a maritime nation has possessed much sea-borne commerce, it has 'been compelie4 to organise a navy to protect it, and that such nations have at all periods of history gained the mastery over their, less enterprising contemporaries. The roll is a long one —Egypt, ■'Tyro, Greece, Uarthage, Home, onwards through Venice, Portugal, Spain, Holland, down to Great Britain. Mr. Silburn's information is not new, but by gathering all these instances within a small compass, he points his moral. However, ho emphasises a truth which wo are apt to forget. i>S>ea power has two aspects, active an^l passive, cf which tho latter is possibly the mo;o importaiit. Tho one wins; tho othor holds. "True sea power is not always aggressive; had it been so, many of the desirable oversea posocssions of weakor powers would long ago have passed into tho hands of Great Britain," but even though it has no duties of offence or defence to perform, it must be maintained if the nation possessing it is not to disintegrate. The reviewers des-cz-ibe as very interesting a chapter entitled, "Tho Evolution of Naval Warfare," in which the author describes the various armaments and tactics which enabled their employer to sweep tho seas. Hero is tho kind of vessel which composed the proud fleet, 400 strong, when Sesostris ascended the throne of Egypt in 1491 B.C. "Tho length was approximately 120 ft., manned with for-ty-tour -ours; it also earned one largo equaro sail. The mast, instead of being single, was made of two limbs of equal length sufficiently open at the top to admit the yard between them. . . . A ropo was passed over tho mast by which the sail was furled. Tho sail was square, with one yard above' and one below. On deck there was a forecastle, in which was stationed a man with a fathoming pole; at tho stern was another deck cabin. The vessels .

wero manned with soldiers with arms and dress the same as those of tho heavy infantry and archers of the army; tho quilted helmet of the rowers shows that they also were part of the same corps. Besides the archers in tho raised poop and forecastle, a body of slingers were stationed in the tops, where they could with more facility manage that weaipon, and employ it with effect on the enemy." Tho favourite manoeuvre in those days was to Tarn the enemy, and it is not so lornr ago since the Admiralty built a type of vessel adapted to that purpose and no other. However, the Greek sailor who developed this form of attack to its highest efficiency did not rely on d:rect shock. He rammed his opponent obliquely, so as to shear nway all tho oars from one side, and thus reduced him to tho same stnte of

helplessness as nowadays a Dreadnought would be in if the rudder were ehot away or engines damaged. The galley with a single.bank of oars gave place, to the bireme, the trireme—even the quinquireme, with its five banks. Tho slingerson the tops made way for the arquebusiers ;. the, fighting men below added to their equipment pieces of artillery, which have ever grown greater and more accurate until the mighty guns of the.."super Dreadnoughta are the last word in weapons of precision. But though .ships become mightier and arms more terrible, one thing can ne.rer change, and that is the importance of tho personnel of the fighting ship. The conditions being approximately similar, victory will always depend upon the man behind the gun and the man on the quarter-deck. , " The Personal Equation in Sea Power" is conceded to be one of Mr. Silburn's most effective chanters. "It is men," be says, "and not.- ships" -who decide "the issue of the struggle for the command of the sea." History has proved this again and again. Superior seamanship and superior gunnery have stood the English in good stead from the time of ■the. harrying of the Armada in the Chan-, nel downwards. Drake, Hawkins, and Frobisher^ bequeathed their mantle to t Blake and Anson, And so further. "The example set in the British navy by Hawke, Boscawen, Rodney, and their , contemporaries stimulated the seamanship and fighting qualities of tho navy, and kept alive the sea sense and enr thusiasm of the. nation; and these personalities each in their turn strengthened the sea-power of Great Britain." The value of the personal equation is exemplified in its highest, the author - considers, in Nelson, who "'possessed^ qualities which have never since been and which were Tarely before -found in any great war leader. In strategy, in tactics, in executive ability, and last, but not least, in .the confidence and affection with which he inspired tho rank • and file, Nelson was without a peer, and so long as his country can bear such sons as this its destiny cannot but be glorious." However, Oyir. Silburn is not always concerned with war; he points out that sea power is an enormous security for peace. He justly observes that much of the development of the world has been conditioned by its existence. National prosperity has increased, civilisation has spread ; new lands beyond, the seas have been discovered, and have -been able to grow to nationhood because a strong naval force has policed the globe and ensured quiet. It is interesting to note that Mr. Silburn is not a believer in "Dominion Fleets." He expresses the opinion— with which there is bound to be some disagreement—that " the • independent , naval policy now entered upon by Canada and Australia does not tend towards strengthening the sea power of the British Empire, nor does it in any way give the Colonies .concerned even a shadow of protection."