ng and revision of the whole text; but
the changes found necessary to be made are much fewer than might have
been anticipated after the lapse of fifteen years. Numerous footnotes
in the History, specifying the names of ships in fleets, and of their
commanders in various battles, have been omitted, as not necessary to
the present purpose, though eminently proper and indeed indispensable
to an extensive work of general reference and of encyclopaedic scope,
such as the History is. Certain notes retained with the initials
W.L.C. are due to the editor of that work.

A.T. MAHAN.

DECEMBER, 1912.

CONTENTS

PAGE

PREFACE v

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS xix

LIST OF MAPS xxi

LIST OF BATTLE-PLANS xxiii

INTRODUCTION

THE TENDENCY OF WARS TO SPREAD

Macaulay quoted on the action of Frederick the Great 1

Illustration from Conditions of the Turkish Empire 2

Lesson from the Recent War in the Balkans, 1912-1913 2

The War of American Independence a striking example of the
Tendency of Wars to Spread 3

Origin and Train of Events in that War, Traced 3

Inference as to possible Train of Future Events in the History of
the United States 4

The Monroe Doctrine Simply a Formulated Precaution against the
Tendency of Wars to Spread 4

National Policy as to Asiatic Immigration 4

Necessity of an Adequate Navy if these two National Policies are
to be sustained 4

Dependence on Navy Illustrated in the Two Great National Crises;
in the War of Independence and in the War of Secession
4

The United States not great in Population in proportion to
Territory 5

Nor Wealthy in Proportion to exposed Coast-Line 5

Special Fitness of a Navy to meet these particular conditions 5

The Pacific a great World Problem, dependent mainly on Naval Power
5

CHAPTER I

THE NAVAL CAMPAIGN ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN

1775-1776

Preponderant effect of Control of the Water upon the Struggle for
American Independence 6

Deducible then from Reason and from Experience 6

Consequent Necessity to the Americans of a Counterpoise to British
Navy 6

This obtained through Burgoyne's Surrender 6

The Surrender of Burgoyne traceable directly to the Naval