Читать книгу The Influence of Sea Power upon History - Alfred Thayer Mahan - Страница 16

 The war of 1778 purely maritime

 Peculiar interest therefore attaching to it

 Successive steps in the critical study of a war

 Distinction between "object" and "objective"

 Parties to the war of 1778

 Objects of the different belligerents

 Foundations of the British Empire of the seas

 Threatened by the revolt of the colonies

 The British fleet inferior in numbers to the allies

 Choice of objectives

 The fleets indicated as the keys of the situation everywhere

 Elements essential to an active naval war

 The bases of operations in the war of 1778 In Europe On the American continent In the West Indies In the East Indies

 Strategic bearing of the trade-winds and monsoons

 The bases abroad generally deficient in resources

 Consequent increased importance of the communications

 The navies the guardians of the communications

 Need of intermediate ports between Europe and India

 Inquiry into the disposition of the naval forces

 Difficulty of obtaining information at sea

 Perplexity as to the destination of a naval expedition

 Disadvantages of the defensive

 England upon the defensive in 1778

 Consequent necessity for wise and vigorous action

 The key of the situation

 British naval policy in the Napoleonic wars

 British naval policy in the Seven Years' War

 Difficulties attending this policy

 Disposition of the British navy in the war of 1778

 Resulting inferiority on many critical occasions

 Effect oil the navy of the failure to fortify naval bases

 The distribution of the British navy exposes it to being out-numbered at many points

 The British naval policy in 1778 and in other wars compared

 Naval policy of the allies

 Dives-gent counsels of the coalition

 "Ulterior objects"

 The allied navies systematically assume a defensive attitude

 Dangers of this line of action

 Glamour of commerce-destroying

 The conditions of peace, 1783