“The maneuver of the crossing of the T,” writes Troetsch, “consists in endeavoring to bring one’s own line at right angles across the head, or also across the tail, of the hostile line—of enfilading it, as the expression goes, so that the opposing lines come into the relative positions of the two bars of the Latin T…. Such a movement renders it possible to concentrate the entire fire of one’s own broadsides on the ship that is at the head of the enemy’s fleet. In this way[Pg 94]one increases the effectiveness of one’s own fire to the very highest degree, inasmuch as all the shots which go too far to one side will strike the hinder ships of the long hostile line. The ships at its head must gradually succumb to the concentrated fire, while one’s own line is exposed only to the guns in the opponent’s bow and to the fire of the few guns which can be pointed from the sides at such an angle as still to reach the enfilading ships. This position signifies for the fleet that succeeds in shoving itself across the head of the enemy’s line the most effective application of the principle of the concentration of power, which is based on the endeavor always to bring into play when attacking the enemy a greater number of guns than he in his momentary position has at his disposal. If one can open fire in this position it may prove of the greatest significance for the whole battle. … There are cases where the advantage of this position is gained by mere chance, as when the two fleets come upon each other in that formation in thick or foggy weather. … It is difficult to assume the position of crossing the T when the fighting is already in progress. …The fleet against which the crossing of the T is attempted can seek to lessen its effect by various counter maneuvers. It can turn in the same direction and take a parallel course with the enveloping fleet, whereby if it be swift enough it has the advantage of being on the inner or shorter line: the battle then becomes a simple running fight, or it can simply turn and follow the tail of the hostile line or engage with the head of the line in a passing fight.”
“The maneuver of the crossing of the T,” writes Troetsch, “consists in endeavoring to bring one’s own line at right angles across the head, or also across the tail, of the hostile line—of enfilading it, as the expression goes, so that the opposing lines come into the relative positions of the two bars of the Latin T…. Such a movement renders it possible to concentrate the entire fire of one’s own broadsides on the ship that is at the head of the enemy’s fleet. In this way[Pg 94]one increases the effectiveness of one’s own fire to the very highest degree, inasmuch as all the shots which go too far to one side will strike the hinder ships of the long hostile line. The ships at its head must gradually succumb to the concentrated fire, while one’s own line is exposed only to the guns in the opponent’s bow and to the fire of the few guns which can be pointed from the sides at such an angle as still to reach the enfilading ships. This position signifies for the fleet that succeeds in shoving itself across the head of the enemy’s line the most effective application of the principle of the concentration of power, which is based on the endeavor always to bring into play when attacking the enemy a greater number of guns than he in his momentary position has at his disposal. If one can open fire in this position it may prove of the greatest significance for the whole battle. … There are cases where the advantage of this position is gained by mere chance, as when the two fleets come upon each other in that formation in thick or foggy weather. … It is difficult to assume the position of crossing the T when the fighting is already in progress. …
The fleet against which the crossing of the T is attempted can seek to lessen its effect by various counter maneuvers. It can turn in the same direction and take a parallel course with the enveloping fleet, whereby if it be swift enough it has the advantage of being on the inner or shorter line: the battle then becomes a simple running fight, or it can simply turn and follow the tail of the hostile line or engage with the head of the line in a passing fight.”
We can even imagine the line of ships, the bow of which has been crossed, executing a sort of dance with its opponent in order to bring its broadsides into play—the first ship turning to the right, the second to the left, the third to the right again and so on until all are opposite and parallel to the enemy.
And so the war is on which brings Germany’s fleet and army into play—to the last man and to the last gun. We have suddenly found ourselves in the midst of a struggle which makes even the wars of Napoleon seem trifling.
As many men are now engaged simultaneously as were then called out in the course of years. And the instruments of death are a hundred times more deadly. From the skies above destruction rains down; from subterranean forts and from the depths of the sea it wells up. The difference between hand labor and machinery has been transmitted into terms of killing; we have artificial earthquakes and eruptions.
How shall we name the war? The War of 1914? But it may last on into the next year, and the next and the next. As I know Germany she will never now submit to being conquered unless the social democrats gain the upper hand. And even then I am not sure that the social democrats are prepared to draw the last consequences of their long agitation against the imperial, or against any national government. Our descendants may look back on it as the Thousand Years’ War, for one fails to see how the passions now unchained can ever again be calmed. And there are signs that we are at the beginning of a colossal shoving around of races that will make our children mock at the awe with which their fathers read of the so-called wandering of the nations. All theSuevi and Allemanni and Goths, Vandals and Visigoths that ever overran Gaul would have made but a few corps in the great Teuton army that is now pressing into France.
Russia, with her one hundred sixty millions, is likely to claim a much vaster influence than she has yet had. Napoleon would once have been willing to share Europe with Czar Alexander; will some such partition enter into the new treaty of peace? Will it perhaps be between Teuton and Slav and will England have to move to Canada and France to Africa? I can not believe, in any case, that Germany will succumb. She is reproached now by sentimental ladies with having devoted such serious study to the work of destruction. She devotes serious study to everything that she attempts. Only recently I was initiated into the splendid methods by which she runs her labor-exchanges and also into the workings of her prisons and penitentiaries. Everything is foreseen, everything provided for. And so it is with her fighting force. Every single problem is attacked theoretically as well as practically, and in almost every regard we other nations are but as untrained children to her.
Once more, who is to blame for the horrible war? A clever writer, such as we have for detective stories, wouldhave little difficulty in convincingly foisting the guilt on each of the great powers in succession. Austria is to blame for her ultimatum to Servia, Russia for mobilizing against Austria, France for entering the conflict when the matter did not concern her at all, Germany for demanding Russian demobilization, England for stabbing Germany in the back when she was already struggling with enemies on either side, Japan for her bumptious self-assertion.
It is the twilight of the gods. Is Germany the Walhalla that is to fall in ruins? Or is she merely about to build a Walhalla that shall project over all other political edifices? The moment is a serious one for us Americans. Where shall we stand in the new order of things? Will a Japan that has conquered a China, a Russia and a Germany submit to American exclusion acts? Her fleet already outnumbers ours in ships of all types except ships of the line, and her naval appropriations are progressing more steadily than our own. And when Japan secures what she wishes from us, China will be ready to make the same demands. It is a far cry since Austria interpreted the five vowels in her favor:Alles Erdreich ist Österreich unterthan(all earthly kingdoms are subject to Austria). Which will be the next world-power?
THE END
List of Illustrations