The Rise of American Sea Power

Abstract

Lisle A. Rose, long a student of naval history and author of eight previous volumes on subject, served a demanding apprenticeship in preparation for his present work. The result, Power at Sea, turns a powerful light on issues that have often remained obscure. To quote Edward J. Marolda, senior historian at Naval Historical Center, Roses subject is the undeniable but little understood impact of sea power on modern history of world. Rose s accomplishment is such that he should stand ready to be mentioned beside such naval historians as Mahan, Morison, Potter, and Nimitz because his work is a magnum opus devoted to development, influence, rise, or fall of all great navies during industrial age. Nothing here stumbles or flags; instead Rose presents reasoned analysis in ways so clearly focused that his work moves everywhere with energy and verve. His observations, sometimes sharp but always honest, puncture several national myths; and, if they excite debate, such debate will be healthy fulfillment of his purpose. In The Age of Navalism, 1890-1918, Rose first analyzes Alfred Thayer Mahan s influence before showing how Theodore Roosevelt, Alfred von Tirpitz, and John Fisher became architects for a revolution in sea power. Rose then shows how destruction of Spanish fleets off Santiago and in Manila Bay and destruction of Russian fleet at Tsushima ushered in a century of warring states and collapsing empires. Both battles seem to have taught world that in scramble for empire and resources, markets and power, battleship navies would be essential both for security and status. As a result industrial powers launched a frantic naval arms-race that