CAPTAIN, U. S. NAVY AUTHOR OF THE INFLUENCE OF SEA POWER UPON HISTORY, 6 1660-1783,' THE INFLUENCE OF SEA POWER UPON THE FRENCH REVOLUTION AND EMPIRE, 1783-1812,' Copyright, 1913, All rights reserved Published, October, 1913 THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE, MASS., U. S. A. PREFACE THE contents of this volume were first contributed as a chapter, under the title of "Major Operations, 1762-1783," to the "History of the Royal Navy," in seven volumes, published by Messrs. Sampson Low, Marston, and Company, under the general editorship of the late Sir William Laird Clowes. For permission to republish now in this separate form, the author has to express his thanks to the publishers of that work. In the Introduction following this Preface, the author has summarized the general lesson to be derived from the course of this War of American Independence, as distinct from the particular discussion and narration of the several events which constitute the body of the treatment. These lessons he conceives to carry admonition for the present and future based upon the surest foundations; namely, upon the experience of the past as applicable to present conditions. The essential similarity between the two is evident in a common dependence upon naval strength. There has been a careful rereading 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 encyclopædic scope, such as the History is. Certain notes retained with the inititials W. L. C. are due to the editor of that work. DECEMBER, 1912. A. T. MAHAN. 262210 PREFACE Macaulay quoted on the action of Frederick the Great in the War of Independence and in the War of Secession The United States not great in Population in proportion to Territory Nor Wealthy in Proportion to exposed Coast-Line. Special Fitness of a Navy to meet these particular conditions The Pacific a great World Problem, dependent mainly on Naval |