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November 1920—Of all the belligerents, Japan alone entered World War / as a debtor nation and emerged as a creditor one, thanks to huge profits from the sale of munitions. This is not lost on the British, whose embassy in Tokyo reports that Japan is modernizing its dye industry so that it can, as England did, divert to the production of explosives in case of war. To many, modern Japan is a clone of Great Britain. But the embassy report sees a closer resemblance to the Swiss, whose lack of raw materials and coastline have not prevented the establishment of highly successful industries and a large export trade. Japan and Switzerland are rich, both in “white coal” (electricity) and work forces that are capable of delicate and artistic work.
The report recognizes the shoddiness of some of Japan’s wartime exports (while praising others: e.g., cheap cotton hosiery, glassware, brushes, and matches), but it warns against characterizing the Japanese as mere copycats. They watch the world with the same wide-eyed wonder a Japanese child expresses while watching a foreigner—and consequently often manage to avoid making the same mistake once. Add to this alertness and curiosity, plus an uncanny ability to adopt, adapt, and improve upon almost anything—and these latter-day Samurai show strong potential for becoming a nation that will itself bear watching.
November 1940—The 50th anniversary of The Influence of Sea Power Upon History prompts a long letter from political scientist Albert Lepawsky. He has read every word of Mahan’s 23 books and 131 articles, along with memoranda, correspondence, and speeches. He disarms us by asserting that Mahan “guessed right about historical events, which I suppose is the ultimate test of a successful social scientist.” (A what?) In 1911, Mahan wrote, “the old predatory instinct . . . survives in industry and commerce as well as war, and moral force is not sufficient to determine issues unless supported by physical force. Governments are corporations, and corporations have not souls.”
Social scientist Mahan coined the phrase “the haves and have-nots” in 1907, to distinguish Great Britain, France, and the United States from Germany, Japan, and Russia. But, he suggested, the haves can be had ”... because a peaceful, gain-loving nation is not far-sighted and far-sightedness is needed for adequate military preparation.”
After World War I, Lepawsky says, the Kaiser’s files were found to contain a prewar telegram about Mahan from the German ambassador in Washington—on which Kaiser Wilhelm had written: “Our greatest and most dangerous foe.”
November 1960—Saint Cyr, the former girls’ school that Napoleon made into one of the great military academies, gave the world Charles de Gaulle and gave the Proceedings Lieutenant Colonel Marc Geneste. Until “Danger from Below” detonated on these pages, “weasel words” had prevailed too often. Teddy Roosevelt had written: “When a weasel sucks eggs the meat is sucked out of the egg. If you use a ‘weasel word’ after another there is nothing left of the other.” Geneste’s non-weasel words are as galvanic as his career has been. He escaped to Spain from his Nazi-occupied homeland to join de Gaulle’s Free French forces. A prisoner of dictator Franco in 1943, he later served in China (once), and the United States (three times), and fought for lost colonial causes in Indochina (1946-47) and Algiers (1951-57).
Geneste says that the Soviets are waging and winning a new type of war that undermines the mind and will through persuasion, subversion, and terror. His weary eyes have seen Africa, Asia, and Central America slipping away from the West without a shot being fired by the Soviet Union. He also knows that, ultimately, the Soviet empire will crumble as all empires have— vanquished by its own conquests. That moment, this invincible Frenchman warns, is a long, long way down the road. Almost another thirty years, as things turned out. Clay Barrow
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The entire staff is looking forward to this “hometown” meeting, where we all will have a rare chance to renew old acquaintances and meet new members. Be sure to check future issues of Proceedings for further details.
Those of you in the southern California region, remember to register for our 2224 January 1991 San Diego Seminar. See our ad on page 126 or call 800-336-4583 for more details.
Professional Reading
The Naval Institute Press is highly respected throughout the military community for its professional references that help men and women develop skills and acquire knowledge to make them more effective officers. While most of its guides aim specifically at members of the sea services—Naval Leadership, The Coast Guardman’s Manual, and Handbook for Marine NCOs, for example- some are all-service guides, equally useful to those in the Army and the Air Force. In this category, Oretha Swartz’s Service Etiquette stands out. First published in 1977 and now in its fourth edition, the book is the ultimate authority on social protocol in military life. It is rare to find newly commissioned officers without this essential volume in their personal libraries. And, given the number of well- worn copies I see on the desks of friends and colleagues, it is not easily discarded.
Another useful and highly recommended book in the all-service category— one just published this year but already with an established reputation—is Retiring from the Military by Captain K. C. Jacobsen, U.S. Navy (Retired). As the very first career-changing guide tailored to men and women in the military, the book’s eager audience has welcomed Jacobsen’s common sense approach to the subject. His individualized timetables and pointers on such practical matters as financial planning and medical insurance, together with his advice on how to capitalize on military experience in civilian employment, makes this book a worthwhile investment. I’m just sorry it was not available when I retired.
Also in the category of books I wish I had had is Guide to Naval Writing by Robert Shenk. For years naval officers have had to sort through a mass of government manuals for advice on how to write personnel evaluations, prepare briefings, file budget requests, and complete the countless documents that are a part of their daily routines. Next month they will finally have a single source filled with pointers from the experts
Proceedings / November 1990