“It doesn’t change its mind often,” the commander smilingly replied, “for it seldom makes up its mind. There is one thing, Mr. Perry, that few people seem to thoroughly understand, and our government has always disregarded. It is the relation between our international acts and our armed forces: the army and navy.
“If there exists a large army and a navy to back up our demands, then the other countries will cheerfully grant them, but if the army and navy are small and weak, then the demands are not granted.”
Phil nodded his head. He was having explained a problem over which he had long puzzled.
“So you believe then that whether Herzovinia gets Kapua or loses it depends upon the relative power of her army and navy?” he asked.
“Exactly; if she wants to seize Kapua I don’t see any way to stop it,” Commander Tazewell answered. “Whether she will hold it or not must depend upon how highly England and the United States appraise the value of the Herzovinian army and navy to back up her act. If we think she is in earnest and will go to war rather than give up Kapua, then our statesmen must decide what will be the advantages or disadvantages of war to us.”
“But,” Phil exclaimed, “she couldn’t fight both the United States and England, all at once.”
“There, you see, is the true value of her great army and navy,” Commander Tazewell answered solemnly. “The two great nations might be able to defeat her, but it would not stop there. Probably many other nations of Europe would become involved.”
“Then if Herzovinia had only a small army and navy,” Phil said questioningly, “the United States or England would pay no attention to her demands, and she would be forced to give in.”
“That’s the whole thing in a nutshell,” the commander exclaimed. “Let us hope, Perry,” he added, “our great nation will be sensible enough to keep always a strong army and navy, so that we can be assured that we can do right without the need of asking some other nation’s permission.”
As Commander Tazewell paused he unrolled a chart and spread it before him on the cabin table.