25 



Chapter 



ATLANTIC WARFARE TODAY 



L 



>N New York, London, Paris and other capitals of the 

 world, on January i, 1900, a new century was ushered in by celebra- 

 tors who looked forward with bright curiosity, with enthusiasm, 

 with confidence. There had been a long period of relative peace and 

 prosperity and of growing trade all about the Atlantic. Popular edu- 

 cation was making great strides; social conditions were often bad but 

 it was only a matter of time until they would improve under the at- 

 tack of a new generation of social workers. Industrial relations could 

 be improved by intelligent trade unionism, enlightened management 

 and scientific control. Surgery, medicine, public health were begin- 

 ning to make progress against ill health and disease — in this cam- 

 paign tuberculosis, "the great white plague," was public enemy num- 

 ber one. In the new century man was to achieve many goals through 

 energetic and intelligent action: social progress through better legis- 

 lation; industrial prosperity through improved management, ease 

 and happiness through mechanical and scientific progress. Peace was 

 to be achieved through the ever expanding and strengthening web of 

 international trade and international good manners. Someday this 

 would lead perhaps to international courts and laws. 



In this program there were admittedly occasional hitches, inter- 

 ruptions, even wars. There was the little affair between the United 

 States and Spain, and the British had counterparts in the Boer War, 

 the Afghan War, etc. These were regarded as temporary and remote 



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