The Influence of Sea-Power on the History of the Roman Republic (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1915 edition. Excerpt: ...13. 2-3; Liv. 32. 28, where it is stated reinforcements to the number of 3,000 seamen were sent to the fleet. u Liv. 31. 18. 9. Nuntii occurrerunt consulem copias navales Corcyram in hiberna deduxisse; and, 31. 44. 1; 31. 47. 2; 32. 23. 13. "Liv. 31. 47. 1-2; 32. 23. 13. Liv. 31. 14. 3. Liv. 31. 27. 1 and 8; Zon. 9. 15. 3. 20 Liv. 32. 16. 2. to believe that the Romans were aware of the importance of maintaining an efficient fleet and with that end in view pursued a definite naval policy. There yet remain to be mentioned two additional ways in which the Roman fleet rendered valuable service and so hastened the humiliation of Philip. Not that great battles were being fought and won on the sea--there is no outstanding naval combat during the war--but by their presence as much as by their action the Roman ships exercised a commanding influence on the outcome of the struggle. In an earlier chapter (III, p. 41) we had occasion to note that a respectable navy even when not actually engaged can have a most restraining effect on the freedom of the enemy to go and to do as they please. This is a fact that cannot be overemphasized in considering the influence of sea-power, and it is one that finds abundant illustration in the Second Macedonian War. We are told2l that the naval war contributed only in a small degree to the result and that while some successful blows were struck at hostile ports yet" the Roman ships had no chance of conflict with the Macedonian fleet which during the whole war did not venture out of Demetrias nor make an attack on Macedonia itself." That the Roman fleet kept the Macedonian ships bottled up in Demetrias was, if no other had been rendered, service great enough. If we may judge from its victory over the...