The future remains to be seen. But we have noticed that the absence of competition caused the East Indian portion—and that was the greater part—of the British Mercantile Marine to get into a rut. It was only the opening up to all of the East, the free and unfettered rivalry there and in the Atlantic, which brought about progress and improved conditions both for the trader and the passenger. In the face of the lessons of history, is it not better to welcome competition rather than to endeavour to hinder, by a series of laws which may do good, but may also cause international friction, more dreadful wars, and do little for the advancement of civilisation and the attainment of noble aims? The practical value of history is that we are able to see at a glance the mistakes of our forefathers. If it is not that, it is a mere academic study. The world now realises that an adequate merchant fleet is as necessary as an adequate fighting Navy. But it has required to be confronted with big events before it could thoroughly grasp that essential fact. CHAPTER XIX THE MINOR MERCANTILE MARINES One important result of the war was to readjust the respective positions of the nations of the world in regard to their merchant fleets. Considering only steel and iron steam tonnage, the nations were in the following order of precedence immediately prior to the war: British Empire, Germany, Scandinavia, France, the United States; Japan, Holland, Italy, Austria-Hungary, Spain, Greece. But to-day the following is the order: British Empire, United States, and then there is an immense drop to Scandinavia, France, Japan, Italy, Holland, Spain, Germany and Greece about equal, and no Austro-Hungarian merchant ships. Whilst Scandinavia still occupies the third place, she represents only 7·7 of the world’s steam tonnage as against the United States’ 22·7 and the British Empire’s 39·3. Outside the belligerents the Scandinavians were the most important merchant fleet throughout the period of hostilities, and Norway was more important than Sweden. From the earliest times in European history the sea-spirit has been a real influence in Scandinavia, and some of the finest sailormen in the world have come from there. It is that spirit which has built up the Scandinavian merchant fleets, not merely through the sailing-ship days, but after. To them were sold many of Britain’s clippers and other vessels as steam gradually became dominant; and even now they purchase obsolete British steamships, give them another name and put them into service again. The Allan liner _Virginian_, the first Atlantic turbine steamer, for instance, is now running in the Swedish-American Line.