In Alfred Thayer Mahan's book,The Influence of Sea Power in History, he wrote that "the ships of war of the United States, in war, will be like land birds, unable to fly far from their own shores."

Question

Which of these BEST summarizes Mahan's concern about the U.S. Navy?

Responses

A

A strong army was more important than a strong navy.

A strong army was more important than a strong navy.

B

An overactive U.S. Navy stood in the way of expansion.

An overactive U.S. Navy stood in the way of expansion.

C

U.S. would need overseas naval bases for refueling and resupplying.

U.S. would need overseas naval bases for refueling and resupplying.

D

Naval fleets would no longer be needed by the end of the 20th Century.

Answer 1

C: U.S. would need overseas naval bases for refueling and resupplying.

This response best summarizes Mahan's concern that the U.S. Navy’s operational range and effectiveness were limited without overseas bases to support its ships, akin to how land birds are constrained by the need for land.