DOC Choosing War: Presidential Decisions in the Maine; Lusitania; and Panay Incidents by Douglas Carl Peifer in History

Review

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Good Analysis of Three Naval IncidentsBy Dr. W. Terry LindleyDouglas Carl Peifer; professor at the US Air War College; laments that “academic historians have by and large conceded the field of security studies to political scientists; international relations specialists; and other social scientists.” (1) In this well-written and thoroughly researched book that examines the sinkings of the American battleship Maine; the British passenger Lusitania; and the U.S. naval gunboat Panay; he discredits efforts to characterize naval incidents by whether the situation leads to war or by what issues or rights are at stake. A close examination of each encounter; he asserts; demonstrates its uniqueness “in terms of causes; issues; and resolutions.” (245) Peifer concludes that “rather than using history to provide direct analogies and ‘lessons learned;’ students of foreign affairs should employ history to gain strategic depth; study interconnections; examine what sort of options past presidents considered; and think about why they acted as they did.” (248) Each of the three main sections of the book follow a similar pattern: “The Incident;” “Context;” “The Immediate Reaction;” response; and “Aftermath; Consequences; and Reflections.”A superficial analysis of these three incidents might lead one to conclude that the destruction of each ship led to war. The blowing up of the Maine caused the United States and Spain to go to war in 1898; the torpedoing of the Lusitania led to hostilities between America and Germany in 1917; and the bombing of the Panay was a catalyst for armed conflict with Japan in 1941. As the author clearly shows; such a conclusion would be a misreading of history.The cause of the destruction of each ship differs. The Maine was blown up in Havana Harbor on 25 January 1898. The nature of the explosion has never been conclusively proven; three out of the four investigations pointed to an outside explosion; which seemed to indicate a Spanish mine; although Spain never acknowledged this. The other investigation; conducted under the guidance of Admiral Hyram Rickover in 1975; placed the blame for the explosion on an internal source—an exploding coal bunker. There is no doubt that the Lusitania was sunk by a German torpedo; though the impact of a secondary explosion is debated. The latter probably resulted from cold sea-water hitting hot boilers. Peifer believes that the torpedo was the sole cause of the sinking; hitting the ship in the perfect spot to quickly bring it down. The Panay was sunk by a combined attack of Japanese high-level and dive bombers; coupled with strafing by fighters.The reaction to each crisis also varies. The American public; press; and Congress were in a war fever and demanded action with the Maine incident. McKinley waited for the report from the official inquiry before he made any decision. War with Spain was not a direct result of the sinking of the U.S. ship; but more important; the author points out; was the de Lome letter and the report of Senator Redfield Proctor on his observations from his recent trip to Cuba. Wilson was given freedom of action; since the American public wanted done short of war. His threats secured an apology and reparations from the Germans for the Lusitania tragedy and eventually an end to unrestricted submarine warfare. However; the president’s line in the sand was crossed with the renewal of unrestricted U-boat warfare in early 1917; and this led to war with Germany in April. Before the facts were in regarding the Panay; Japanese officials were hurrying to apologize to the American ambassador in Tokyo; the American commander of the Yangtse Patrol Squadron in Shanghai; and the State Department in Washington. The Japanese government also agreed to pay damages and reparations and provide assurances that this would not happen again. However; to this day; the cause of the deliberate attack on the Panay remains a mystery. Only one member of the attacking planes survived the war; and he swears that it was an accident; which seems unlikely given the clear markings on the American vessel. President Roosevelt’s hands were tied in that the American people opposed any action that might lead to war with Japan. Ultimately; this incident did not trigger war with Japan in 1941.This work should appeal to a wide audience which includes those interested in diplomatic; military; and presidential history as well as political scientists specializing in presidential politics and students of international relations.1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Interesting insight into the decision-making process of three very different ...By JRInteresting insight into the decision-making process of three very different presidents; and into the influence outside factors played; especially politics and public opinion.