ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the debate among naval professionals and others in policy areas relevant to economic warfare, but it will concentrate on reserve officers. It demonstrates the breadth of Service debate on the attack and defence of commerce, suggesting a far greater discussion and understanding of the issues than was suggested by Avner Offer. Much of Sir John Colomb's article was formally concerned with port defence, and whether the Navy should be solely relied upon to keep a potential enemy away or whether ports should be garrisoned. While Colomb wrote of the Navy's role in keeping lines of communication open, he did so only in the context of protecting and supplying the Army on an enemy shore. The Merchant Service doubted the concept of protected trade routes: the Navy possessed insufficient cruisers, and no man-of-war could keep the sea long enough to keep the sea clear of raiders.
