Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-24
IN CASE OF WAR.
Views OF Army and Navy Men on Gu
Strained Relations With John Bull.

Views Of Army and Navy Men on Our
Strained Relations With John Bull.
THEY THINK THEY coUID ooBBLE CANADA HAsILY,
BUT ENGLAND COULD SWEEP OUR FEW MEn-
CAMILLE SHIPS FRosf THE SEAS AND LAT TIE
xSriRE SEA COAST uNDEn SIEGE.
The publication Of the Behring sea cores
pondence this morning had the effect of slim
uiating war talk among service men today.
The resolute stand taken by Secretary Blaine
IN his communications to the British govern.
msnt is quite gratifying to most folks who have
go with military and naval matters although
thnss are different opinions relative to the
chance which this country would stand at the
outset in the event Of trouble with England
There is strong sentiment in
favor Of belligerence in some quarters,
inspired by desire to stimulate the none too
active policy Of the government in the building
up OF the land and naval forces of the country,
which are universally regarded a. quite made
quate.
VIEWS OF AN ARMY OFFICER.
Said an officer Of the army: "There has been
too much peace and material prosperity on
this continent for much longer duration.
Conditions are very ripe for q confagration.
We are confronted by England at two points,
both relative to fishing rights; France
Is reported to be deeply involved
situation is exceedingly trying. and in Cuba
there is quantity of very infiammable ma
terial. The United States would soon be placed
In peculiar position in case Of war with Eng
land. We should be able, have no doubt,
TO make a capture of the Canadian territory
in very short order. But the British forces
would at the same time be blockadiug
seaports 80 effectively that the American flag
would disappear entirely from the high seas.
Her naval forces are SO numerous and SO power
full that in few weeks she could have the en-,
tire continent in a state OF siege. We should
have Canada, to be sure, but would be
compelled to exist entirely within our
selves. most Illuminating situation
for such great nation as this. We should not
even be able to put forth new ships to augment
our inadequate navy, for the other side would
have possession OF all points through which
such vessels could emerge for active work.
No, it would not pay this country to 60 to war
with England"
ENGLAND WOULD HAVE TO LOOK OUT fon HER
EUROPEAN RIVALS.
And yet this view of the situation is not I'M
opposed. There are others who declare that
the moment England was forced to come in the
direction of America she would be attacked
upon all quarters by one or more jealous sister
European powers, not in her own islands, but
tending to diminish the strength that
she would bring to bear upon America down
to point where this country could success
fully compete. Russia has her eyes on Herst
and the other cities Of Afghanistan, the gates
Tor her passage back and forth from Europe to
Asia, and Russia has some dangerous thoughts
just now. In fact the friends of war here look
for aid to the rather strained European situa-
ton, which, they say, cannot hold back from
an explosion very much longer.
OUR RELIANCE OK THE NATIONAL GUARD.
The United States is rather well provided
with regularly armed land forces in the
National Guard Of the country, which now
numbers little over q hundred thousand. Re-
cent tests and experiments show that within
forty-eight hours over quarter of the entire
force. or upward Of $4,000 men, well armed and
furnished with adequate equipments for
field service, could be concentrated in New
York, Boston or Philadelphia, and it is safe to
say that inside of a week there could be as
sembled along the Canadian border at least
$4,000 armed men, force more than
able to cope with the present
land forces of that colony. 10 be
sure, England, being IN possession Of a large
feet of small. well-armed gun boats and in con-
means of entrance to the upper lakes, could. if
unmolested, fill those waters with dangerous
feet that might do untold damage to the
beautiful cities that line the lakes.
ON THE OTHER HAND
this government has control over the st. Clair
ship canal by means Of which Lakes Huron.
Superior and Michigan are reached, so that If
necessary this vantage point could be so occu-
pied as to exclude the enemy from those waters.
And, also, it is not only possible but probable
that the American land forces would
unleso surprised be able to take
possession Of and wreck the Welland canal
SO as to shut off invasion at that point. On
the whole the conditions are favorable to the
United States far as the mere accession of
Canada is concerned, but on the seaboard
the situation is totally different. There
is scarcely a harbor that could be de-
Tended with the present means. There is
hardly a coast city that could not be wrecked,
ruined by hostile naval force. and there are
innumerable points where England could
easily land large forces of troops which would
sorely test the strength Of our own army by
carrying war into American territory. An
invasion by England could be accom-
plished in very easy manner. although
history fears the imprint OF certain records
that have tendency to establish a belief in
the American mind that this country could
repeat the dose already given twice and send
the red coats home with a thrashing Upon
the whole the situation is remarkably inter