Washington sentinel., 1898-12-31
AN ENGLISH ALLIANCE
Written for the WASHINGTON SENTINEL
WEST STEEyER.

shadows before, the tnfSS slS
cant facts, or rather series OF tacts
stated last week lead to but one
conclusion, and that is England
believes that she might be involved
IN war with this country as ex'
planned before. Read her period
ical literature and it is easy to per-
ceive her intense jealousy OF this
country under the conditions
named. Her upper and lower
classes would, from their position,
favor such a war and the middle
classes would soon Join in the cry
when their trade would be IN
| jeopardy. which it certainly would
be, if we were allowed to be neutral
when she had another war on
her hands. An English Admiral
recently stated to a Naval officer
Of one OF the Continental powers,
that now was the opportune mo-
ment ito clip the wings OF the
American eagle" and 20 strike
down the United States, so as to
prevent them being factor against
England in any war against a Con-
tinental maritime power.
This conversation arose while
discussing the recent brilliant
achievements of the United States
navy. In case OF war the first step
which England would probably
take after blockading our ports,
would be to take possession OF all
the islands, peninsulas and estu
aries outlying on our coast. This
would be done Tor the purpose OF
establishing a base for future oP-
eratIons of invasion. After this
was effected the next move would
be to force the lines of defence,
and capture our maritime cities.
The possession of our ports would
Theoretically seal US from all com.
munication with the rest of the
world, and as for this purpose one
vessel inside is worth twenty out
side, this she could effect compar-
atively with but a small part Of her
maritime force. The above plan
of operation has been pursued by
every invading force in the past
wars on this continent and 1t is
probable that the same principle
will be pursued in future wars as
in the past. II altered at all it will
only be done in some minor partic.
ular, the. essential feature will
doubtless remain the same.
An officer oi the English army,
who commanded regiment Of in
fantry which was hen stationed in
Canada, while on a visit TO Rich
mond during our Civil War, made
a remark which left a deep impress
sion at the time on the writer, and
from the subsequent career OF this
officer, the impression then created
has in no sense been diminished,
as it is not unlikely in case Of war
he would be the commanding gen
eral of the forces sent to invade the
country. The remark was to the
effect that the United States die not
appreciate the advantage that the
possession OF Canada gave to
England in case oil war between
the two nations. To obtain the
greatest benefit from such posses
sion England should declare war
in the autumn, so that Canada
could not be invaded during the
winter. This would give England
fully five months to concentrate
troops for the invasion of the
United States, which, the sea being
open, she could draw from every
quarter of the globe, and in the
meanwhile the Atlantic coast
would be threatened by her naval
forces with blockade and the cap
ture Of the maritime cities situated
thereon.
AS was asserted by a recent
writer in one OF our periodicals,
that the United States is not in any
of it's parts threatened by powerful
neighbors when our northern from
tier runs for thousands oil miles
parallel with the possessions Of the
greatest and most powerful nation
on earth, is an assertion about as
far from the true condition of the
case as can we'll be conceived.
England today is a match in war
for the whole civilized world. Well
handled, she can, from her mastery
on the sea, isolate all the great
powers and then overcome each
separately. 1t has been well said
that the power that rules the sea
will soon rule the land. / repeat,
the only nation on earth she need
fear is the United States. and she
IS we'll aware OF that fact. Eng
| lishmeu have never been overcome