Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-10-21
ARMY EXPECTS WAR.
THE AMERICAN GENERAL STAFF
PLANS FOR BATTLE.
Conflict Over Monroe Doctrine Thought
TO BE Near-Germany Suggested as
the Foe in Clash Over yenezue1a--
Uncle Sans Agents Are Alert.

According to a Washington corres,on
dent, the general sraff OF the army,
whose duty it is to prepare plans for
war with every possible antagonist. has
concluded that the defense OF the Mon
oe doctrine will some day, perhaps soon
er than is generally expected. cause
Ns2r between the United States and one
or more European powers Germany is
regarded as the country that is most like
!: to cause trouble.
When the war comes, the officers OF
the general staff believe, many cam
paigns will be fought in South America.
In order that comprehensive plans may
be prepared in advance for the struggle
the military resources Of the South Amer
lean republics are being thoroughly stud
led.
An exhaustive study of Venezuela.
with short side trip to the isthmus of
Panama. has been completed by Captain
Chauneey b. Humphrey of the Third in
fantry and First Lieut.. Ernest " ID.
Murphy of the Twenty seventh infantry.
They We're sent to Venezuela in June be-
fore the general staff was formally or
ganized. Their assignment this detail
Was cue OF the first acts OF the provis-
ionaI general staff and the promptness
and secrecy with which they were sent
indicates that some Of the staff officers
believe that the possibility Of war is not
remote.
To give thera an offit' Il status these
two officers were appointed military at
taches at Caracas, but the appointment
was not announced. nor was the State
Department informed Of it.
The officers spent only enough time in
Caracas to disarIn suspicion MS to their
real purpose. Then they inspected the
sen coast and plunged into the interior,
studying the country from military
standpoint and familiurizing themselves
Sith the facility with which armies
might be handled 10 the best advantage.
Every point, including the size of the
army Venezuela could be expected to
raise and the time it would take properly
to equip il, was investigated.
The officers returned by way of Pan
anna and investigated the resources and
defenses Of the isthmus. While there
they had several conferences with Major
Black of the engineer corps, who is sta
toned Mt Panama in connection with the
canal project.
The officers report, which was made
TO the division of military information,
was received with great satisfaction.
Aside from its military aspect they made
a report on political conditions in Ven
ezuela. which was highly important.
Other officers will be sent at once on
similar missions to all of the South
American countries. To give them a
status they will be accredited as military
attaches, but the utmost secrecy will be
observed in their assignments. Nenezue-
la was selected rs the country to be in
yestigated first, for the reason that the
staff officers believe trouble is most likely
TO break out there.
There Is reason TO believe, says the
correspondent. that the general staff has
learned that Germany has had military
agents and spies at work in Venezuela
for some time, in preparation for an in
yasion of that country. Some of the staff
officers privately admit that they believe
Germany is preparing To resist any inter
vention by the United States in defense
of the Monroe doctrine. This means that
they think the Kaiser is preparing for
the war with the United States which he
knows would follow an attempt TO ac-
quire territory in Venezuela. The gen
eral staff proposes to be equally ready
for 1t.
The staff officers fear there will be
trouble over the collection Of the customs
receipts that were to be set aside by
President Castro for the payment of the
foreign claims and that this will he used
by Germany as an excuse for seizing the
custom houses and precipitating trouble.