The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-11
A MAJOR GENERAL TALKS TOO
MUCH.

IL Major General Macarthur made the
statements attributed to him in a dispatch
from Honolulu he has talked rather indis-
creetly. According TO an official report
made by the commander of the Hawaiian
militia TO the Governor. General Macarthur
war would take place between the United
States and Germany In the near future.
The dispatch continues:
This. he said, made the Hawaiian Ma
tional Guard of national Importance. The
few of whom volun-
teered In the war with Spain. He be-
lieves that German interests are growing
to such extent in South America that
the strain upon the Monroe Doctrine will
eventually result In a conflict. Hawaii be-
ing strategic point. no nation, he says,
VIII make any attempt upon the shore line
of the Pacific States until the capture OF
the Hawaiian islands has been effected.
If General Macarthur expressed these
views it must have been in what he sup
posed was the confidence of an official con-
ference, and not for publication. He GER
tainly must know the improperly of an
officer Of his rank and who may become
chief of the army staff expressing such
views. If Colonel Jones Incorporated them
to enhance the Importance of the Hawaiian
militia, but he has placed General Mac
Arthur in an embarrassing position.
AS for the views themselves while they
may be interesting they are altogether con-
jectural. General Macarthur is fine sold
Tor httf ha 70 inf 10
future than anybody else, and his views
regarding the effect of German colonization
in South America on the Monroe Doctrine
not worth much. No amount of Ger
man colonization In South America would
trench upon the Monroe Doctrine unless
extend the imperial government over it.
This is too remote possibility to be SER
iously discussed.
Assuming that General Macarthur is COR
rectly reported he is probably correct in
saying that Hawaii is strategic point,
and in the event of foreign war no power
would make any attempt on the shore line
of the Pacific States until the capture OF
Hawaii had been effected. That is a good
argument for maintaining strong navy
and being always prepared to defend our
insular possessions from a naval attack
but 1t is argument for an increase OF
land forces. II Germany or any other naval
power should ever attempt to capture
Hawaii the battle for its possession will be
fought at sea and the Hawaiian militia
will not be in it.
The statement attributed to General Mac.
Arthur that the pan-Germanic doctrine i:
growing among German-Americans Is un
| doubtedly erroneous. There is no pan
Germanic doctrine in the United States, Of
| as applied to this continent. In Europe tn,
pam Germanic doctrine means that the for
! eign racial elements Of the empire-th,
Alsatians, the Danes of Scheswig, and th'
Poles-should be Germanized, and that tn,
empire should absorb all the territory tina
| logically and geographically belongs to 1t
The pan-Germanic doctrine has no relation
the matter any thought it is only in connec
tion with the old country.
| The statement that few German-Ameri
cans volunteered in the war with Spain ma.
be true. but the inference that they are les
American or patriotic than formerly f.
entirely unwarranted. The war with Spail
was small affair and only a small part o
the men who did volunteer were needed
| Germans do not volunteer for the fun of tn
thing. If they had been needed in the wa
with Spain they would have volunteers
fast enough. Once let the United State
get into a foreign war that causes a rea
draft on its military resources and German
Americans will furnish their full quota o
volunteers who will fight to a finish. The
would do this even In war with German
If it involved an attempted invasion of tn
United States or seizure of American terri
tory. There is a great deal more pan
American sentiment among German-Ameri
can citizens than there is Of pan-Germani
sentiment.