The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-05-14
Of
INVASION
How the United States
Might Be
Taken.

1 quarters for some time a notion thai
if the American Republic should be-
come involved in war with any for
eign nation there are more chances
that it will be with Germany than
with any other, Notwithstanding our
national relations with the German
Empire are of the most friendly ma
| ture.
Some such idea seems to be current
also in German military circles. and
! it is formulated in some detail in an
article in the London National Review
| for April, over the signature "a Mem
Der Of the German General Staff -
| The article sets forth what would be
or should be the operations of the
German Army and Navy in a war
against the United States.
The writer in question declares that
it is a great mistake to suppose that
a war between Germany and the Unit
ed States would be wholly on the sea.
On the contrary, it would give great
opportunity for land forces to invade
the United States mainland, which, be-
cause of its immense coast line, par
>ticularly invites such attack from any
power which has the means for trans
porting troops, While the land-locked
situation OF Germany makes it practic-
ally impossible for any nations, except
near neighborS, to invade the Empire
without violating the neutrality and
territory of other nations. This Ger
man officer thus states his proposition:
There is no State in the whole world
which possesses better forces and
greater means than Germany for the
enterprise of war by landing. In the
first place. the excellence and the read
mess of our army, and the CELEBRITY with
which large masses of troops can be
modified, are not equaled by any
other great Power; in the second place,
Germany disposes of the second larg-
est commercial marine in the world,
and has in the rapid large steamers of
her shipping companies splendid
transport fleet. the excellence of which
is not exceeded even by that of Eng
land herself; in the last place the in
crease and Strengthening of our navy
which is at present taking place will
guarantee increased security to the
transport of our troops over sea. These
factors, which are peculiarly favorable ,
for Germanysl power, open large
field for our world policy, and render
it possible for us to make our strong |
forces also useful for the
greatness of the Empire, and to con-
quer by the development of German |
power over sea the same feared and
position in the world which |
our victories of the last decennial have !
for US in central Europe.
AS for a cause of war between Ger
many and the United States, the Ger !,
man officer quoted says:
During the last years. political fric- |
ton, especially friction arising from
causes, has not been lack
ing. and the difficulties, that have arts
en- have mostly been settled by our
giving way. AS this obliging attitude
has it's limits, we have to ask ourselves
what force we can possibly bring to
bear in order to meet the attacks of |
he United States against our interests
and to impose our will. Our fleet will |
probably be able to defeat the naval
forces of the United States, which are
over two oceans and over
ong distances.
But theories the writer quoted, it |
$ not TO be supposed that the United
States will be conquered by a defeat
IF it's navy In order to complete the
ask of humbling the Western Repub-
ic it will be necessary to land troops.
md for this purpose the large and
swift vessels of the German mercantile
marine will be called into service. Then
,on tinues this theorist:
The Americans will not feel inclined |
o conclude peace because one or two
provinces are occupied by an army of
INVASION. but because of the enormous
Material losses which the whole coun-
ry will suffer if the Atlantic harbor |
owns in which the threads of the |
whole prosperity of the United States
ire concentrated, are torn away from
hem one after the other.
Therefore the task of the fleet would
,e to undertake series of large land
ng operations. through which we are
bile to take several of these important
md wealthy towns within brief space
Il time By interrupting their COM
by destroying all build
ngs serving the State, commerce ard |
he defense. by taking away all mate
ial for war and transport. and, last
V. by levying heavy contributions, We
hould be able to infiict damage on the
United States.
For such enterprises a smaller mill
ary force will suffice. Nevertheless,
he American defense will find it diff
uIt to undertake a successful enter
rise against that kind of warfare.
though an extremely well-developed
aiIway system enables them to con-
entrate troops within a short time on
he different points on the coast, the
concentration of the troops and the
ima which is lost until it is recogniz-
d which of the many threatened points
f landing will really be utilized viii,
9 A rule. make it possible for the
rrny of invasion to carry out its oper-
ton with success under the cooper
ton of the feet at the point chosen.