The Washington herald., 1911-02-26
By JAMES b. MORROW.

| The next war between the United
States and foreign country, experts
say, will be settled by a single
night at sea-a tremendous battle
Of two modern fleets armed with the
most terrible guns ahoat and helped by
submarines and torpedo boats.
II the war is with Japan, the battle
VIII be fought near the Hawaiian Islands
or the Philippines II it is with Ger
many, Great Britain. Italy, or France,
the battle win be fought in the Caribbean
Sea.
Ships from Europe, If they come from
that direction, will have sailed 1000 miles.
The distance from Yokohama to Homo
lulu is 3445 miles. Steaming so far, the
hostile feet will need small repairs and
cleaning up before it is ready for ac-
ton American scout ships, swift hounds
OF the ocean. viii flash it's progress by
wireless telegraph to the American fleet
IN waiting.
The home feet viii try to attack the
onconing feet before It has had oppor-
tunity to prepare thoroughly for battle
A tired man is more easily whipped than
Is one who is rested But war plans,
are not always possible of execution. The
two fleets may meet on equal terms IN
the matter Of preparation There will
be. manuvertng for the advantage of time
and position, and the battle will follow.
From the declaration Of war onward.
and even before the declaration, the two
fleets will be looking for each other. All
precedents of history are favorable
to the nation that strikes first and strikes
savagely. A fist fight was never won
by the man who simply blocked and
,ducked the other mans blows. unless
the one were a giant and his assailant
were a dwarf. A fight, II it is a fight.
means a forward charge with every
country wins, if he or it excels in skill
and generalship.
Flying Tons of Steel.
The two fleets will stand of at sea in
the most frightfuI naval battle of his
tory. The largest guns that were ever
made for ships will be fired in broad
sides simultaneously. Projectiles weigh
ing LOO pounds will strike their targets
five miles away at a velocity of about
1000 feet a second. Nearly three-fourths
of ton of hard steel, impelIed by S65
pounds of powder, and travelling about
twenty-three miles a minute, is likely to
damage anything it hits fairly. Mean
while, torpedo boats, low in the water,
under cover of the tagging smoke from
the guns, and submarines, hidden from
view like monsters of the deep, will dart
forward TO tear at the vitals of the
mighty Ieviathans IN the battle lines.
The battle will decide the war, in all
If the fleet of the United
SfafaS iS defeated
land upon the Atlantic or the Pacific
coast No nation on earth, however, will |
attempt to send troops to this country
until after its feet has destroyed the !
fighting fleet of the United States. Japan |
7,00O miles away, would not dare to risk |
an army on transports unless the Pacific |
afforded il a safe means of approach |
Nor would Germany embark an army of |
invasion unless the Atlantic were clear |
OF the American feet Of battle ships.
Hysterical members of Congress some
times picture a horde of armed Japanese |
overrunning the country from Seattle to |
San Diego, or of armed Germans laying |
tribute from Bar Harbor to Palm Beach. |
They look across the oceans and almost /
see the onrushing swarm of foreign
ships. Banks are to be robbed stores
are to be plundered. and the inhabitants
are to be put to the sword, so they say
and may think. But they are illogical
and ill-fnformed men, Occasionally
often, perhapS|they are juggling for
votes and Scareheads at home.
Ignorance, alarm, and lame thinking i
have greatly increased the dangers from
var that are supposed to menace the
United States. The people of Los An
yeles may not know it, but they are ex-
empt from naval attack, as are the
'eople Of any other undefended port,
own, or city on either coast For in
tance, if a japanese cruiser, IN time of
actual war, were to steam up to the
'ery edge Of Los Angeles, not a shell
,ould be fired at that city, and if coal
md provisions were taken they would
AVE to be paid for in money. Under
he laws of war adopted by all civilized
even a water city defended by
iunken mines cannot be bombarded, pill
aged, or compelled to pay tribute to the
,neniy. New York or Boston would be
afe, but the navy yard in Brooklyn or
Charleston would be destroyed If it were
lot held and used temporarily.
What Secretary Meyer Has Done.
Misconceptions pertaining to modern
warfare are many. Jeopardies that are