The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1911-03-22
SEIZURE OF THE
PACIFIC ISLANDS
BY Japan, MeansWarThat
Will Doom Her,
PREDICTS MAJOR GEN. MILES
Could Not Cope With Our
Endless Resources and
Able Defense.
HIS PATRIOTISM is RoUsED

Y washington, March 1S.-Japan
could easily take possession OF the
Pacific islands under existing con-
ditions, Major General Nelson A.
Miles, retired, formerly ranking Gen
eral of the United States Army, de-
clared tonight.
General Miles was discussing the
article by Count Won Reyentlow,
published this morning, and It's pre-
diction of ultimate war in the not
remote future between Japan and
the United States. Replying to the
direct question If japan could take
possession of the Pacific islands,
General Miles said:
|. "Yes, they could. The Philippines,
Hawaii and Guam in their present
condition are a source of weakness
to us. But the instant they we're
seized war would begin. Its charac-
ter can be judged best by the met
tie shown by the yellow men seven
or eight years ago and what we
know the American soldier is.
"The instant war was declared
he continued, every machinist, iron
worker, steelworker, skilled and I'M
skilled laborer from one end or the
country to the other would start to
work on war munitions, additions to
the feet and what not, the scope OF
which would stagger experts OF the
profession of war"
General Miles is not among those
who believe that Japan will go TO
war with the United States.
There is no earthly or sane rea-
son." he said. "for japan going to
war with America"
Referring to the LIMOGES with
smile, he said, however, that one
could never say what the future VIII
hiring forth. A warrior whose gal
liant achievements in the field OF
battle have filled many pages OF the
history books, Miles is yet a man OF
peace.
WARS are not wanted or needed,
he said. But thev are a weakness
of the human race" he added. "and
must come. trust that ! may new
err see a contest between this coun-
trv and the Island Kingdom of the
far East"
but If it does come-in the
event that Japan landed an army on
the Pacific Coast" he was asked
"would they be able to remain?
Patriotic fire glowed in the ewes of
the man of peace as he replied:
THE Japanese army and navy
would find more than one Port Ar
thur-there would be fve,six. seven
or more. each defended by an army
of capable men, splendidly officered,
with six trunk lines carrying SUD-
plies and ammunition across the
Rocky Mountains as fast as the best
locomotives in the world could trav-
ell. The Pacific strongholds. such as
San Francisco, Portland and other
ports. would not be the task that
Port Arthur was. Japan would be
up against different proposition
entirely"
How quickly could an army be
mobilized for real war;" was asked.
"Un three or four weeks the Unit
ed States could place an army OF l.
$1,000 men in the field properly
equipped and effectively officered
with Generals commanding them
that are by no means defective in
the art of war" he answered. "The
nucleus would be from the regular
establishment-and this regular es-
tablish ment is not the organization
some would have the American peo-
pie believe. 1t is amply prepared for
the bloody, horrible. desolating con-
tests that IT. was created for"
"a war between this country and
Japan" he continued. would re-
solve itself into a contest between a
big nation with an inexhaustible sup
ply of wealth and small nation on
the verge of bankruptcy. There
could be but one end to 1t. Japan
would be utterly annihilated II It
continued long enough.
'If Japan should gain several sue
cesses in the seas. there would be a
rapid rebuilding or addition to the