Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-04-14
That japanese War Scare Again.

Suppose Japan were to take no
ton TO invade the United States, as
lingo press associations have been try
ing to show might happen, and were
70 undertake TO bring over an army
large enough TO make such an inva-
sion from any point on the Pacific
coast What would il cost and how
could it be accomplished?
The Japan Times undertakes to an
swer this question TO cOnfute the
statements of Congressman Humphrey,
who has been most industrious in
Washington in Haunting the Japanese
war scare The writer does not claim
70 be an expert military authority,
but he presents some practical infor
nation in a way that appeals TO the
common sense of the average man
when he says:
ITO convey 100, 900 men across the
Pacific ocean at an average OF 1000
men TO the transport would require
100 ships. To convey coal and sup
plies and TO serve as dispatch boats
approximately 80 additional craft
would be required A feet of not less
such a fotilla. This would be a total
of $50 vessels.
a passenger steamer at the pres
ent time Journeys from Yokohama to
Seattle or San Francisco or Portland
in 20 days. This imaginary Japanese
armada of $50 ships could travel no
faster than the slowest of the fleet
There would be numberless delays en-
route because OF breakdowns of one
would mean the stoppage of all. 1t
would be nautical feat to bring those
los ships across the Pacific in less than
co days.
ITO gather an army Of 100, 900 men
fit for invading the shores of a foreign
country, arm them, equip them and
train them would consume, say, six
months.
so that eight months-twoth thirds of
year-would elapse from the time
Japan began active preparation for the
invasion and the time when the inva-
sion actually took place. What would
happen?
Visualize for yourself this mon
strous feet crossing the Pacific. ap-
proximetely $50 ships guarded by 80
men-of-war. and even a land-lubber
may. correctly picture the enormous
front they would present for attack by
the warships OF the United States! If
these ships travelled in a column and
each were allowed 10000 feet of sea
room. they would make a line "a miles
long. If they sailed in double column
order the column would be II miles
long. Imagine then. a feet OF Ameri-
can battleships looming up out of the
night and hurting itself against the
Japanese front at any point
If the japanese transports and aux
Hilary ships were to travel in a mass IN /
cylindrical form. then the 80 battleships |
must be distributed in an attenuated 1
line all the way around It, rendering 1t /,
at any point TO an attack by |
our feet with the possibility OF awful 7.
loss of life by the Japanese through I
the sinking of the transports.
In fact. it probably will not be ques- !
toned by sensible folk when 1 assert |
That never again in the history OF the .
human race VIII an army Of 100. 900 I
men 80 over seas from any country TO 1
attack any other country which has 1
even The nucleus of navy The most I
brilliant illustration OF what modern in
vasiOn means is Afforded by the history I.
Of Elgiand's war IN the Transvaal. The /
Beers had not even a steam launch.
and Yet England suffered practically b
the breakdown of its ministry because
u the continuance of the effort 10 con-
luer the Beers. And when, in the place
IF England, you write Japan. and in
he place Of the Beers you write o.
100000 Americans. the illustration be
comes so brilliant as to burn through
ne thin veneer OF alleged sincerity and
expose the absurdity of the claims of
such war alarmists as Congressman
OF Washington"
All OF which sounds very reasonable /
n view that with modern means of OBJ
seTvation il would be practically impos-
sible fer any foreign nation to take US
~ surprise. because the preparations
or war and their movements would be
znown far in advance