Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-08-09

transferred 20 ELMER COAST anu A
the south.
Take the country over and most al
the northern army posts are depleted
nearly all the troops being in Texas
or where they coull be readily thrown
into Mexico. There are few troops
remaining at Fort Smelling, and those
left behind are only enough TO take
care Of the post property. 1t Is the
sane way at all other posts in the
country except in the south and east,
! and the east will be left fully protect
ed in case we should become invO)v.
ed with Japan after this country has
invaded Mexico.
President Wilson realizes the gray
ity of the situation and, while he 10
talking and hoping for peace, he real
ly knows that the conflict is coming
and is quietly taking steps to hurried
ly put this country on a war basis.
The administration is lot a little wor-
ried over the attitude that would be
taken by Japan should this country
become involved with Mexico. which
Is now quite likely. While the presi,
dent realizes that things are now.
shaping themselves toward an ire
pressible conflict, he will not allow
his feelings nor his utterances to be-
+ character well becoming the chief ex-
ecutive at the present time. But on
the othr hand several members OF
congress have held up to the nation
and the world the fears Of this coun-
try, and are ~forewarning the enemy
by much militant talk of what the
United States might possibly do. On
ly on Thursday Senator Bacon of the
foreign relations committee was in
discreet enough to make a speech
along these lines. His position On
this committee and inside knowledge
Of facts should be held sacred enough
by the senator to safeguard the in
terests of the country he represents.
1t was a case where eserv and tact
would have become his position and
given his constituents reason. to be-
lieve that he had a grasp on the ,rt
of diplomacy. 1t is these public ut
terances in the senate and house that
displeases the president, and while it
is hard to hold some Of the alarmists
in check their talk may. after all.
be justified in prec:pitating the in.
evitable conflict.
The maneuvers being conducted in
Long Island sound are. of course. a
test of the defenses around about
New York, and it is already known
in several quarters that the east will
be we'll protected should Japan step
in after we have invaded Mexico. The
sentiment has often been expressed
in a newspapers of the country
that should war. actually come be.
tween this country and Japan, the
brunt of battle would be borne in Cal
i~fornia, where the land imbroglio first
irritated the Japs. This idea has
crystallized itself into strong senti-
ment and the east and south would
be much better protected than the
west.
San Francisco has a big garrison in
the Preside, and the Golden Gate is
we'll fortified, but Los Angeles and
San Diego would be at the mercy of
the enemy. Portland could be pro-
tected by obstmlcting the mouth of
the Columbia river, and, with the
few troops at Fort Va%ncouvuver.
could turn back the enemy. BY the
mining Of Puget sound and with the
guns Of the several forts Seattle and
Tacoma could be made comparative
ly safe, but this is not altogether
sure. :
But at Los Angeles it would be sim.
ply a picnic for the Japs to land. In
the immediate n~eighborhood there
are no troops, and should the Japs
fail to make "A landing at San Pedro
they could lie off Long Beach or Ven
ice and land troops by small boats
over the usually smooth sea. There
would be no troops to oppose them.
and the Japs would not send word
when they were coming. After land
ing an army at Long Beach the fleet
could steam down the Pacific and
easily take San Diego.
1t would be an easy matter for thd
Japs to march from San Pedro or
Long Beach to Los Angeles, and hold
the city through the whole period
Of war. making the citizens their pris-
oners and contributing to thei"
neewsl The laps would not under
take to invade the country from this
point. but they could hold the city
against the United States for an in
definite time. The Santa Fee rail-
road would more than likely be- de-
stroyed from the Needles to the west.
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