The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-06-02

our maps and charts to pick cut for
him numerous routes toward the Capi-
tai. some easy, some more difncuif, but
and II II wide open to him"
Continuing. Capt Wise says:
THE gateway to our National Capital
swings Hospitality open to any invader
who chooses TO use II, Nor viii the
study Of the subject give US much less
soiicitude for the safety Of our metrop-
oils. From the Atlantic there are two
waterways to New York. namely. via the
Narrows and via Long Island Sound
The advance through the Narrows il de-
Tended by Forts Wadsworth. Hamilton.
and Hancock The entrance to the east
ern end Of Long Island Sound IL de-
Tended by the fortincations on Plum
Island. Fishers Island. and Gull Island
So long as the forts on the Narrows
hold that gate is closed. but It requires
no wild Imagination I'd fancy Hamilton's
failing to q land attack from landing
on the south shore Of Long Island. or Of
Wadsworthis suffering similar fate II
Hancock be FIRST taken from the rear.
Once the Notifications at the east en-
trance were reduced. Long Island Sound
would be the enemy's., with excellent
landing places along the south shore OF
Connecticut or the north shore Of Long
Island. Furthermore, there are landing
places on the south shore of Long Island
and some on the Jersey coast. While
these are not as good as might be do
sired, they are as good as Chemulpo and
might do till better ones could be opened
What does all this mean? Simply
this: Seacoast Notifications alone cannot
be depended upon to defend country.
At most they can be expected only to
block the natural and best water APP
proaches. Behind them we must use the
mobile troops for their defense, and
mobile troops are just what we have not
now, and what we will have no time to
make after war Is upon US.
Are such things as We have talked
about possible? Could an enemy take
our metropolis and our Capital? There
are historical precedents. A foreign In
vader did land on Long Island, and he
did capture New York. He did enter the
Chesapeake. and he did burn our Capital
We ara bigger now; so is he.
Lord God Of Hosts. be with Us yt
Lest we forget. lest we forget
War Not Thing of Past.
IF we calmly and dispassionately esti-
| mate this political and military situa-
ton, we are forced to the conclusion that
| war Is not a thing of the past, and we
| have interests and relations that may
at any time bring 1t upon US. There are
European nations who could invade US,
and who are prepared while we are not
In the event Of a struggle the enemy Is
liable to strike at our Capital and at
our metropolis, and II is more than
doubtful whether we could successfully
defend them.
1T is not pleasant to think that the
| financial stress of the nation. or that
| even the governmental arrangements due
\ to the loss of its capital. might bring US
| to yield when but small part of our
territory had been touched by the enemy.
Back behind the Appalachians there
would still be millions Of men, billions
| of wealth. and inexhaustible supplies.
Behind this barrier new armies could be
| formed with which to crush the invader.
| drive him to his ships, or wear him out
by attention; but it would be a long.
costly, cruel undertakings task that
| will not be imposed upon US IL we take
| timely means to prevent its necessity.
1T is not patriotism to close ones eyes
| to national weaknesses. nor 10 one a
! traitor who honestly recognizes impend-
ing perils. True patriotism 10 not meas
| ured by an ability to boast Of national
power. There is a decided difference be-
N"cch a just piiuc Jul HdtlOu du
unthinking vanity in its resources. and IL
is far more patriotic to frankly recognize
national dangers and to strive to eradi-
cate them than 1t IL to blindly deny their
existence
IF we are invaded by a powerful en-
envy. 1t seems safe TO predict that We will
lose in the beginning. and, IL patriotism
holds out, that in the end we will win.
But what a price we shall have to pay
before the victory is ours! Every fam
lily will raise its tombstones as monu-
ments to our heedlessness and the finan-
cial loss to the country will be enough
to have paid q thousand times over the
cost of the preparedness which would
have made such disaster impossible.
During the years that we are recovering
from the humiliation and shame brought
| upon us by our ample time to realize the
| import Of the maxim:
Tn time Of peace prepare for war;
THE text for the army to preach is
Give US a military policy-Give us a