Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08
Army Man Writes in Infantry
Journal That Eastern Metrop-
oils Would Get First Blow.
U. S, SAFETY is SCOFFED
Article Declares That Foreign
Liners Could Land 10000
Troops in Few Days.

1t is popular fallacy in our coun-
try that our distance from probable
enemies gives US security from at
tack. Nothing could be more foolish
than this unthinking faith. India and
the Transvaal were farther from
England and Tonquin was farther
from France than we are from Eu-
places from invasion and conquest.
Distance alone VIII not grant US i'm
munity from European aggression
The words are those Of Captain
Hugh p. Wise Third United states
Infantry. writing in The Infantry
Journal, the service magazine, pub
lshed by the officers Of the infantry
arm Of the United States Army The
title Of he article IS our Unprepar.
edness for War and IN his treatment
Of the question Captain Wise Is both
frank and cautious, for II there Is
any nation on earth unprepareu Tor
a great foreign war that nation, In
the unanimous opinion Of the officers
Of the regular army. IL the United
States and among he first places 20
feel the iron hand OF the conqueror
would be New York, IN the opinion
Of Captain Wise.
European in1broglio Helps.
The fact that the complicated stat
US Of European politics renders Euro
pcan countries exceedingly cautious
about embarklnE on war is. In the
opinion 81 CAPTAIN Wise a most for
tunate circumstance for this country,
Vet, ne adds. 20 depend for our ma
iional safety upon such an uncertain
thing as the status quo OF European
politics is too chimerical 10 be SEE
riuusly considered
cot him who imaEincs that We can
whip the world" adds Captain Wise,
'lot us ask whether he has ever cold
is compared our military conditions
and our fighting power with those ~
possible enemies? That we are vul-
nerable 20 foreign attack Is "a fact too
well known 10 the great powers 10
warrant our trying 10 deceive them.
Now Third Naval Power.
Captain Wise then points out that
the United States. so short time
ago the second. is now the third naval
power. and that the gap between the
American and the foreign fleets Is
gradually but surely widening He
then calls attention TO the fact that
both Germany and England have IN
their transatlantic trade vessels ply
ing between American and their oWh
ports which could az a single sailing
bring 20 our shores 100000 trained
troops equipped IN every detail, ana
10 oppose such armies we have in the
Tinted states $4,000 regular mobile
trours and little over 100000 OF th'
organized militia. the latter being, ne
continues. "as heterogeneous as the
states from which they hail and whC
vary In quality from those OF few
states where they are fairly Wei
equipped. Go those OF other states
where they are IN a chaotic military
condition
Ii would require az least six weeks
To- mobilize and concentrate our small
FIST line on the Atlantic seaOoard,
,EAptaiu Wise continues. adding that
this is not a confidence inspiring
weapon with which % meet power
81 and welI-trained adversary
New York in Peril.
sne author then goes on 20 show
Va NAT would happen TO New York and
Washington and the large cities near
them ia the event OF an invasion by
nrst-class foreign power
no serious blow" he says. could
he struck as below the ChCsapeak"
BAY. nor could a paralyzing blow be
dealt in New England a blow IN
the south might mortify and sting
one in New England might pain OF
stun. but the knockout must hit us on
our Middle Atlantic and IL is there
that we must expect the punch
After abiding to hington and
the cities OF the Chesapeake. whose
easy capture and rich possibilities In
contributions make them a tempting
prize" and the additional fact that
the possession of the head OF the
Chesapea ke where the great trunk
lines Of railroads cross a., would not
only stop the oue-eighth OF our do
uestlc trafi7c which they carry, but
also would strategiCally sever our At
1antia seaboard iu twain Captain
Wise turns 20 New York.
Great though he says, the COM
msTci4I Importance Of this section
may be- and great it is. yet il Is
small compared with that Of the coun-
:Ty about New York whose wealth
and whose financial influence are al
most beyond estimate. Its capture
would put iata hostile hands a prize
Of lnc8lcUIabIe value. not only be-
cause OF the paralysis 10 would cause
20 the nations business, but also be
cause ~ the political pressure that
this financial strain could be made 20
carry 20 the utmost parts Of the land
But primarily the Importance Of New
York IS commercial and II II is at
our commerce that the enemy desires
10 STRIKE. be Will probably aim his
blow 10 New York"