Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1913-04-30
SAYS UNITED STATES
IS NOT READY FOR WAR
Army Expert Thinks Philippines
Could be Easily Taken.
Declares That in Case of Trouble With
Japan Over Alien Land Laws
Pacific Islands Would
Be Lost.

Washington, April 28.-One of the
leading experts Of the country, who is
as well a member of the general staff
of the army, outlined the unprepared-
ness of the United States for war with
Japan should such a conflict grow out
of the present controversy over the
California alien land law.
Here are the facts as arranged from
official figures:
We hold the Philippines with 10000
troops. The island of Corregidor, at
the entrance to Manila bay, which it
is proposed to hold with this force, is
but partially fortified. In the island
of Owahu we have about 5000 troops
with which ii protect eParl harbor and
Honolulu. This island is but partially
fortified and the least number of
troops that it has ever been calculated
could hold it against attack is one di-
vision Of about 10000 men.
Army Strength 10000 Men.
SIN the United States we have
partially trained militia of about 120,-
900 men of all arms and corps, a mo-
bile regular army available of about
$4,000 men and a coast artillery force
of about $4,000 men.
This last would be needed in the
seacoast defenses, so there would re-
main for defense about 140, 1000 mobile
troops, all badly organized, the major
ity of which are half trained. To con-
centrate these troops on our Pacific
coast, should there be no hitch in
transportation, would take from four
to five weeks. And it may be said in
this connection that, not knowing the
enemy's objective, we would not con-
centrate thine at any one point, but
must divide them between two or
three.
Japan's Probable Action.
eff we consider next the probable ac-
ton of Japan, it is evident that two
courses are open. Always remember
ing that she has at elast two months
free before she need even consider our
fleet. First, she can seize the Philip
pines, Hawaiian islands and Alaska.
Second, she can seize the Philippines
and attack the Pacific coast. In either
case she deprizes our fleet of base on
L
of these she has at her disposition
transportation for 10000 men exclus
i've of her fleet This has been care
fully estimated by men whose duty it
is to be familiar with details OF this ma
ture.
IF we are to judge her chances Of
success in the first case, it has been
said that using the vessels of the
smaller tonnage, escorted by her poor
or vessels of war, she can in two
weeks disembark on the island of Lu-
zon in the Philippines two divisions,
$4,000 men, and, establishing a naval
base, seize Manila and proceed to re-
duce Corrigedor, % miles away.
Hawaii Would Be Menaced.
"'In two weeks her fleet will have
reached the Hawaiian islands, into
which we will have been unable OF
throw achievements owing to the de-
lays of concentration and the impossi-
bility of obtaining transportation. In
three weews such trops as she may
deem necessary to have sent will have
landed and her fleet will have a naval
base and be free to harry our Pacific
fleet and meet our fleet east or west,
should it have been able to carry suf-
ficient coal to make the voyage.
Tn the second case Japan could pro-
coed against the Philippines as already
stated, and for the moment ignoring
the Hawaiian islands. send to the Pa
cific coast from 100000 to 100000
trained soldiers escorted by a fleet. In
four weeks, before we could have been
able to concentrate, they would have
arrived and could land almost wher
they would.
This is a presentation of our mill
tary situation and what may be said
of it's logical outcome. It would be a
humiliating situation that the richest
and strongest nation in the world
should have made inadequate prepar
ton for protection.
1T will be surprising if war does not
come and find us as we are, unpre-
pared. It is possibility, this much is
evident