The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-10-22
SIDE LIGHTS ON THE WAR
Professor Robertson

In view OF the large place WHlCii
Germany occupies in the European
war and the thoroughness Of her
military system, as shown by the
events Of the past weeks, the ques-
ton arises, Has the United States
ever come within the scope Of Ger
many's military plans. This is,
perhaps, rather a startling question
and does not arouse a pleasant
feeling.
There have been occasions OF
friction between the United States
and Germany, especially regarding
Germany's relation to South Amer
lea. In the German papers one can
read such phrases as this: Ger
many's hope of colonies cannot be
carried out until the insolence OF
the United States has been punish
ed" or, as it was put by another
writer, until the United States had
"been taught modesty by feeling
German might"
A memorandum has come to light
and is going the rounds of the pa
pers written by General Edelsheim,
a member of the General staff Of
Prussia in charge of military oper-
ations. The memorandum is en-
titled Operations Over the Sea"
and it outlines campaign against
the United States. II was written
in 1901.
The General refers TO political
friction between the two nations,
because of commercial rivalries
mainly, frictions thus far settled by
Germany giving way, an "obliging
attitude, but one which has Its
limits" He advoctes, in the mem
orandum, a combined attack by
fleet and army, and says that Ger
many is the only country able to
make such an effort, since it alone
has both the army and the fleet. The
fleet of the United States, accord
ing to the General, could be hand
led with comparative ease since it
is scattered over two oceans. But
such a defeat would not be enough
to compel the United States TO sue
for peace. II would take an invas-
ion by the army.
If transports were to start from
the ports of Germany with soldiers
at the same time the fleet set forth,
operations could begin against the
United States in four weeks time,
1t is clear the General does not ex-
pect much opposition. The army
that would Obstruct the German path
he reduces to about 10000 men as
the rest would be busy in defend
ing Notifications and keeping the
Indians of the reservations in ord
er. The militia might add 100000
more but they are poorly equipped
with old fashioned guns, inefficient
and worse in discipline than in
armament"
The General believes that an ex-
tensive conquest OF the country
would not be wise because of the
great size, but victorious enter
prizes on the Atlantic coast, a con-
quest of the most important ar
teries through which the imports
and exports pass will create such
an unbearable state Of affairs" that
the government Of the United States
will readily offer acceptable terms of
peace" This will come about when
"the Atlantic harbour towns in
which the threads Of the whole
prosperity of the United States are
concentrated are torn away from
them one after another" by in
terrupting their communications,
by destroying all buildings that
serve the State, commerce, or de-
Tense, by taking away all material
for war and transports and lastly
by levying heavy contributions we
should be able to inflict damage on
the United States"
Thus does the thorough German
mind cOolly weigh the possibilities.
To an American il feels a little like
looking the cannon in the mouth.