The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-05-23
WAR PLANS READY
COMPLETE SCHEME OF INVASION
OF MEXICO WAS PREPARED
BY WAR COLLEGE.
LIKE SCOTS AND TAYL0R'S
Experienced officers Have Drawn UP
Details of Operations for Use In
Armed Conflict With Any
Nation on Earth.
By GEORGE CLINTON.

BY GEORGE CLINTON.
Washington.-When the first note OF
wars alarm was heard the instant
query was, how well prepared is the
United State for eventualites! In
a previous dispatch it was told how
the quartermaster's department was
ready to feed and clothe three big
armies and that the chances were
there would DE no repetition OF the
scandal of unpreparedness which was
an afflict.on of the Spanish war days
An army mnst be fed, clothed and
armed, but there are other things
necessary for proper preparation for
the war. In the city Of Washington
there is a war college, an army insti-
tuition in which officers Of advanced
rank go to school again" 1t Is one
Of the duties of the war college TO
study stragedy and to lay plans for
possible conflict with any nation on
earth.
When the first sign came that war
with Mexico was possible the war col
lege gave to the authorities a COM
plete plan for the invasion by armed
forces of the Spanish-American coun-
try. In fact it gave several plans,
each one Of which was intended to
meet certain contingencies Of cam
paigning. Long before the fleet was
sent to Vera Cruz the army men had
taken a thought on the possibility
~ nd
might join forces against the United
States. One plan of campaign, the
most comprehensive one, was pre-
pared to meet just such condition.
Another plan took cognizance Of the
possibility or probability that Car
rama and Villa would not resent an
invasion of Mexico IL the object OF
the invaders was to drive Huerta
from the capital and to set up con-
stitutional government. This plan OF
campaign was less elaborate than the
other, but 1t was based on the best
thought which some thirty or forty
army officers of long service could
bring to bear on the subject.
Much Like Scott's Plans.
1t may seem a curious thing, but
the plans for campaigning in Mexico
In a general way were those which
were adopted by Scott and by Taylor
| In the Mexican war of the late forties.
This is the more peculiar perhaps be-
cause the entire system Of fighting
has changed since the Scott days, the
greatest change having come within
the last twenty years. Army men say
that General Scott was fine strate.
gist and that moreover he was an
adept at discovering the lines OF
least resistance for an effective cam
paign.
An army going from Vera Cruz to
Mexico City today would follow the
line Of march that Scott took. Nc
better route has been found notwith
standing the fact that modern weap
ons and the open order method OF
fighting change tactics as necessarily
as they must change some forms Of
strategy.
It is understood that the plans which
the war colleges prepared for trouble
in Mexico also include scheme TO
a northern campaign much like tina
which was put into operation by Gen
eral Taylor, who fought so successful
ly against the Mexicans and who VOL
one battle with an army Of 5000 mel
pitted against an army Of 10000 mel
under the greatest military leader, pei
haps, that Mexico ever produced.
Plans for Any War.
While the war college was preparing
for campaigns in Mexico 1t was not fol
getting the possibility Of campaign
elsewhere and of possible defensive
campaigns in Panama and on the ives
: coast of the United States. OF cours
1t will be readily understood wha
country the war college men had 4
mind when they we're discussing plan
for the protection of the country ives
of the Rockies and the Isthmus G
Panama against attack.
1t is a fact that today, II the Unite
States should be thrown into war wit
England, with Germany, with France
with Italy, with Russia, with Japan, c
with any other country, plans Instant
would be forthcoming from the wa
college for the conducting of such Ian
operations as might be necessary. tn
naval war college would produce II
sea fighting plans and 1t would B
found that no matter what natiol
small or great, had made the declar
ton Of war, there would be ready
complete scheme Of operations offel
sive and defensive for use by the Un
, ted States land and naval forces.
No Hope Of Early Adjournment.
While a good many members (
congress, possibly a majority, hay
y been showing every desire to cor