Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1914-02-18
Jon A WAR FOOTING
OUR OUTLYING DEFENSES ARE
BEING PUSHED RAPIDLY TO
COMPLETION.
DUE TO JAPANESE RUM0Rs!
Biggest Gun Ever Built Will Guard
Pacific End of Canai-Corregidor
Notifications to Protect Ma
Mia From Attack.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.


stories in plenty, scare stories at that,
of the imminence of trouble with
Japan. One tale after another has
been forthcoming, only to be denied
the following day. State department
officials say there is no danger OF trou-
BILE with Japan, and probably there is
no such danger. The only real Jap
anese scare story which has not met
with either denial or evasion is the
one which is connected with the work
of the United States in pushing to
completion it's Notifications in the
Philippines, in Hawaii and on the Pa
citic coast of the Panama Canal Zone.
Is it significant of fear? Yes and
no. These Notifications were plan
ned prior to the first word of sugges-
ton that Japan soon might make up
its mind to take whack at us. Army
officers have urged and the admins
tration and congress quickly have
consented that the work of these big
forts should be done as rapidly as
possible. Celebrity has been in evil
dence only for few months. Japan
csc rumors may have been responsible
for it. If this is a war scare, the
country must make the most of it.
Brig. Gen. Clarence r. Edwards,
fresh from the command of brigade
or troops on the frontier of Mexico,
has been ordered to Hawaii to take
command of the brigade there station
ed. There is a detachment OF heavy
artillery stationed at Hawaii The
Notifications at Pearl Harbor, the
great naval base, are nearing state
of readiness for war or for the final
rusting of guns which must follow the
years of peace
Biggest Guns for Canal.
At Sandy Hook, ready for trans
portation, if it is not now on its way,
is the biggest gun ever built in the
world. 1t is Is inch monster. 1t was
built and tested under the supervision
of Col. e. B. Rabbit of the ordnance
department. This gun, which has
shown it's effectiveness, will be mount
ed on one of the little islands now be-
ing fortified and situated about a
mile from the Pacific entrance to
the Panama canal. If projectile
from the 16-inch gun ever hits a war
ship it is Davy Jones locker for the
ship and the sailors. 1t is a weapon
which no sane captain will allow his
vessel to come within range of unless
the exigencies of war demand that he
take the awful risk
Col Henry G. Davis, coast artillery,
has been ordered to the Philippines to
take command Of the great fortitica-
tions at Corregidor. Corregidor is the
Gibraltar of the eastern seas. Colonel
Davis has a commanding reputation
as an artillery officer. Until recently
he was in command OF the defenses
at Washington.
No ships ever will pass by Cor
regidor island to take Manila unless
some earthquake friendly to the en-
envy shall dump the island into the
sea and the guns along with it. An
enemy bent on taking the Philippines.
however, probably would not try to
approach along path leading by Cor
regidor. The attack would be by
troops landed from transports at an
other part of the island and Manila
would fall, il fall it must, as the result
of an overland attack.
Some time ago a war scare was
produced by the news that some Amer
can artillerymen had been sent to
Honolulu. Since then more artillery
men have been sent there. There Is
no reason probably for making
war scare out of the mere act of
strengthening our Notifications. They
cost millions of dollars and they would
be of no service at all unless there
were soldiers to man them. Some
day there may be something more
than scare showing it's head above the
waters Of the Pacific. II the day of
it's appearance can be put off while
Hawaii and Panama will be in much
better condition to give it the prop
er kind of a reception.
1t is known in Washington that the
Japanese authorities on several occa-
sions have had great difficulty in
suppressing actnal demonstrations
against Americans. The general feel
ing in Washington is that if we ever
do have trouble with Japan, it will
come to us. not via Mexico or Eng
land, nor via any other country. but
on the straight ocean paths which run
from the Japanese navy yards to our
possessions and to our western coast
line.
Freak Tariff Result.
The Democrats in congress are say
ing that reports from the country
show that the setback which business
had a while ago has been overcome
and that now things are progressing
toward the goal of increased pros
perity.
The Republicans and Progressives
say there is revival of business be-
cause of the tame measures which the
Democrats have introduced to regu-
late the trusts. Men of the two OBJ
position parties declare the proposed
legislation of the Democrats does not