The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-09-10
MILITARY BOGEYS
REVIVED BY WAR;
STRATEGISTS BUSY

Washington. Special: The question
Of the effect Of the war In Europe on
the future of armed forces Is being
much discussed and all manner OF
opinions are offered whether the war
will make for the cause Of universal
peace or whether 1t will be but the
prelude to more preparation to be fol-
lived by more war. That the outcome
of the European struggle may make II
incumbent on the United States to de-
part from It's historic military policy
and train more men to the business
of arms Is the opinion held in some
quarters and especially emphasized
by those who ave long been advo-
eating a system which would give the
country in an emergency, moro men
competent instantly to take the field.
The war may end in the defeat OF
Germany or in a sweeping victory for
to something like a draw. Should Ger
many wiz a great victory over the al
lies On land, the United States will
be called on seriously to consider
whether it Is going to adopt a new mil
ttary policy.
Power OF. Sword.
Some interesting views are presented
by those who believe the young men
of the United States in much larger
AuIllpSlS l1dll INV o1Aooio W -
military training and who also be-
lieve the results Of the war IN
Europe are likely to lead to a policy
that will afford this training.
One Of the situations they say may
come to pass is increased predomi-
n of Germany in Europe
of the power of the sword. In that
event, 1t may be expected the Ger
man army will be developed still more
fully and augmented as the years go
on. Having won by the sword, Ger
many, it may be expected, will go on
maintaining herself by the power OF
the sword or the e Of her power on
the part Of other countries. Presum-
ably, too, the Germany navy as well
as the army will be augmented.
Such an outcome, with the United
States navy falling behind Germany's
as it has been lately, would, 1t Is
| argued, compel this country to con-
! slider what to do about putting it's land
forces in condition to repel possible
invasion in force.
United States Attack Planned.
This country and Germany are
| friends, and the chances are will al
ways remain SC. Still, there has II
late years been some serious CONNER
| cial friction. And it is a remarkable
fact that a member of the German gen
| eral staff, not long ago mapped out 6
plan whereby the Germans could
throw a large force Of their superblS
organized army into the eastern par
of the United States, seize New 9orl
and other big cities and hold them in
definitely. i.
Far fetched as this may seem, l
would not be impossible with an ade
quate force of transports to do 1t
Americans will question whether any O
the Germans would get back to thu
Fatherland. Nevertheless, given con
troll Of the sea, and a fleet of so trans
ports, it would be possible for Ger
many to throw a force into New Eng
land or elsewhere along the Atlanta
coast that would be more than equal t.
any force this country could concen
trate in the short space Of time requir
ed to hurry troops across the Atlantic
Such forces would not attempt to en-
ter any of the well-fortified harbor
but would land at some unfortifie'
place, not unfavorable to shipping, an
would take the great cities in the real
This is the plan advocated not long ag,
by a German officer who discussed tn
possibilities of war with America. H
pointed out the fact that the captur
Of a few great cities like New York
Boston and Philadelphia, would strik
a hard blow at the United States in
financial sense and might lead to will
ingness on the part Of this country t
make ueapa.