Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1914-08-30

boris ne nld? conclude that operations
on American soil can begin after about
four weeks, and it cannot be doubted
that the United States will moi be able
10 oppose to us within that time an
army equivalent to our own.
Militia No Good.
AT present the regular army OF
the United States amounts to $1,000
men, of whom about 10000 could be
disposed Of or these at least 10000
are required for watching the Indian
territoies and for guarding the forti-
fications on the sea coast. Therefore
only about 10000 men of the regular
army are ready for war. Besides.
about 100000 militia are in existence
of whom the larger part did not come
up when they We're called ont during
the last war Lastly, the militia is not
efficient. it is party armed with muZ-
zle leaders and its training is worse
than its armament.
LAS an operation by surprise against
America is impossible on account of
the length of time during which rhb
transports are on the way. only the
landing can be effected by surprise.
Nevertheless. stress must be laid on
the fact that the ranidity of the in
Vasion will considerably facilitate vic
tory against the United States, owing
10 the absence of methodiCal prepara-
tion for mobilization, owing to the
!neXperience of the personnel. and
owing to the weakness Of the regular
army.
N y
considerable part OF the United States
and to protect our lines of operation
SO as TO enable us to fight success
fully against all forces which that
country i'll the course Of tine, can OPP
pose to us, considerable forces would
be required. Such an operation would
be greatly hampered by the fact that
it would require a second passage of
the transport fleet III order 10 ship
the necessary troops that long dis
tance. However. it seems questionable
whether it would be advantageous TO
occupy a great stretch Of the country
for a considerable time. The Ameri
cans will not feel inclined to conclude
peace because one or two provinces
are occupied by an army Of invasion,
but because of the enormous material
losses which the whole country will
suffer if the Atlantic harbor towns,
in which the threads of the whole
prosperity of the United States are
concentrated. are torn away from
them one OTTER the other.
Would Levy Tribute.
'Therefore the task of the fleet
would be to undertake series of
large landing operations. through
which we are able to take several
of these important and wealthy towns
within brief space of time. BY IN
terrupting their communications. by
destroying all buildings serving the
state, commerce and the defense, by
taking away all material fer war and
transport, and, lastly, by levying
heavy contributions, we should be able
to inflict damage on the United
States.
For such enterprises a small mill
tary force will suffice. Nevertheless
the American defense will find it
difficult to undertake a successful
enterprise against that kind of war;
fare. Though an extremely well de-
veloped railway system enables them
TO concentrate troops Wlthln snort |
time on the different points on the
coast the concentration of the troops |
and the time which is lost until it is I
recognized which of the many threat
ened points of landing will really be
will, as rule, make it posi- /
BILE for the army of invasion to carry
out its operation which success under
the cooperation of the fleet at the
point chosen. The corps landed can
either take the offensive against gath
ering hostile forces or withdraw to
the transports in order to land at
another place.
at should be said that Germany is
the only great power which is able
to tackle the United States single
handed. England could be victorious
on sea, but would not be able to pro-