The Washington herald., 1914-11-01
j. 5. Officers
SAYT. R. RIGHT
They Believe Japan and Ger
many Intend Invading
Gotham and Frisco.
OUR FORCES INADEQUATE
Colonel Says He Will Probably Desig-
nate Countries Meant in Statement
After Election Day.

The statement by Col Roosevelt at
Princeton that he had seen the war plans
Of two nations for the capture and hold
ing for ransom Of great American cities
attracted much attention here yesterday.
Among military and naval men there
| is not the slightest doubt but that the
colonel saw just what he says he did.
| Neither is there any doubt in the minds
of officers here that the nations the for
mer President had In mind were Ger
many and Japan and the ports New York
/ and San Francisco with possibly Wash
ington included.
Nothing to Prevent II.
It is admitted with the utmost frank
ness by all men familiar with the military
situation In the United States that there
Is nothing In the world to prevent the
successful execution Of these plans. once
the United States navy has been rendered
hors de combat on either coast. Surprise
has been expressed here that the German
capture Of Antwerp. the great Belgian
port. which no one in this country has
been accustomed to think OF in connec-
ton with war, has not caused a greater
realization of what would be the situa-
tiOn OF the rich coast cities OF the United
States in case Of war.
Only the navy stands between these
I cities and their occupation by the enemy,
with resultant extraction from them of
millions and perhaps even billions in
wealth. Once the city is in the hands
Of the invader. 1t is pointed out. the
banks, stores. and factories are as help
less as a newborn babe in its cradle
All the immense resources cf the rest
Of the country are OF no more avail than
gold buried in the mountains Of Alaska
he FnF aF Wi
and other coast cities are merely certain
assurance that the enemy will not make
an attack from the sea, or attempt a
landing. at those points. There is moth
ing whatsoever in the world. however.
except the strength Of the navy to pre-
vent their landing short distances from
these fortihcations and taking them by
land attack from the rear.
Could Easily Capture Guns.
None Of the guns in our coast defenses
can be turned against an enemy ap-
preaching on the land side; to capture
them would be mere Chid's play. If the
blows in the war were struck with any
thing like the rap!dity Of those in the
war in Europe. The reason Tor this is
that the United States has no army
worthy Of the name. and no provision
for creating one in less time than from
six months to two years.
Mr. Roosevelt has never been in Japan,
but he has been in Germany and else
where in Europe. 1t is not known here
where he saw the plans he speaks of,
but II is suggested as a possibility that
he might have seen them in Europe.
where for years rival governments have
been spying out the military plans OF
one another. II Is also possible that he
might have seen them while in Wash
inCton.
our military and naval attaches are
frequently digging up abroad matter
which, they are satisfied, represents the
plans Of this nation or that in case OF
war with the United States. Similarly.
the plans which the United States naval
and army war colleges have devised are
pretty well understood in foreign general
stan Offices