Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-05-27
WAR PLANS READY
COMPLETE SCHEME OF INVASION
OF MEXICO WAS PREPARED
ny WAR COLLEGE.
LIKE SCOTS AND TAYLoR'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 eventualities?" In
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 be no repetition of the
scandal Of unpreparedness which was
an affection of the Spanish war days.
An army must 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" It 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
aege 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
that Huerta. Carranza and villa
might join forces against the United
States. One plan of campaign, the
most comprehensive one, was pre-
pared to meet Just such a condition.
Another plan took cognizance OF the
possibility or probability that Car
rama and villa would not resent an
invasion of Mexico If the object of
the invaders was to drive Huerta
from the capital and to set up a con-
stitutional government. This plan of
campaign was less elaborate than the
other, but IT 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.
It may seem a curious thing. but
che plans for campaigning in Mexico
in general way were those which
we're 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 a 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
Zine Of march that Scott took. No
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.
II is understood that the plans which
the war colleges prepared for trouble
in Mexico also include a scheme for
a northern campaign much like that
which was put into operation by Gen.
eral Taylor, who fought so successful
~ against the Mexicans and who won
one battle with an army Of 5000 men
pitted against an army of 10000 men
urder the greatest military leader, per
haps, that Mexico ever produced.
Plans for Amy War.
While the war college was preparing
for campaigns In Mexico 1t was not for
getting the possibility of campaigns
elsewhere and of possible defensive
campaigns in Panama and on the west
coast Of the United States. OF course
It will be readily understood what
country the war college men had in
mind when they we're discussing plans
for the protection of the country west
of the Rockies and the Isthmus OF
Panama against attack.
It is fact that today, If the United
States should be thrown into war with
England. with Germany, with France,
with Italy, with Russia, with Japan, or
with any other country. plans instantly
would be forthcoming from the war
college for the conducting of such lap5
operations as might be necessary. The
naval war college would produce its
sea fighting plans and it would be
found that no matter what nation.
small or great, had made the declara-
ton Of war, there would be ready a
complete scheme of operations often
sive and defensive for use by the Uni
ted States land and naval forces.
La-n -
While a good many members of
congress, possibly a majority. have
been showing every desire to COM