Evening star., 1915-11-10
Possibility of Expedition.


"And dealing with the question Of the
possibility of such an expedition being
determined on, he said, with the United
States. in particular political friction,
| manifest in commercial aims, has not been
| lacking in recent years. and has, until
| now, been removed chiefly through acqui-
| escence on our part. However, as this
submission has it's limits, the question
arises as to what means we can develop
| to carry out our purposes with force, in
order to combat the encroachment Of the
| United States upon our interests
! 'It seems to me the statement of so emil
nent a military authority as Il member
of the general staff of a European nation
draws us more closely than most of us
have appreciated toward the vortex of
| the awful struggle in which practically
| the whole of Europe is involved. Articles
| of the character of that from which 1
| have quoted show that no idle dreamer
| is arouSing fears in our fellow country
men when he urges reasonable prepared
ness for defense. No one who reads his
| tory can fail to understand that great
unprepared neutral nation, which has
grown rich during the period of warfare
among Its neighbors. may not fold its
arms and rely upon Its conscious position
of strict neutrality during preceding wars
and congratulate itself that in no way can
it be involved in strife
Will Be Richest Nation.
This I believe to be a real danger
We will probably at the end of the Euro
pean war be admittedly the richest nation
in the world. Upon us powerful victor
in that struggle could levy unheard of
indemnities for alleged unfriendly acts
during war, and we will at the end of this
war; by actually maintaining strict neu-
trality in accordance with the principles
of international law. undoubtedly have in
CURED the dislike. and possibly the hatred
speaking nationally, of foreign govern
ments.
1.-The claims of many of our people. their
honest belief that the great nations Of
Europe will be so exhausted when this
war is concluded that they will be unable
to attack us, does not demand the un-
heSitating concurrence Of my intelligence.
THE end of our own great civil war.
the war between the states, continued
as it was for four years, exhausting
our resources and impoverishing our
people, found us in the strongest mill
tary condition we have ever been. A
young, enthusiastic and distinguished
general. at the end of that war, unhesi-
tatingly proposed to Gen. Grant, in his
enthusiasm, Now let us go north and
take Canada 1t required only that We
should notify Louis Napoleon. then con-
trolling the destinies of France. possi-
bly, at the height of his power, believed
to be invincible in Europe, to compel
him to abandon his dreams of empire
in Mexico.
Preparation Necessary.
mo one could deplore more than
that which my Intelligence persuades
me is necessary. namely. the considera-
ton of increase of our national forces
to enable US to defend our country
against a foreign attack. No one will
go further than 1 to bring about state
of lasting piece throughout the world.
and particularly state of peace so far
as our country is concerned. 1 am op-
posed to establishing posts of offense
far from the seacoast of our country,
but ! do regard it as essential that at
the termination of this awful war in
Europe. our country shall be prepared
to repel all naval attacks upon US or
the invasion of our country"