The Washington herald., 1915-08-08
Our Possible Part in the War.

AT the merest mention of possible war between
the United States and Germany many excellent
citizens of the country, credited with greater or
less degree of intelligence, raise deprecating hands
and cry, NO. no, anything but that" They do
not belong to the professional pachsts, regularly
organized for the pcace-at-any-price propaganda,
tinctured with drop so of political ambition,
and opposed to President Wilson's attitude. They
arc simply people who think of war and its hor-
rorS in the abstract and who too busy with
other affairs to give the subject thought, but who
in the last analysis would take courage and give
loyal support to the government of the nation in
the event of war
To such then some reinsurance may be given.
and the first question to be asked is what could
Germany do to this country. in the event of war,
more than she has done and is doing now; namely,
attacking with submarines unarmed merchant
ships like the Frye, Gulflight and Nebraskan and
English passenger ships like the Lusitana and
Orduna with Americans on board, while passing
through the so-called to and from
French and English ports2 Could she send an
army corps here if she had the troops to
spare? She has no longer naval force on the seas
to convoy the transports necessary to bring the
troops. All her ships have been sunk in fights
with the British, with the exception OF those
intcrncd and in hiding within her own fortified
ports 1t would be simple suicide for these bottled
Up ships out for battle with the allied fleets,
which outnumbcr them three to one. "Thc day"
has not yet for the German navy at least
But the terrible submarines" cry the timid
ones. Well, what could they do? Come over to
raid and ravage our coasts? They might be sent
over here except for two three reasons. First
because OF the small prospect OF their getting
back, and second, because they could not live
long without COAL food and other supplies which
would be denied them in these parts Meanwhile
the United States navy has fleet OF nearly 100
dcstrovers and torpedoboats, all in fit condition
and the natural enemy OF the submarine. This
feet in case of war could be almost doubled over
night by transforming the numberless swift and
nimble sca-gong tugboats in our harbors into
rams with steel horns. Many OF these tugs could
mount a gun, as good close range battle
ships I4-inch gun, and more likely 20 hit peri
scope.
But the chances OF German submarines coming
into American waters hunting for their prey are
very slight. They are far more liable to be hunted
themselves in event of with this country
We would then be under restraint OF neutrality
but as one OF the allied nations against Germany
we could send a fleet OF destroycrs into the Irish
Sea, big enough not only to protect ships carry
ing American passengers and cargoes, but for
war OF determination OF the enemy undersea
craft Naval officers say there is doubt of the
success of such enterprise, which would have
been undertaken long ago by the British admiralty
had not their own dcstroycrs been too busy pro-
tccting their numerous battleships and transports
constantly crossing the channel with troops be-
tween England and France. They say the chances
in a fight between a destroyer or torpedoboat and
submarine three to in favor OF the
former. Submerged, the underwater boat is blind
and useless, and when it shows its head peri
scope among deStroyers it is hit or rammed.
So much for a war on the sea. On land VIC
could invade us. The result would be then
hoodlcss war-Increly state OF without
battles sCigeS-unlcsS fit to send
brigade or two over to Flanders or France to help
out. But the allies have men enough already, out
numbering the Germans with many soldiers
as they have munitions for We could indeed,
add largely to the supply OF munitions for them,
end lend them plenty OF money. and thus cripple
the enemy to the end that the hdeous conflict
might he fastened to close.
To rccoup ourselves for any expenditures VIC
might be at in such d war, VIC could seize the
Lilon dollars or more OF shipping property in
termed in our harbors, as we'll as other German
lalucs. This would be such an easy job that it
" Guild seem almost shame TO take the money.
1t really looks as if in war with Germany at
this time the United States would have little to
lose and something to gain. while business affairs
would so on about as usual