The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-06-06

and safety from the aEgressions OF
either side in the war, and shows
that the nation Is not helpless
merely because of its renoteness
and the smallness Of its army. At
the same time he calls to recollec-
tion the only trnns-At7antic milf
tary expedition In American his
tory and traces out the peculiar
position and influence of the Great
Republic among the nations.
Whenever a wild shot or a spent
ball from either side in the European
war thances to fall among them, the
Americans find themselves wondering
how, If it should become imperative,
they could inforce the protests OF
their government against such inva-
sion of their peace and safety.
The Atlantic ocean naturally gives
the American people pause AS they
look out upon it, they cannot fall to
recognize that between the United
States and the nearest field of strife
there rolls a watery barrier. 5000
miles wide. And as they on the farther
shore look across that vast and stormy
moat. they are more or less embold-
ened by the doubt II Uncle Sans arm
is long enough to span ii. But
simple geographical fact was only re-
duced to verse in this line:
The world is small when your enemy
is loose on the other side.
When the United States has remon-
strated with Great Britain. some Of
the British papers have retorted that
if the German navy dared not come
out and dispute the wave with Britain
mia. the American navy hardly would
dare more. On the other hand, when
The United States has demonstrated
with the Germans some of their papers
have flung back the taunt that where
the British navy had failed TO strike
Germany the American navy could not
hope to succeed. At the same time.
the reminder has come from many
quarters that the Americans have no
army.
All this may be true enough at the
present stage of the war. Possibly
the United States could not immedi-
ately tip the scales in the naval or
the military campaign. But it is in
a position to intervene without a re-
sort to arms.
1t could, OF course. cut off intercourse
with either set Of belligerents. Such
measure would Inconvenience even Ger
many and her allies. Although the sea
power of the triple entente already has
pretty ctfectually deprived the Germans
of direct access to American supplies,
they are drawing on them indirectly
through neutral ports. Even this small
but useful stream could be stopped. If
the Washington government should vigi-
lantly guard against it. Moreover Ger
many would find herself posted before
the world by the greatest of neutral ma
tions, which would carry moral con-
demnation that no party to the war could
afford lightly to invite.
Suppose on the other hand, the United
s"ou
trail rights on the sea against the inter-
ference of England and France with all
iorihs Vi
eminent could Immediately dam the flood
Vi wal "pp"e'
'hat Nou'u> cause eo''e Vi VIC p0
e's III 'he o'p'e eH'e"'e ~ "i
II Uncle sam Went TO war.
Furthermore. II the war is to be pro-
longed into a contest of endurance, the
United States could make itself the alb
solute arbiter and insure the final vic
tory to whichever side 1t supported. In
a long struggle, as was said by the
British chancellor. Mr.. Lloyd George. the
last hundred million Of money is the
winner.
And In such competition. who could
hope to outlast Uncle Sam? Whether
American succor took the form Of SUBJ
sides and loans. submarines, and other
now forbidden supplies. or tho raising.
eauipping. and transporting and main
tanning OF an armed force Of its own,
the result would be the same. For
whether in money or men. American re-
sources are unmatched and literally I'M
fashionable.