The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-04-05

Ell 10 pIoNltt, with bhC PAoNS Va AAioeAAAS~
ton:
Delaware ..........New Castle ............... ns
New Jersey.........Sea Girt......-......... eeso
Maryland. .Halethorpe 64lS
Virginia. Richmopd eoo-
West Virginia .........Tcr2 Alta-......... -'s''
Total of 24,30O.
This. with the !, 800 men from the Dis
trict, makes a total of A,3
Considering the advances that have
been made in the means OF warfare.
Washington is not as well fortified
against attack today as it was when
the British took it in 1914. That IS
the expert opinion.
When the British attacked Wash
ington in 1914 their fleet sailed up
Chesapeake Bay to the Patuxent
River and up the PatuXent to Bene-
dict. the point of debarkation.
Any enemy seeking to attack Wash
ington again. according to the eN-
perts, would make it's approach by
Chesapeake Bay to Annapolis. and
thence overland. The deepest draught
warshaps can reach Annapolis with
out difficulty. President Wilson was
entertained recently at Annapolis on
the Argentina, 31,00C-ton battle
ship.
Easier March Vow.
AHHdpollS u " toh -
forty miles, and the going is much
better than it was in the days when
the British under Ross and Cockburn
made their overland journey from the
Patuxent.
Cape Charles and Cape Henry. at
the mouth of Chesapeake Bay, are
unfortified. The only fortificatioE
which guards the entrance to the
bay is Fort Monroe. located about
twenty miles up the bay.
This fort is equipped with plenty
of mortars. but the biggest guns are
of the old -time 12-inch calibre.
Army people and military experts,
discussing the possibility of an in
vasion of Washington, said that Fort
Monroe would not necessarily enter
into n plan of attack on Washington.
The plan of the present or near
future would be for the enemy fleet
to enter Hampton Roads at Cape
Charles and hug the eastern side of
the bay past Fort Monroe.
Couldn't Stop 100000 Men.
If the hostile fleet were accompanied
by troop ships conveying an army OF
10000 men. army experts say it would be
impossible under present conditions of
military unpreparedness in the United
States to assemble a force sufficient to
resist such an expeditionary force il the
invasion was sudden.
The forces which could be spared from
the ships of the invading fleets Joined
together with the forces from the troop
ships would give the enemy an army of
trained men greater than either of the
opposing armies which fought the battle
of Gettysburg. Not without at least
three or four months preparation could
the United States put an army in the field
apable of resisting an invading forge Of
that kind and number.
Board Urged Preparation.
The possibility Of the invasion of
Chesapeake Bay by an enemy fleet and
the capture of Baltimore and Washing
ton is one to which military experts have
given considerable attention. 1t is
danger which they have asked Congress
to provide against. But their warnings
have gone unheeded.
During the administration Of President
Roosevelt, he appointed board to con-
slider the fertilization defenses OF the
United States.
tary of War, and the board was known
as the Taft board. In its report this
board said:
The importance OF securing the en-
trance to the Chesapeake Bay at Cape
Henry an outer line of defense to
Washington, Baltimore, Newport News.
Norfolk, and the great railroads crossing
the Susquehanna River at the head Of the
hay cannot be exaggerated. and was
recognized in the report of the Endicott
board.
Amy expenditure. however great. is
iustifiable for the protection of such vast
interests.
Commercially and strategically, Ches-
apeake Bay is today, as 1t always has
been, of the very first importance. With
the entrance as it is now. unfortified. q
hostile fleet that could gain control OF
the sea could establish without coming
under the fire of single gun. base on
its shores. pass in and out at pleasure.
have access to large quantities of valu-
able supplies of all kinds. and paralyze
the great trunk railway line crossing tho
head of the bay"
Signed by Army Officers.
The signers of this report are William
II. Taft, Secretary Of War; Lieut.. Cen.
Adpe r. Chaffee, Mai. Gen. ]. c. Bates.
Brig Gen. A. ]. Greedy. Brig. Gen. Will
lam Crozier, Brig. Gen. A. Mckenzie. Brig.
Gen. Samuel L. Mills, and Maj. George
w. Goethals.
Mai. Goethals, the builder Of the Pan
anna Canal, was the general secretary OF
the board.
In submitting the report OF tnis ooaro
to Congress, President Roosevelt urged
appropriations to carry out his recon-
mendation for the fertilization Of Ches-
apeake Bay. stating that the .impor-
tant reasons" for the erection of the pro-
posed defenses on Chesapeake Bay had
been "clearly stated.
With Chesapeake Bay unfortihed the
only physical force Of practicals avail
which stands between Washington and
capture is the American navy.
This is the best military opinion In
Washington, and. recalling the direful
experience Of the war Of 1872. due to
lack of proper preparedness, It seems
proper that the people OF tine United
States should understand the possible
dangers of the existing conditions with
respect to the defenses Of the National
Capital
Reserve Banks Gold Shrinks.