The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-09
WAR ECHOES

l Pittsburg Dispatch: The importance of
 Captain van Horn who committed an of- 1 fence up about the borders of Canada which has a strong flavor or arson. is | illustrated by the claim that he Is a Ger man army. If he can take rank as a military expedition organized in the territory of the United States. then he is liable to fine and Imprisonment not ex- ceeding three years. But If his military operations in dynamiting the railroad i bridge over the St. Croix river are not backed by military rank, then he is extraditable to be dealt with under the Canadian civil laws, which are not in- clined to be merciful.
 | It will be seen that the question Is one of no slight importance to Herr van Horn, though the rest of the world may rot see it's fate wrapped up in it's decision. Undoubtedly he would prefer to receive bed and board in United States penal institutions for the next three years than to tempt the mercies of Canadian courts. But the matter may not be left entirely to his choice. If he was acting as German officer in dynamiting the railroad bridge, did he perform the act in spiked helmet and other paraphernalia of German uniform? Germany has been emphatic in Belgium in requiring that acts of war must be confied to persons in uniform. It is quite possible that an equal tartness on this side of the ocean might be uncomfortable for Herr van Horn.
 ,a,~ioo DAxyfe of Dat-a anxrf question is What are the chances of a Turkish attack against Egypt? An invasion by sea being out of con- sideration, the only possibility is for Turkish force to proceed from the Syrian frontier and cross the Suez canal. The boundaries of Egypt extend some distance beyond this canal, including the whole of the Sinai peninsula, desert of sandy hills. Actually only two caravan routes lead from the frontier across this desert to the canal. Both are 1S0 to 190 miles long through absolute wilderness.
 This would mean 10 days marching for an invading army. Further. this army must rely only on it's own provisions and water supply, since even the wells have been mined and destroyed. The only possible method of transportation through this desert of sand is the canal, and &C., cording to authorities, it is recloned that a complete equipment, baggage, ammuni- tion, and water for the period of 10 days would require a load of a camel and a half for every soldier. An army of 5000 men would then require 5000 camels.
 Naturally, only the transport of the very I;<~t.t ,-t;1I s~ I the Turks succeed in overcoming these difficulties, they would only be at the beginning of their troubles, since they would still have the Suez canal to cross, a canal 50 meters wide at it's narrowest part.
 And England is ready and prepared. All along the Egyptian side a large entrench- ed camp has been built, fortified with artillery, and an army composed only of whites and Indians is there on watch. That this army is sufficient in size can be inferred from the fact that in Cairo alone there are actually 5000 soldiers. Turkey today, with her hands full against Russia obliged to keep an eye on the Balkans, and an army to watch the tur- bulent Christian population of the Leba- non, can send, at the best and largest of estimates, only 100000 men against Egypt.
 Handicapped by a long march across the desert, deficient in artillery, what can the Turks do once in front of the canal?
 How can they expect to cross it in front of foe amply prepared to meet them? And If they are unable to do it at once how are they to get food, water, pro- visions? How will they be able to pre- vent a complete disaster?
 No. Egypt is safe, Egypt ia quiet, and will remain safe and quiet, thanks to its strategic position and to the active forethought and unfailing energy of the English.
 And 1t could not be otherwise. England may allow a revolution to break out any where in her poksessions. but she can never allow even the possibility of one here. for Egypt is the main artery pf her colonies.