The Washington times., 1915-03-07
Would Have Kept
Foes Navy Away.

Such course could have kept the
English navy off the American coasts
and made the taking Of Canada easily
possible. And 1t would have saved tre-
mendous expenditure of men and money
and ended the war with credit to the
United States.
1t Is not material here to repeat the
dreary tale of reVcrses and disgraccs
that befell our arms on land during
the two years that followed the first
inglorious attempts to take Canada.
One general after another failed and
disappeared from the list of army COM
manders. The Cabinet was recast and
new Secretaries Of War and the navy
came into replace Eustis and Hamilton.
But the change wrought no improve
mcnt. Here and there some small sue
cess on land served for the moment to
revive the sinking spirits that followed
the Steady recurrence Of dsgracefui de-
feat. But as a rule only the nevy kept
the banner aloft with credit.
OF course, the navy suffered some re-
verses. as when the unfortunate frigate
Chesapeake. that once before had struck
its colors to a British warship. met the
frigate shannon off Boston and was
compelled to surrender. despite the Inn
mortal command OF the dying captain.
Lawrence: Don't give up the ship
A cloud OF English frigates and bat
tleships blockaded the coast from Maine
to the Virginia capes. They landed men
almost at will. harried the coast towns.
burned and pillaged as they liked. laid
tribute. and generally conducted their
operations without semblance OF effec-
tive opposition.
The few ships OF our navy managed
occasionally to get to sea for cruise.
but much Of the time they were held
useless in port. One. the frigate Essex
under Capt. David Porter. made cruise
to the Pacific that will be memorable as
long as American history Is told.
On land. too. the navy made success
possible and saved defeat. 1t was the
Lake Erie that opened the way for Har-
rison's renewal OF the invasion OF upper
Canada. which ended In the utter defeat
and overthrow Of Proctor at the battle
Of the Thames.
and skill OF Macdonough on Lake Cham.
plain that destroyed the British fleet
under Downie and compelled Sir George
Provost to retreat from Plattsburg with
his armv of 1000 English veterans just
the attack that would certainly have
overwhelmed the feeble force of Ameri'
cans.
In 1918. after the disastrous defeat Of
| Winchester at Frenchtown. Harrison re-
organized his shattered forces and con,
| tinued the effort on upper Canada. Bu'
It was not until the British fleet or
Lake Erie had been destroyed that HI
was able to push his operations to
successful close.
Then characteristic thing happened
The militia went home and the twelve
! months volunteers We're DISCHARGED
r-nper Canada was abandoned and Har
rison with his regulars sailed from De
| troit for Buffalo.
In the center. along the NIAGARA, there
! were some successes. Dearborn. Wit
| 700 mer- captured York now Toronto>
| destroyed the town. and set fire TO the
| two houses Of assembly. a niece OF van
| da,ism for which the United States pair
vnrv dearl- before the war wns ended
| although II was promptly disavoWed bN
| Dearborn himself.
| Soor afterward the British attacked
! Sackett's WARRIOR " was defended h,
q small force OF regulars and militi'