The Elk Mountain pilot., 1916-04-22

~ great many 1t has shown the
va'de OF aerUplunes, which are noW
known as the ewes of the Geet. They
are very necessary as scouts. Leav-
ing the deck OF Il vessel they can
easily locate the enemy and are ih9re-
fore OF me greatest possible use in
the events That occur Before battle.
The submarines. TOO. it has teen
learned. arc Of real and practical
Gcrvtce. hll officers think they have
become permanent addition TO
every navy. but there is some dis'
agreement as to thor genera. utility.
can swarm of submarines. for N
stance go to sea. mest a fleet and de
strcy it? Fhe question cannot be
ausNercd uuti such an Gttemui mas
been made and either rallied or sue
ceeded.
- asked one OF the highest military
authorities in the country ii 1000 sub
nrarmCs. aiouc with mines. could safe
guard the United states agG.ns; in.
vasion--tie mines to blow up the emo
mics ships or shore. If any hap
peaud to get that near, the submarines
having met the rest and DESTROYED
them before they came within striking
distnuce OF our coasts. The answer
was u!dt such measure OF pre-
lection. an invasion of the United
States would. to say the least, bs
made very difficult.
You see. no one can tell as yet
what part the submarines VIII take
IN the wars of the future. Their uses
are slowly being developed. and we
cannot know what they are capable of
doing until the French or British
feet meets the iicot OF Emperor
William.
Also, Il has been learned that bat
tie cruisers are required to bring
navy up to its highest efficiency.
Cruisers formerly were used as scouts
and to hunt down and destroy the
merchant ships OF IN enemy. They
were swift. hut not heavy enough TO
take q place IN the battle line when
large vessels were engaged.
n Sea cattle Firs..
THE modern cruiser. however. can
1~ht. being covered with nrmor and
armed with large guns. SteaminS 80
knots an hour. it can run ali around
Meet of dreaGnaughts and pump
shells into them from long distance
and from any angle OR navy must
have battle cruisers. besides a great
many submarines and aoroplanes. II
we mean to be in a position where
we can protect ourselves against in
jury. insult or dishOnor.
1t should be always remembered
Captain Weeks went on TO say. that
our navy will be our first line CT do
fcnse. American ships will meet for
eign ships before there is q battle %
shore, If the United States goes &c
war with any nation in Euorpe G,
Asia, the fleets of tho two countries
will fight for the supremacy OF the
sea.
No invading army viii set out for
America until it is safe from attack tJ
our feet. So long as our fleet ia Gnost
no army will venture to start for or
shores. Moving troops from one couu
try to another Ia an immense under
taking. even whom il is safe to do 50
-Four hundred large ships. for ex
ample, would be required to trans
port an army Of 100000 men from
Japan to the United States. Armies
travelling by water have to carry thei;
own artillery. ammunition and horses
Japan would not send 400 large troor
chips out irto the Pacific unless It's
ileet had fought and defeated oui
fleet. Nor would Germany or an,
other country in Europe attempt az
invasion of the United states So lcne
as our fleet, decks cleared. was wait
ins in the Atlantic
Looking to the East. can SEQ NJ
probable danger ,hat is likely TO Occur
in the near future, unless the allie.
are thoroughly beaten by Germany. OF
unless Germany is thoroughly beater
by the allies. II the war Is practi
cals draw at the end, the effort.
of all the great nations to maintain at
equilibrium of power viii keep thet
entirely engaged for some time wit
their own aiairs."
"po you believn that trade wal
against this country viii follow the
restoration OF peace in Europe?"
such n war viii come-thcre is nc
doubt OF it. Loaded with debt. bur
dened with taxation, Europe will turr
with energy and ferocity ~ lhe works
OF peace. The factories IL urope. cx
cept in Belgium, Poland Northern
France, have not been ST. down mol
burned. Indeed new ones have beer