The Washington herald., 1916-01-28
FOE COULD sink
navy in 60 DAYS
Gen. Wood Says Attack on
: u. S. Now Would Mean a
Sure Invasion.
"MENACED ALL AROUND"
Declares 100000 Would Be Needed
to Repel Assault-Avers 100000
Could Land in 30 Days.
"MENACED ALL AROUND"

Maj, Gen. Leonard Wood, former
chief of staff of the United States
army. yesterday told the House Com
mittee on Military Affairs that in the
next war in which the United States
is likely to be engaged she will be
confronted with a frst-class power
and that II ample preparations are not
made in the meantime the country
will undoubtedly be invaded. He told
the committee further that IL attack
ed under present conditions by a
first-class power the American navy
in less than sixty days would be at
the bottom of the sea.
With sea control lost, Gen. Wood
told the committee, the present mobile
army would be unable to stop an in
vading force, which would be in a
position to capture New York and the
other North Atlantic coast States
levy tribute. and drive the people
back into the interior. Gen. Wood in
formed the committee that with con-
troll of several Eastern States the en-
emy would control so per cent of the
munition plants and be in a position
to capture nearly all the gold In the
country.
I'VE are living in an era of war, ac-
cumulating most of the gold. and
with 1t a proportionate amount of Ill
will, and l believe we should be pre-
pared for storms" said Gen. Wood
I'VE are menaced on all sides, but God
alone can tell who our next enemy is
to be. and He will do so some day.
This much ! know-our next war will
be with a first-class power"
Gen. Wood expressed the belief that
a future attack would be directed
against the coast line somewhere be-
tween Boston and Washington. He
told the committee that II would re-
quire an army of 100000 men to re-
pei such an assault. Gen. Wood said
that 1t was not true. as popularity be-
lieved. that 1t is difficult to transport
troops across the ocean.
las a matter of fact" he said, move
ment Of troops by sea Is the easiest in
the world. The Gallipoli landing demon
strated what an invader could do on the
shores of the United States. He said
he did not fear attack by one country,
but by a combination of powers. Attack
from the Pacific he told the commit
tee, would not be so easy as on the
Atlantic.
There are not 30 many good harbors
on the Pacific" said Gen. Wood. How
ever. there would be no difficulty landing
troops once control of the sea was lost
Gen. Wood told the committee that the
government experts know for a certainty
that 1t would be entirely feasible for
an enemy to lie at Far Rockaway Beach
and throw shells into Fourteenth street
New York, and that similar attacks
could be made successfully on a number
of Pacific Coast cities.
Gen. Wood testified that in his opin-
ion the American navy now stands fourth
on the list in the matter of power and
efficiency. He gave warning that at.
tacks on the United States might come
suddenly. He said that II would be easy
for an enemy to land 10000 troops In
thirty days IT the other governmen nts
know you are prepared the chance OF
attack Is lessened," he said. 'In fram.
ing defense policy what is needed is a
little patriotism and a little less about
dollars"
Again speaking OF the probability ol
invasion Gen. Wood said: Once We were
driven out Of the eastern area we would
be back in the position of prehistoric
men."