Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-05-04


are very necessary as scouts. Leav-
ing the deck OF a vessel, they can
easily locate the enemy and are there
fore Of the greatest possible use In
the events that occur before a battle.
The submarines, too, 1t has been
learned, are OF q real and practical
service. All officers think they have
become a permanent addition to
every navy, but there is some dis
agreement as to their general utility.
Can q swarm OF submarines, for In
stance, 90 to sea, meet feet and de-
stroy It? The question cannot Do
answered until such an attempt has
been made and either failed or sue
ceeded.
Il asked one Of the highest military
authorities In the country II 1000 sub
marines, along with mines, could safe
guard the United States against In
vasion-the mines to blow up the enc
mics ships of shore, II any hap
pened to get that near, the submarines
having met the rest and destroyed
them before they came within striking
distance of our coasts. The answer
was that such a measure OF pro-
lection, an invasion OF the United
States would, to say the least. be
made very difficult.
You see, no one can tell as yet
what part the submarines will 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
fleet meets the feet of Emperor
William.
Also. 1t 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 an enemy. They
were swift, but not heavy enough to
take a place In the battle line when
large vessels were engaged.
A Sea Battle First.
The modern cruiser, however, can
firht, being covered with armor and
armed with large guns. Bteaming 80
knots an hour, 1t can run all around
a fleet Of dreadnaughts and pump
shells into them from long distance
and from any angle. Our navy must
have battle cruisers, besides a great
many submarines and aeroplanes, IL
we mean to be In 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 OF de-
Tense American ships will meet for
eign ships before there is battle on
shore. II the United States goes to
war with any nation in Buorpe or
Asia, the fleets of the two countries
win fight for the supremacy OF the
sea.
No invading army will set out for
America until 1t is safe from attack by
our fleet. So long as our feet is atioat,
no army will venture to start for our
shores. Moving troops from one coun-
try to another Is an immense under
taking, even when 1t Is safe to do so.
-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 their
own artillery, ammunition and horses. |
Japan would not send 400 large troop |
ships out into the Pacific unless its
feet had fought and defeated our
feet. Nor would Germany or any I
other country in Europe attempt an
invasion Of the United States so long |
as our feet, decks cleared. was wait
ing in the Atlantic.
Looking to the East, can see no
probable danger that Is likely TO occur
in the near future, unless the allies
are thoroughly beaten by Germany, or
unless Germany Is thoroughly beaten
by the allies. II the war is practi-
cally q draw at the end, the efforts
of all the great nations to maintain an
equilibrium of power viii keep them
entirely engaged for some time with
their own affairs"
do you believe that trade war
against this country will follow the
restoration of peace In Europe"
Such a war will come-there is no
doubt Of It. Loaded with debt, bur
dened with taxation, Europe will turn
with energy and ferocity to the works
of peace. The factories In Europe, ex-
cept in Belgium, Poland and Northern
France. have not been shut down nor |
built. Industrially, save In the places
have named, Europe is better stu
ated now than when the war began. !
Facts to Be Faced.
Things have been speeded up in
Great Britain, Germany and France. |
The factories, old ones and new ones,
are running They will be running
after the armies at the front have
been sent home, but instead Of maxi
ing cannon and ammunition, as at
present, they will be operated night |
and day In the production Of goods
for the American markets.
All Americans. no matter whether they
call themselves Democrats or Republic
cans, ought to have courage enough and
wisdom enough to face the facts Europe
Is going to take possession OF the markets
in this country II we do not defend our
selves You spoke OF an invasion by SOL
diers There can also be an invasion vita
products.