The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-01-15

/ low with red blood is looking for trouble
and q pleasant life would bore him to
death. Zeal and enthusiasm are the
dynamic forces of history
5000
Have you lodged a hyphen yet, it's
the fashion just now.
The Real Danger Spot
In the discussion of the question of
national defense, the worriers have con-
fined their announced fears to the east
ern and western coasts. Invasions of
/ the United States by Germany or Eng
land have almost invariably been
planned for the Atlantic seaboard, while
the Pacific coast has been subjugated
by the Japs. The magazines and Sun
| day newspapers have had advance stor-
les of the capture of New Yor:z, while
the Honorable Hobson has shown in a
thousand speeches how easily the SOL
diers of the Mikado could land in Cali
fornia and seize that part of our coun-
try west of the Rocky mountains.
AS a matter of fact neither of these
theories is the likely one. If the United
| States is to feel the presence of a hos
tile army it will not come directly across
the Atlantic nor by the long voyage
from Nippon. The vulnerable spot, the
mortal heel as il were, of our American
Achilles is not on Long Island or at the
Golden Gate but along the thousand
mile valley of the Rio Grande.
When the European war is ended the
position of the United States in the
eyes of the countries of Europe
will not be desirable The Germans
will dislike US because of the guns and
ammunition we made for a profit and
which killed thousands and tens of
thousands of German boys. The Allies
will dislike US because We used the war
to make money and let the German di-
plomats kick our notes and bluffs
around as they pleased. In all the
world, the United States will have no
friends, or at least none with collateral
or weapons. Our neighbor, Mexico,
whom we invaded a couple of years
ago and whose troubles we have stirred
hates and despises US.
During the Mexican troubles millions
of dollars worth of English and German
property has been destroyed. There
will certainly be claims filed and pay
ment demanded. When European
peace is secured, the European nations
will look for funds and Mexican damage
suits will be about the biggest oppor
tunity in sight. Mexicans will not be
able to pay and either England or Germ
any will proceed to enforce settlement
They came near doing so a couple OF
years ago when the United States aide
in the overthrow of the Huerta govern
ment, but were restrained by the wisI
to please the United States The de
sire will be gone and will probably be
succeeded by fierce yearning to dig
Uncle Sam and dig him hard, for what
he has done in the European clash.
: A refusal of the Mexican government
to settle claims will be followed by tn,
landing of an English or German arm!
at Vera Cruz or some other Mexican
7 seaport There will be plenty of co
operation with one faction or anothel
of the Mexicans and no trouble to Lana
r an army. The United States will hav,
to dump the Monroe doctrine or fight
2 It will be forced by public sentiment t.
demand that the invader leave American
soil and then it viii have to stand {
!, scrap or a-laugh.
The Europeans will have plenty o.
6 ports and can easily land large army
in Mexico, without any opposition t,
: speak of. If the United States ha.
nerve enough to protest or some Texal
J shoots without orders, veteran force
can cross the Rio Grande without an
noticeable opposition, for the little arm,
$ of the United States will be spreat
f from Portland, Maine, to the Phillip
pines. There is nothing much in Texa
TO be captured, but the United State
/ viii undoubtedly send the Kansas volun
3 teers to the front to stop the advance
. and they can be killed. Nearly ever
r railroad leads to Kansas and instead o
e war ravaging the Atlantic seaboard o
s the Pacific coast, it viii be followin;
? the main travelled routes, so that Kan
: sas viii be in about as good a position
as Belgium was year ago last August
Those of US who have opposed prepare
0 ton for defense for our country on tn
f theory that 40 gun could shoot from tn