The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1916-03-31

fore OF the greatest possible use In
the events that occur before battle.
THE submarines, too, II has been
learned, are of a real and practical
service. All officers think they have
become permanent addition to
every navy, but there Is some dis
agreement as to their general utility.
Can a swarm of submarines, for in
stance, go to sea, meet feet and de-
stroy It? The question cannot be
answered until such an attempt has
been made and either failed or sue
ceeded.
II 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
feet meets the feet of Emperor
William.
ALSO, it has been learned that bat
tie cruisers are required to bring q
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 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. Steaming 30
knots an hour, 1t can run all around
shells into them from long distance
and from any angle. Our navy must
have battle cruisers, besides great
many submarines and aerOplanes, X
we mean to be In a position where
we can protect ourselves against in
jury, insult or dishonor.
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. If the United States goes to
war with any nation in Euorpe or
Asia, the fleets Of the two countries
will fight for the supremacy of the
sea.
mo invading army will set out for
America until 1t is safe from attack by
our fleet. So long as our fleet Is afloat,
no army will venture to start for our
shores. Moving troops from one coun-
try to another Is an immense under
taking, even when it 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
fleet had fought and defeated our
fleet. Nor would Germany or any
other country in Europe attempt an
invasion Of the United States so long
as our fleet, 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 draw at the end, the efforts
of all the great nations to maintain an
equilibrium of power will keep them
entirely engaged for some time with
their own affairs"
do you believe that a trade war
against this country will follow the
restoration of peace In Europe?
Such q war will come-there Ia no
doubt Of 1t. 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
burned. Indeed, new ones have been
built. Industrially, save in the places
/ have named, Europe is better situ-
ated now than when the war began.
Facts to BE Faced.
Things have been speeded I'D In
Great Britain, Germany and France.
Inc 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 max
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 Republi-
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 IL we do not defend our
selves. You spoke of an invasion by SOL
diers. There can also be an invasion with
products.
favor all Kinds of defenses-military,
commercial. financial and Industrial And
right here at home i think some of us
need defense against fallacious ideas. For
instance: This Is a great business nation
and yet we hear many suggestions that
business be taken out of the ownership
and management which have developed Il
and made 1t wonderfully successful, 20
that II may be turned over to the national
government.
Business ought to be regulated. but we
have regulated the railroads so vigorously
that no more are being built, although
they are surely needed in some parts Of
the country. Furthermore, the time has
come when the railroads cannot borrow
money for short periods on as advantage
Gus terms as can other lines of big busi-
ness And vet TRANSFORMATION newt IN