The Washington times., 1916-05-19
THE OPEN OCEAN HIGHWAY

Far from being a protection to
our country, the Atlantic ocean is
become the free and open highway
by which an European enemy might
most easily reach. our shores. Thus
declared Rear. Admiral Knight,
president of the Naval War College,
addressing the Conference on Inter-
national Arbitration at It's opening
meeting Of the year at Lake Mo-
honk.
"The ocean," he said, sunless its
waters be blocked by feet strong
enough to command them, is high
way, broad, spacious, and convenient
beyond any military road the Ro-
mans ever built" o..
Who, having observed the develop
ments of the last two great wars,
can doubt this? In the Russo-Japa-
nese conflict Japan sent her soldiers
by hundreds Of thousands, in mar
velous secrecy, to landing places
carefully selected in advance. She
enjoyed indeed tremendous
strategic advantage through this
privilege Of aiming the blow where
it would be most effective.
/ In the present war we have seen
the same thing demonstrated on a
scale that overshadows even such an
operation as would be involved in an
European campaign against the
United States. Troops have been
gathered from the four corners Of
the earth and shipped to the eastern
Mediterranean, Many Of them wsre
brought twice as far as an European
army would have to be transported
against the United States. They
were landed on fortified territory, in
the face Of splendid army, per.
fectly equipped. How much easier
would it be for, an enemy, powerful
enough to control the seas, to pick
its own landing place along our
great reach Of coastl;ne?
True, this country possesses ex.
cellent coast defenses. But, as was
recently explained in an excellent re.
port from the House Appropriations
Committee, these defenses are moi
intended to guard the whole coast
that would be impossible. Their
purpose is to protect cities, railroad
terminals, industrial centers, and the
most important harbors, to prevent
their bombardment, and to make i'm
possible the seizure Of railroad facili'
ties and industrial establishments
The business of protecting the res,
Of the coastline must be turned ovel
to the naval force and to the mobile
army. If the feet be destroyed Oh
rendered ineffective by blockading
and If there be no adequate army
what shall prevent the enemy land
ing his forces?
Will the American people realiz,
in time that under modern condi
tions Of war, and in view Of the les
sons taught by the experience Of tn
last two years, our ocean barrier Il
not in truth barrier, but an avenue
Of approach; not a defense, but al
invitation to easy aggression
against US?
Colonel Roosevelt has proteste,
that this country must not be pu
in the position of China, rich, popu
lous, inviting to the spoiler, and un
protected. Indeed, Colonel Roose
welt does not state the case strongl
enough. Our country is far NOR
, attractive than China; richer, bet
ter picking" possessed Of liqui
, wealth that would insure most mag
nificent and instant returns to tn
, conqueror postured to lay tribat
, upon it. Compared to the naval an
military establishments of Europe
our means for defense are insie
: nificant. II is sheerest folly to pre-
sumo that when this war end
Europe will be too exhausted to a,
tack US. Rather. she will be so ia
impoverished to be tempted into al
Z lacking US, and so completely pre-
> pared that the adventure against u
T will look like finding money. WI
y we refuse to realize these thing
until 1t shall 3e too late2
COUNT BERNSTORPH'S WARNIN