The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-04-22
WHAT WOULD AMERICA DO IN THE
EVENT OF WAR WITH GERMANY
Participation Would Only
Be Financial and Eco
non1ic For a Year.
SO SAYS AMERICAS
GREATEST EXPERT
Tells How United States
Would Make War On
Germany.
BY Prof. Robert Matteson Johnston.
(Head Of Department. of Military His

BY Prof. Robert Matteson Johnston.
tHead Of Department of Military His
tory, Harvard University.)
What viii be our military situation
in the event of diplomatic rupture
with Germany?
The first point that needs consid-
GRAFTON is the manner of the run
ture. If there is merely a severance
OF diplomatic relations, or a sever
ance followed up by steps not actually
belligerent and merely in the nature
OF reprisals, an ambiguous situation
viii be created. That is, we shall be
in q relation to Germany not clearly
defined. And this, in view of the diff
ferent manner in which the foreign
policy of the two countries is conduct
ed, would amount to leaving the on
ton with Germany
Assuming that no belligerent acts
occurred during the continuance of
the present war, we should have no
assurance but that Germany, on con-
GLIDING peace with the European
powers, or soon afterward, would de-
| eide that a state of war existed be-
tween her and this country. 1t is even
possible that an understanding that
she was to have a free hand on the
North American continent, excepting
Canada, might form a part of the
| peace negotiationsl
Assuming this possibility, then.
there is no safe way of approach
ing our situation as regards Ger
many save by saying that a run
ture of diplomatic relations is
equivalent to the creation of
state of war; and that our mill
I tary estimates must be based on
this suppOsitionl
/ The questions before us. therefore
are two-HOW CAN WE PARTT.
CIPATE IN THE WAR OFTEN.
SIVELY? HOW CAN WE DEFEND
| OURSELVES IN CASE OF AT
TACK?
Our participation extensively could
for twelve months or more, only be
financial and economic. That is a
question for others to deal with. But
1t will be very unsafe to assume, as
many do, that our financial and eco
nomic intervention could be decisive
Our regular army is far too small tc
count in the struggle; it might. al
most, be able to relieve the French
army along two or three miles OF
front. Our militia and such volunteer
troops as we should raise could moi
either Immediately or in twelve
months time, have any offensive value
whatever, as the whole course of The
war abundantly proves.
Our navy is the one offensive
force we possess; which is, Incl
dentally, fact not generally I'M
derstoOd. The feet is essentially
a striking weapon, to be held
massed, combined in the most eff
fective way, and used for deliver
ing heavy blows. Unfortunately
it is far from efficient, owing to
the extremely inexpert way in
which the higher naval problems
are dealt with at Washington, and
unfortunately war with Germany
at the present moment offers lit
tie opportunity for the use of a
fleet.
The British line Of battle feet Il
capable of controlling deep water, ant
does not require immediate support
while European shores are too distan
for Us to undertake fotilIa opera
tions, which, in any case, might no
be desired either by France or Eng
land. Summing up, it is clear tina
neither by land nor by sea are we Il
position to participate Extensively.
If we can do nothing Extensively
is there nothing Germany could d
to attack US? So. long as the British
feet exists, NOTHING. But, al
though it is far from probable, tn
British feet might be destroyed; Of
which is not at all impossible, Ger
many may be able to dictate term
that would leave her free to operat
on the Atlantic. IN EITHER CAST
OUR DEFENSE BECOMES A REAl
PROBLEM. How does it stand?
The feet might prove defense,
although this is not its function;
it is lacking in organization and
+ is not sufficiently strong. A Ger
man feet could always choose
D whether or not to engage with an
American feet, because speedier;
! it could always mask, through
] wireless control, fleet of trans
: ports twenty-fOur hours distant
from the American coast; it could
: have a range Of 400 miles along
which to rush its troops TO a land
ing point. The thing is feasible,
+ if difficult, and our navy is no