The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1916-03-31

lore or the greatest possible use IN
the events that occur before a battle.
The submarines. too Il has been
learned. are Of a real and practical
service All officers think they have
become permanent addition 20
every navy but there is some dis
agreement as 81 their general utility.
Can a swarm OF submarines. for in
stance. 90 to sea, meet fleet and do
stroy ~ The question cannot bs
answered until such an attempt has
been made and either failed or sue
eecded
4 asked one Of the highest military
authorities IN tho country II ! 900 sub
marines, along with mines. could saie
guard the United States against in
vasion-the mines 20 blow up the enc
mics ships on shore. II any hap
poned to get that near. the submarines
having met the rest and destroyed
them before they came within striking
distance Of our coasls The answer
was that such measure OF pro-
lection an invasion Of the United
States would. 10 say the least. be
made very difficult
You see no one can tell as yet
what part the submarines viii take
In the wars OF the future Their uses
are slowl, being developed. and We
cannot know what they are capable OF
doing until the French or British
fleet meets the fleet OF Emperor
William.
Also. il has been learned that bat
tie cruisers are required 10 bring a
navy up to its highest efficiency.
Cruisers formerly were used as scouts
and to hunt down and destroy tho
merchant ships OF an enemy. They
were swift, but not heavy enough to
take place in the battle line when
large vessels wera engaged.
A sea Battle First.
The modern cruiser, however. can
t~ht being covered with armor and
armed with large guns. Steaming 30
knots an hour. 1t can run all around
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 a position whore
we can protect ourselves against in
jury, insult or dshonor.
III should be always remembered,
Captain Weeks went on to say, that
our navy will be our first line OF de-
fense. American ships will meet for
eign ships before there is a battle on
shore. II the United States goes to
war with any nation In Euorpe 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 II is safe from attack by
our feet SO long as our fleet is afoat.
no army win venture to start for our
shores Moving troops from one coun-
try to another is an immense under
taking. even when il 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
1 s,.~ -.
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 a draw at the end, the efforts
of ali the great nations to maintain an
equilibrium of power will keep them
their own affairs.
10 you believe that a trade war
against this country will follow the
restoration of peace in Europe
Such war will come-there Is no
doubt OF it. Loaded with debt, bur
dened with taxation, Europe VIII turn
with energy and ferocity to the works
OF peace. The factories in Europe OK
cept in Belgium, Poland and Nertlc crn
France. have not been shut down nor
burned Indeed, new ones have been
built lndustrially. save in the places
| have named. Europe is better situ-
ated now than when the war began.
Facts 10 Be Faced.
Things have been speeded ~ 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 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 Repubil-
cans, ought to have courage enough and
WISDOM enough 20 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 sinds 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 vet we hear many suggestions that
business be taken out Of the ownership
and management which have developed Il
and made il wonderfully successful so
thar u 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 arr 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-
oeee And vet Transportation. next TO