The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1917-03-08

| way of the consummatlon OF the
fourth method of attack, namely,
| through a separate peace treaty with
Japan on the part of Germany.
! Japans navy. on which she would
| be compelled to depend in any con-
hict with the United States, is not as
| large as the navy Of the United
States and Tor that reason, under Or
dinary circumstances, Japan could
never be expected to attack the Unit
ed States without assurance Of actual
aid from another first class power.
Since England is engaged in war
against Germany, Japan could not
ally herself on the opposite side from
that which England is on, since it is
evident that both the English and the
American fleets, not to speak of the
French and Italian fleets. would be
available to crush the naval power
of Japan.
There is little reason for discuss
ing this method of attack, other than
the fact that people in the street,
who know little of actual war con-
| ditions frequently assert that now
would be an excellent time for Japan
to attack the United States. AS a
| matter OF fact, there could be no
worse time than the present for
Japan to attack the United States.
AS long as England and American in
terests run in parallel directions, then
Japan's interest will run in the same
direction. for an offensive movement
on the part of Japan against the
United States at the present time
would be suicide for the world power
ambitions of the mikado's people
This disposes of the popular mill
tary end to attacks which Germany
might be expected to make on the
| United States. On the other hand.
there is now much discussion as to
what the United States would do in
the event that declaration of war
comes between the two nations.
In general there are two methods
by which the United States could use
it's power against Germany. These
are:
/. By the actual use of the army
and navy of the United States, to be
joined with the military forces OF the
allies in bringing Germany to her
knees.
2. By the use of the economic
forces of the United States to aid
the allies in bringing about a speedy
termination of the war.
The advice of military experts,
both in and out of the United States
is against the former method. In
the first place the people of the Unit
ed States have no desire to see their
sons, fathers and brothers in the Eu-
ropean trenches, involved in a quar-
rel primarily some one else's con-
Germ. This sentiment would aid
largely, in keeping the United States
out of actual armed conflict. but
there are other reasons of purely
military nature.
In the first place the standing army
of the United States is palpably small,
and if it could be sent to Europe in
it's entirety could take only probably
mile of trenches, which would not
compensate for the trouble in trans
porting the troopers to Europe. In
the second place it would take more
than year, and probably closer to
two years, to train and equip an army
in the United States of sufficient size
to make dent in European battle
fields. 1t is anticipated that the war
will be over before that.
1t may be that the war department
will decide to train and equip an
army Of million or more, but it
stands to reason that the primary
purpose of this move would not be
to send the army to Europe but to
preserve it for American defense, and
for the secondary purpose of provid-
ing the nucleus Of an American army
of sufficient size to make the country
invulnerabie to attack Tor all time to
come.
AS regards the navy, there is more
chance that it might be used in the
war. The allies navies retain con-
troll Of the seas, despite the raids OF
German submarines. The German
fleet dares not show itself in the
North sea for a decisive battle with
the British fleet, so the United States
navy could add nothing to the sur
face control which the allies already
exercise over the seas.
However, the British might be en-
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