The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1917-02-17
IN THE EVENT OF WAR
tIla,on Rouge state Times

Ia the event Of var between the
United States and Germany. noitherI
country could do much harm 20 the
other Ia the way of actual combat
For the present al least there would be
few clashes.
In the first place, Germany Is bottled
| up She cannot get her feet upon the
seas She IL able 10 sneak through Il
boat occasionally, and her submarines
steal ont and back and do a good deal
OF damage to shipping But she is as
completely bottled up. 50 far as sea
power is concerned "a ever a nation
vas bottled up Great fleets Of allied
battleshtps patrol the seas aud watch
the German fleets from afar, aud not
a vessel bearing the German flag il
allowed upon the waters The allies
| would mol. Of course, relax their Nlgt
lance ia the event al war between the
United States and Germany
For two years and a half Germany
has been trying 10 set At her main
enemy. England The great ports Of
Britain lie within sight, almost, of the
German aeet. and within easy sailing
distance Of the Zeppelins Vet so far
Germany has been able 10 DO bat slight
damage to british ports or 20 British
cities II is therefore folly TO suppose
that she could cross an open sea Of
geo miles aud do any considerable
damage 10 American ports
MOI could car navy get At the Ger.
man navy II could not break through
where the Allies nayies have failed 10
do so our navy would be used to seeur
the seas TO locate Commerce raiders
and submarines. and TO convoy ships
across the ocean, and an occasional
vessel might Gene into contact With
an occasional German submarine But
Il would not result In anything that
ouid be- called naval warfare
II would avail mr. nothing to send
infantry and artillery 60 Europe The
Allies already have more troops than
they can employ upon the battle lines.
There is not q single section Ia which
We could get az German troops II ae
desired "a do So, The most sc could
do would be to sead troops to France
TO cooperate with the French and the
British troops. and there are nov mil.
lions Of French and British troops In
the region
But Ia the event Of war We would
have aH army and on increased navy
The making Of an army IL matter Of
years and the building Of an additional
navy IL like matter So for the CON.
ing months We would be employed In
getting ready 10 fight. sith the neces
sary precautions taken to guard the
coast towns and 90 prevent internal
disturbances, and It would be small
matter so far as actual hostililips are
ieoueefucd
We could uol help getting into closer
connection with the Allies We would
cooperate with them, although Il would
not be- necessary for us 10 form an
alliance with them, We would arrange
to furnish them munitions Of war and
supplies of all kinds, for We could not
lose sight oi the fact that the greater
discontinue they caused our enemy
the better 4, would be for us when II
came to meeting that enemy face IA
face So sc would nt once Ret into the
very closest touch with ~" Allies, aud
Iafrugiher their weak places aud far.
Irish them al thf material aid within
our power That could BE- plain com.
mon sense. regardless ~ the fact Il
might not b. desirable to form hard
land fast alliance
| We have nations work TO lu. what
ever the outcome aud il Is going 10
require strong men ot the nation to
complete the work It Il not child q
play war is hell, any say son can
look NJ II and The preparatioh for sar
lis the preparation for facing the Ares
Ipf hell but II IL comes. there ellI BE-
few to weep ever burned fingers there
viii be many ready and willing 10 face
the flames.