Grand Forks herald., 1917-02-23
UNITED STATES NAVY Will HAVE !
VAST AREA TO PROTECT # WAR I I
COME;B|GPART MW0RlDSTRIIf
America Will do More Than Act as Banker and Vctaller
to Entente-Navy Department Already Has Made
Disposition of Forces in Event of Hostiites i

are not insisnincant. The submarine
dottlla, though much abused. has q
potential value that cannot be over
looked. and thirty-three moro Of
these undersea vessels Of q moro
powerful type are now under con-
cidedly weaks in numbers. But nine
more Of these vessels are being built.
and this weakness would prove to be
a great danger to the battle fleet II it
were forced into action. for the de-
stroyer is the real guardian OF the
ponderous battleship.
OF course, all of the available vss-
sells are not stationed on the Atlantic
seaboard: hence one Of the first duties
Of the fleet would be to secure the
Atlantic and Pacific approaches to the
Panama canal in order that a concen-,
tration Of the whole fighting force
could be effected rapidly. The canal Is
a vital link that must not be broken,
and 1t may be assumed that part of
the submarine flotilla will be stationed
at both entrances. Although the canal
fortifcations are we'll under way. .
tactical defense Is not in itself suf-
ficient. particularly on tho Atlantic
side. where the chief danger would lie.
The routes to the canal through the
Mona passage. west of Porto Rico.
and by way of ST. Thomas, must be
guarded, and SO must the Windward
passage between Cuba and Haiti.
Fortunately. the latter route is domi-
mated by the United States naval sta
ton at Guantanamo, Cuba, while both
Porto Rico and St Thomas-the lat
ter recently acquired-would serve as
useful bases for naval operations in
the Caribbean sea.
Another strategical point that viii
not be overlooked is, the Straits Of
Florida, which unite the Atlantic with
the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi
valley. The United States navy, like
the British navy, draws a large part
The British supply is drawn from the
Tuxpam fields. the American from
Tampico.
The patrol Of the Gulf Of Mexico and
the Caribbean would call for q large
number of vessels. but there are other
great areas which demand equal pro..
lection. For instance, there is Chesa-
yards are engaged in building vessels
for the navy and vast quantities Of
coal are shipped. Then there Is Della
ware Bay. another danger point.
Finally. there Is the great stretch Of
coast from Philadelphia to Boston. be-,
hind which, and not very far from the
seaboard. lie the chief industries Of
SAHS s.sAOAA' AuO NSCP AoIOOI6 VI
adelphia. New York, and Boston are
the ones to which the biggest ships Of
the navy must come to refit, for here
are the great dockyards without
which the fleet would be helpless. This
long coastline must be adequately pa,
trolled. while the entrance to Long
Island Sound must also be defended.
One may ask why 1t is necessary to
take so many precautions. The an.
swer is that the navy cannot afford to
take chances The United States is on
the verge Of war. and If the shrewd,
strategists who do the viii OF, the
German government decide that war
cannot be avoided they may strike
without declaration Of hostilities.
The voyage Of the U-53 showed con-
clusively that Germany has the power,
to carry naval warfare to tho Ameri-
can coast, even though her battle
fleet may be contained in tho North
sea. A sudden blow, while attended
with great difficulties, might carry de-
struction with it. Naval men are not
unaware Of this possibility. otherwise
we should know moro about the
movements of our feet.