Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-02-07
NATIONS MILITARY POLICY DOES
NOT PLAN EUROPEAN IN
vASloN lF WAR COMES.
NAVY TO GUARD U. s..
ships AT SEA
War Would Not Be Entered Primarily
to Defeat Germany and Bring Vic.
tory to AIIies-WhoIe Plan Of Cam
paisn Shaped in Accordance With
Desires Of President Wilson.

washington, req. i.-fron an au-
thentic source an outline of the mill
tary policy that would be pursued by
the United States in the event of wal
with Germany has been obtained.
The army and navy war colleges
have planned. with the approval of the
two general stats. a complete line OF
campaign, coinciding with the presi-
dents desires in the matter.
This campaign would be based en-
tirely on this principle:
That if the United States enters the
war it will be because of Germany
violation of the rights of the United
States on the high seas and not pri-
marily because of a desire on the part
of the United States to accomplish the
complete defeat of the Germans to
bring victory to the allies.
Protect Y. S. Sea Rights
Consequently the chief activity of the
United States in the event Of war
would be in protecting American rights
on the seas. To this end, part Of the
United States navy would be sent to
English waters to help keep open the
steamer routes travelled by American
ships The rest of the navy would be
kept near the United States to do the
same duty and to patrol the seas ad-
jacent to American territory.
An army OF 100000 men would be
raised, not Tor the purpose OF sending
it abroad to fight in the trenches OF
Europe. but to be used in the defense
Of the United States if Germany event
ually should be able to send a military
expedition across the Atlantic.
Follow Desires Of Wilson.
The whole plan of campaign is
shaped strictly in accordance with the
desires of President Wilson. He feels
that if the United States engages in
war with Germany, it will be because
of the desire of the United States to
vindicate it's own honor rather than
fight some one else's battles.
The use of the navy according to the
general plan outlined above would be
in accord with this policy. Not only
would the United States be defending
it's own commerce by sending ships to
England, but at the same time would
be striking blow at the German sub
marine campaign against the allies.
OF course the use Of part of the
American navy In British waters would
be Of immense benefit to the English
It would mean just that many more
submarine hunting ships and just that
MANY fewer sinkings by the German
undersea boats.
Army For Defense Only.
In raising it's army of 100000 men the
United States would be prompted SOLE
" by defensive reasons. There IL nc
good reason to think that Germany
could ever land an armed force In the
United States during the present war
but to rest content on the small army
which the United States now has would
be a gamble on the chance that the
result of the war is foregone con-
clusion and that the allies cannot lose
Such reasoning. however plausible, mas
no appeal whatever to the war colleges
which realize that 1t is their duty tt
provide for every emergency and gam
BILE on nothing.
Of course it is realized that there
might come a time when circumstances
would force the United States to SEND
an army to Europe, but such posi-
| blity is remote.
The general staff of the army would
like to raise an army Of 100000 mer
for this purpose, but 1t Is understood
to be the presidents desire not to cal
| for so many men.
May Call For Volunteers.
Despite the general staff plans FOL
universal military service, which now
have matured and which have beer
sent to the secretary of war for ap'
| prevail the army would be raised II
possible by the volunteer system.
That is, the president would insist
that he be given the authority to cal
for 100000 volunteers. The president