Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1917-03-29
OUR PIRI IN IAE war.
Charlotte Observer.

q, necessary by the sinking OF A
merican shipping, will,.be,.the dis
patching ola part Of. thelNavy
to the blockaded zonetor thepur-
pose OF opening the trade chan
mel and keeping it open. There is
no other practical manner OF 60
ing into a war th-.Germany.
The German Navy is bottled up
and held prisoner; the German ar
mies..are penned.in by the Brit
ish, the French, the Italians, the
Russians and other Allied forces.
It would be as impossible TO r
them to break through and get
at America as it would be for the
United States to break through
and get to Germany. Where is
the German army which could be
spared for the ''invasion' OF A.
merica we hear about? Germany
has not 80 much as q regiment
tn q t could be spared from
the lob in which the whole of the
German army is now engaged,
and even if it had, there would be
the impossible task OF sending
an army over here or landing it.
Her Navy is absolutely power
less to make a move, so tn 8
( country is not menaced by either
German soldiers or German ships.
The war problem, so far as the
United States participating is
concerned, is narrowed down to
the single proposition OF the sub
marine. Perhaps some OF these
highwaymen of the seas may find
their way over to these shores,
but they would have no resting
place, no base OF defense, a n d
would be entirely at the mercy OF
the United States torpedo fleets
and coast defense: They might
come but they would never re-
turn. 80 much for the "invasion'
feature. There is nothing left but
the contract for keeping open the
lanes OF commerce and establish
ing and maintaining the free
dom of the seas. For that pur-
pose the United States may send
warships to police these lanes.
It may send some tits merchant
vessels under CONVOY of armed
ships. If it comes to a forcible
opening of the ocean lane.ofcom-
merce it is to be expected that
the United States will pay it's toll
in lost vessels-that it will feel
the sting OF the torpedo and the
bite of the submarine-but in the
end it will fiji it's contract. 1t will
clear the barred zone OF these a,
gencies of defiance and open the
way for it's ships OF commerce.
We cannot see where there will
be a chance for any active par.
ticipation on part OF the United
States Army. beyond purely do
mestic service it is likely to sec
none. Perhaps it would be bet.
ter, to the end that 1t would
serve to bring the war to an ear
lier conclusion, that the partici
patton of this country in the wal
could take on a more active form
than is probable. The changing
events Of the past few weeks have
indicated that there will be M
call for American assistance il
the trenches of ofthe,European bat
tie fields. Our work is to be con
fined to the guarding of oul
home shores, to the dispensing
of the submarine feet and tt
lending every financial aid ant
moral support OF which the coul
try may be capable to Grea
Britain and the Allies. The sub
marines so far have had a help
less ehemy-ifpnarmed ships ma.
be so regarded-to play with. A
a matter OF course many OF thes
submarines have been sent t,
the bottom by British gunners
butof that we have had small az
count. We believe that when tn