Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-02-07

PHILADELPHIA. Pa. Feb. THE
fancied security of Philadelphia. as
gained from belief in the impregna-
bility OF the defences OF the Delaware
Bay, would fade-even as the sup
posed safety OF Antwerp went glim-
mering in the face OF the German
advance through Belgium-should a
hostile army land upon the exposed
and undefended coast OF South Jersey.
An expert upon naval and military
defences is responsible for the state
ment, and he further declares that
Philadelphia would be the first OBJ
iective Of an invading force.
Very true" said he, the city is safe
from an attack by sea. But what II
an army should be landed on the
Jersey coast, and should advance I'M
I'll IFS left wing reached Salem. N. ~
The enemy would he behind the forts
on the Delaware They would become
untenable The offences OF the Della
ware are needed They serve as an
insurmountable impeachment to an en-
emy's fleet, but they do not protect
Philadelphia from capture. The city's
peril lies to the eastward"
And then he outlined the methods
Of such an attack and the means
which would have TO be taken to fight
il. and their inadequateness and their
hopelessness. And finally he gave the
only solution to the problem
Let us suppose, for a moment he
said. that we are at war.
"All up and down the eastern sea-
board from Boston 20 Washington is
distributed the standing army of the
United States Except for the large
units that could not be withdrawn
from the Pacific section) and the Ma
tional Guardsmen of the Eastern
States. Every available man, who
does not need az least six months of
military training, IS on duty.
For alraHst six weeks the nation
has been in uncertainty. A hostile
army has sailed from Europe It's
destination is unknown. It may strike
at Boston. at New York, at Philadel-
phia at Washington. Every vessel OF
the American feet that can be man
ned with even skeleton crew is
afoat and attempting a patrol.
And then at dawn comes a frantic
telegraph message from Atlantic City.
Enemys transports and battle
ships are on the horizon
"Anglesea flashes n similar mes
sage, Cape May has the same intelli-
gence TO impart. and finally from
| Barnegat City comes announcement
OF more vessels seen there The per
iod OF waiting IS at an end The
scattered troops from Boston ia
Washington can he concentrated at
/ Philadelphia, but It will take two days
Mt least, and the enemy has won the
opening move.
"The American battle feet Is small
II could not be otherwise with Porto
Rico. Panama. all the naval bases. and
the Philippines to be protected IN
der present conditions il becomes &
lnonentlty. held at bay by the enemy.
fleet while the transports unload
Horde OF Veterans Ashore.
'rhe first meagre dispatches ar,
being amplhed with further news.
great army Is being landed in IN,
inlets along the South Jersey coast
AZ the piers Of tho summer resorts an
wherever the even beaches make
nossible. The transports are disgorc
/, ing hordes Of armed and seasone
veterans from Barnegat city aroun
10 the mouth or the Morris River i
Delaware Bay. out OF range OF IN
Delaware forts
Estimates OF the size Of the invad
ing force begin to come into head
quarters. They vary. but seem I,
agree that there are 100000 men a
least on American soil In IN,
meanwhile the concentration Of IN,
American forces continues until al
are accounted for. There are about
10000 trained men including 10000
National Guardsmen, and hordes o.
unframed. inadequately armed and OF
ficered milltiamen.
"SiXty miles away lie the neares
of the invaders: ninety miles Is tn,
distance 10 the furthest removed.
network OF railroad lines covers TIL
intervening territory. Il is bein,
torn up. torn up with an abandon
and haste that Is appalling. Rails ar
being twisted and bent car and re
pair shops set 20 the torch. locomo
tives either sent on to Philadelphi
or overturned and hammered TO bits
"But sixty miles Is no march 70