Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-10

have been FOR the most part settled
through our giving way. Eut Il policy
% surrender must hay. it's limits
The question for MS 10 consider is
what plans must eventually he dcvcl-
opcd 10 put stop to the oNcrrcach-
imrS by the United states which arc
detrimental 10 our interests. 1; Is by
armed action that We must ultimately
enforce our will upon that country.
no achieve that purpose our prime
instrument in this case - our navy.
The German ncct would have every
prospect Of VIGOROUSLY cucogutcriuc
the naval forces of the United states.
those forces ;trc divided into two
sections separated by two occans--At-
lautic and Pacihc-which are a great
distance apart But the defeat Of her
fleet would not compel the Cni,ed
states 20 sue for Immediate peace. be-
cause Of the vastncss OF her territory
aud the immensely of her resources.
Indeed. even further success at sea
would not force America to yield. part
~ because her commercial ports are
80 we'll fortified that We could not
capture them without heavy losses. and
partly because IL would be Impossible
for our naval forces to blockade them
all simultaneously.
We have to reckon on the posi-
hiliy that tho American fleet would
not a, FIRST risk a battle. hu: would
conceal itself in fortified ports and
wait th"rc FOR some favorable oupor-
tunity t. snatch - partial success.
Nm,y Atone Insufficient.
ut il evident. therefore. that naval
operations alone would not su'iic" -
Lrinc about Tho result which we desire.
what is needed is combined action hy
sea and land Owing to tho vast area
OF ia" United states il would l,c uui
of the question for an army TO invade
tho interior with a view 20 the con-
quest OF the country. But there is good
reason TO expect that military opera
tons on the Atlantic coast would prove
to he n victorious enterprise. More
over. tho cutting of OF tho main ar
tcricS through which exports from the
entire country pass would create srch
a depressed state Of affairs that nc
government would bc willing To otfcr
rs fair conditions OF peace.
III a German squadron were accom-
paired by :, icct OF transports ii iuaN
bc presumed that once landing had
begun il would only take four weeks
for II German army 10 begin their cam
paign on American soil. Within such
short period OF time there is no doubt
that thc United states would he unable
10 place IN the field forces as large
AZ our invading army.
at the present time t19oD the rcgu-
lar American army numbers $4,000
men Of whom not more than 10000
dcfcusc. Again, of these troops Al
least 10000 would lie required to de-
fcnd the Indian territories and gar
riSou tho forts on the coast. So there
would remain but 10000 regular troops
10 take tho field against the invaders.
rho, Garry MuxzIc Lenders.
In addition 10 the regular forces
there arc about l0o,oo0 militia. but the
Grcatcc part Of them declined to obey
the call 10 arms IN tho las, war. Fur
thor. this militia is badly armed. \
proportion of them still carry mu22lc
leaders. and. ~ for drilling. that is
"N"n worse than their lack Of proper
equipment
"f:Ncm II tho possibility Of surprise
Invasion * excluded from consideration.
owing !" the length of time which the
tram. port Of AN invading armN would
take, stress must he laid on various
"onr'cs "f American unprcparcdncss
oar * the absence of regular prcpara-
ton in peace tim" for mobilization:
another - tho incxpcricncc Of tho
American general STAFF: u third is the
Weakness Of tho regular army. Thee
factors il the situation would ncccs-
Sai'lh accelerate German victory
"rhc invading army would have 10
he OF considerable size. as il would be
necessary to provide for tho lengthy
occupation Of large area OF Amcri-
can territory. 10 defend our lines OF
communication, and TO engage in n sue
ccsSful offensive against all the forces
which the Americans could bring M
against us. Moreover. such operations
might BE- OF 4 protractcd nature.
Such 4 campaign would bc the more
difficult to conduct. owing To tho long
double journey which our fleet OF trans