The Washington herald., 1917-04-23

NAel - kOiIs 10 happen To u.s.
There appears to be five things that
may happen to us. One of these is that
Germany may send submarines like the
U-S5 to shoot up our harbors and sink
our coastwise shipping just outside our
tortihcations. We have so many harbors
/ that II win be impossible to defend all
of them with nets and guns. Even
where precauctions are taken It Is en-
tirely feasible for some underwater
prowler TO slip in through the nets.
Such an intruder could destroy a num-
Der OF ships as they lay at their wharves.
or II could open gun fire upon the city
itself. The later submarines carry four
inch guns. These are capable of doing
much execution at a range of three miles
Using incendisry shells they could set
one of our parched and ill-constructed
cities on fire and conhagration might
result that would equal the San Fran
cisco fire. writes Carl McMenemy I'm
Chamberlin's Magazine
The submarines might. moreover
manage to maintain bases on our own
coast from which to operate. There
are hundreds OF back bays along the
Chesapeake. Long Island sound and the
Carolina sounds where a diver might re
tire for revictuailing and repairs Skill
fully hidden by rushes and thickets they
might possibly go undiscovered for
months From these places the enemy
could sneak out to. sink coastwise
merchantmen and, II fortunate. a yesseI
of the navy.
Might Use Mexico.
As second means of attack Ger.
many might operate through Mexico
This plan does not seem very pronlis-
Ing, but 1t has possibilities. A set Of de-
termlned leaders could do much. They
would have, to begin with. a founda-
ton of hate. All Mexicans detest us.
IL would be possible to raise a certain
force of these gringo haters to attack
US. The government might be weak
enough to countenance such an effort.
or II might be too weak TO prevent II.
A number of Germans already have
hurried to Mexico. Many of them
have cent money there. Most of these
men are merely German civilians who
realize that the operations of a few
German zealots in this country will
bring hardship and restriction, per-
haps, upon all German subjects here.
They fear internment and the seizure
of their bank deposits. Mexico is the
only place to which they can go.
Among the Germans crossing the
border, however, are a certain number
of representatives. OF the German gov
ernment and army and navy reservists
who arc afraid not to respond to the
These could do much to organize Mexi-
can raiders They might be Joined,
also, by volunteers from further south.
Brazil Is as to some OF its provinces
almost solidly German. Settling among
a people of lower social development
these Germans have not been in any
sense assimilated. They have their owr
German schools and public oficials and
are almost as much German now as
hax w fO
America. Argentina and Chile also have
large Teutonic populations.
Movement Restricted.
1t Is doubtful, however. II a Ger
man movement toward Mexico could
Germans resident in the B G
powers to organize there would con-
stftute a breach of neutrality. These
South American powers have no SEN
timental or racial alliance with either
Germany or the United States. But
they do have with France and Italy.
Moreover, It seems likely that no
South American power would care to
incur our displeasure by a breach of
neutrality that would offer that coun-
try no more than the Mexican forlorn
hope holds out
In a second way the German move
ment in Mexico would also be ham,
pered. That is by lack Of weapons
Mexico Is pretty well armed for bush
whacking. but the number of rifles
and machine guns would prove In
adequate to any real war demonstra-
ton and there Is very little artillery
of any sort. The supply Of ammuni-
ton on hand would be exhausted in
few days of battle. South America
might supply limited amount, as
might Japan, but this would have to
IL olf
therefore, 1t seems that German activi-
ties can do no more than encourage
the half-starved Mexicans into raids
on our border ranches, which will de-
tain In the Southwest a few more soldiers
than are there now.
Question of Japan.
The third method is. to set Japan upon
our heels. This could be accomplished
only by a separate peace and some sort
of agreement that would make the
Japanese feel secure against British and
Russian retaliation. There is no question
as to antagonism felt among the Japs
for this country. The sentiment is oased
more, however, on fear than on anything
else. The Japanese look forward to the
day when we shall seek colonial expan-
sion in Asia, or at least shall interfere
with their Chinese program. But our
entrance into the war removes US as
menace to Japan, or at least throws us
together as common enemies OF the
Kaiser.
Japan as an ally of the central powers
might defy Russia, but Japan could
hardly take the warpath against both
Russia and England. 1t would seem'
therefore, that the only hope Germany
can have of bringing Japan down upon
us, Is by means of separate peace with
Russia. Japan's principal interest Is
hound up with that power. for between