The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-06
Germany Undoubtedly VIII Hit
States by Way of Mexico.
Startling Revelation of War
Plan by Spokane Paper.
UNGUARDED COUNTRY FIRST
Mississippi Valley Primary OBJ
jective of Early Forces.
Unified German MeXican Army
Is Now Preparing.

Spokane Wash, April ct seems
inevitable, Germany will try to strike
us thru Mexico, says the Spokesman
Review of this city.
Mexico is dominated by German in
fluences. Great numbers of German
reservists, unable to return to Ger
many, are in that country. The Car
rama government is counseled by
these influences, and at their direction
Carranza made his recent rejected
proposal asking our government to
join him in an embargo on supplies
to England and the other entente al
lies.
Mexico has several hundred thous
and well-armed and seasoned fighting
men, and if Germany could unite the
warning elements there, train them
with German reservists and officer
them with German soldiers, this coun-
try would be in grave danger of in
vasion from across the Mexican bor-
der.
Unless we had an army large enough
to guard the long border and addi-
tional masscd forces to meet the in
vaders and give them battle, they
would sweep up thru the Mississippi
valley and cut the United States
sqIarely in two.
Strike Rich Cities.
Invading forces would strike at such
rich cities as st. Louis, Kansas City,
St Joseph, Omaha, and Chicago. Lur-
ed on by the prospect of unlimited
loot, they would fatten on the country
and invite to their standard all the
laWless and disloyal elements.
The rich, populous, unguarded mid
die west would be their objective. That
danger was sensed by the general
staff of our army two years ago, when
1t laid before the president its state
ment of proper military policy for
the United States
The center of population of the
United States is in the middle west"
said that carefully prepared statement,
and here should be located a mobile
force for use in case of need.''
The plan of the general staff pro-
posed that one-fourth of the entire in
fantry forces then recommended for
national defense be- stationed in the
middle west. land that nearly a third
of the total cavalry of the regular
army be stationed on the Mexican
border. 1-~
When that plan was laid before the
president, two years ago, Germany was
not the menace that it now is to our
safety. And more recent recommen-
dations of the general staff urge that
a much larger force be provided for
the national defense than it had
thought sufficient in 1915.
Danger Is Increasing.
Two years ago many people secuted
the suggestion that Mexican armies
could seriously menace the United
States, but the experiences of 1916,
when we found that it took practically
all the armed forces of this country
all the regular soldiers in the country
and a modified national guard of
nearly so. 900 men-to hold back the
Villa followers and sympathizers have
opened the eyes of the American peo-
pie.
Recent developments have immense
ly increased the danger from that
quarter. A unified and Germanized
Mexican army. fired by prospects of
loot and a rallying glory of wrestling
back Texas. the great southwest and
California from the hated "Gringoes''
would give a problem vastly more
difficult than last summers futile pur-
suit of Villa and patrolling of 1000
miles of unfriendly border.
If Germany trains and officers a
great Mexican army it will be done
with Germany's customary thoroness
| and aggressive methods. Once let
| that army cross the border. it will
strike hard for a ruthless invasion of
| the rich states and cities of the Miss
| issippi valley.
| Step Ladders at Forbes'S-Ady