The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-02
BERNHARD SEES
U.S.M NEXTBIG WAR


| TWEEN the Ouiteu States ana Japan
would not be likely to end decisively.
II would be largely naval, and 1t ia
not probable that either navy would
annihilate the other completely.
Japan alone cannot conquer the
| United States and the latter cannot
send an army to Japan so long as
the Japanese navy is in existence
Much would depend on who takes the
offensive. Fighting with offensive-de.
fensive tactics In their own waters
the advantage would be all on Japans
side in view Of the long and difficult
lines Of communication that America
would have to maintain. You could
not hold the Philippines, which you
would have TO abandon, for they Ger.
tainly would be taken by the Japa.
nese, and probably Guam ALSO"
Won Bernhard said that the de.
fences of Honolulu, as he saw them
in 1911, did not impress him as be-
ing able to Withstand a long siege
unless they have been improved
greatly since then.
Much would depend also" he said
upon England's attitude in such a
conflict. Upon England would depend
whether you could bring your entire
fleet into the Pacific. leaving the At
lantic unguarded. Unless you could
Go this your chances of defeating
japan with only part of your fleet
would be small indeed" That, said
Bernhard, brought him to another
angle Of the same question.
Germany Not Hostile TO U. s.
There is no hostility in Germany
against the United States" he said,
Notwithstanding that We lost the
war through you. Germany cannot
understand how 1t could be to the
interest of the United States to crush
her or to see her annihllated. Is 1t
not rather to her interest to have
Germany potent, threatening factor
against England in the event of
trouble between America and Eng
land as 1t is to the British interest to
have a strong Japan as a potent
factor in the Pacific against America
for the same reason and to Japan's
interest to have England on this side
of you?
without making a single move
England could hold large part of
your fighting forces on the Atlantic
side were a conflict to break out with
Japan, or Japan could hold no small
part of your forces on the Pacific side
were you to have trouble with Eng
land. With Russia utterly disorgan-
lied and weakened for many years,
Germany crushed and France in no
position to aid you in any way. your
country to-day is without a counter
balance anywhere. The future will
determine If your statesmen and your
people were guided by wisdom"
General, you have been in Japan,
where you observed the Japanese
army, and you fought against our
troops. May / ask your opinion on
their comparative value?" asked Capt.
Frank e. Mason OF the STAFF Of the
famous Second Division and for a
time On the Trier headquarters staff,
who accompanied me.
Gen. Won Bernhard hesitated and
appeared embarrassed by the ques-
tion; apparently he feared to offend
his guests.
"You may speak frankly; I am
asking your opinion as an authority"
said Mason.
Japanese surpass I'm Tactics.
You must remember that the
japanese are very brave and highly
trained" replied Won Bernhard.
"Were the same number engaged on
each side / must say that the Japa.
nese would win. Do not think, how
ever, that underestimate your SOL
diers or wish to belittle Them" hastily
added the aged General. ''The
American troops were good; their
spirit was excellent; none could sur.
pass them in bravery. but their tao
teal training left much to be de-
sired, and 1t is on that point that ]
say the Japanese would win where
equal numbers were engaged"
He pointed out that the casualty
lists testified to the high bravery OF
the Americans, but deplored the man
ner In which our soldiers were thrown
In. Only a nation with men to spare
he declared, could indulge In such
tactics.
America not only won the wal
for the Entente In the field" he added
but she enabled the Allies to hold
out at home and on the front until
your troops ARRIVED on this side
Not only did we fight against the
American troops, fresh, vigorous and
full of spirit, but we fought against
American money, money and mate
rial, all her vast resources for more
than two years before your soldiers
arrived on the battlefields."
"A General who staked victory or
tanks would be lost" declared yor
Bernbardi when asked as to the use
fulness of these machines. He con