The Washington times., 1921-01-20


needed coal or oil because il requires
enormous harbor facilities TO coal ships.
Finally the Japanese approach the Ameri-
can coast and few submarines could sink
their transports and prevent a landing"
But these conditions do not hold good
for the Philippines" it was suggested.
"Yes and no." replied the admiral an
my opinion a fleet of submarines with
some support from forts and warships to
keep the submarine bases from destroyers
will prevent the enemy from occupying the
Philippines.
America should defend itself with ado
auate railroads. 1t should build horizontal
lines, especially across the Rockies, protect
ing the Pacific"
At the conclusion of this interview Admiral
Scheer gave the following naval aDhorisms:
"The strongest fleet has no opportunity
for victory if it is forced by its adversary
to stay in port through fear of submarines.
Nowadays the greatest naval fleet can
not guarantee the safety of its merchant
fleet unless the enemy's submarine bases
are destroyed
"A weak fleet is able to do much damage
to its enemy, thanks to submarines.
''If the British did not attack the North
Sea ports OF Germany, 1t was due to the
submarines. How much more useful would
submarines be to America, where its foe
would have to cross the ocean.
Capital ships have lost their power and
the strongest naval nation cannot claim
certain superiority.
"The nation with a few capital ships
can build submarines which can kill the war
spirit Of the enemy in proportion to the
damage they inflict and the fear Of con-
tinual danger they cause to arise.
"The submarine changes warfare mas
much as it places the attacker at a disad-
vantage. This would cause a nation, con-
templating war to draw back. Thus the
submarine becomes a weapon which urges
peace"
What Admiral Schccr said about
the United States building railroads
is true-but organized capital will
not permit it.
In addition to railroads, this coun-
try should build INLAND WATER
WAYS all along the East coast,
making it possible to transport can
non, munitions, men and supplies of
all kinds inside of our own territory,
safe from attack and storms at sea.
Three-quarters Of the work has al
ready been done by nature. A little
intelligence and money would do
the rest, and it ought to be done
now.
.
that the Industrial Commission,
through the free employment offices
maintained by the State, cooperate
with the Highway Commission, in
absorbing the unemployed in road
construction as far as possible and
practicable, under legislation giving
preference for this work to citizens
of the State and to those who have
no farming experience, or who can
not be placed on farms, and also to
those who are the heads of families.
"There are seventy thousand men
out of employment in Wisconsin,
and there will probably be more
within a short time. With this
number of unemployed men, there
will be enough to meet all demands
for farm help, and leave thousands
of men for highway construction
during the period of depression.
"Thus we will perform two serv-
ices; first, by using our unemployed
workers in the building of good
roads, and second, by retaining on
the farms workers trained in agri-
cultural pursuits, instead of divert
ing such labor from the farms to
the task Of building roads"