Evening star., 1934-11-18

~ strategy, it is not New York,
4 n but Washington. the Nations
Capital, that could be most
easily destroyed by an enemy air
armada.
Not only are New York City's defenses
regarded exceptionally strong, but a
foreign enemy would seriously ques-
ton the political benefit to be gained
by successful bombardment.
Washington can be destroyed. Its
defenseless condition alone is like an
open invitation to powers to do a bet
ter job than the British did in 1914.
That no military weakness in our
chain of national defense is unknown
to foreign governments is a notorious
and unpleasant fact. That Washing
ton is disgracefully vulnerable is an
open secret. That New York is fully
protected by the batteries of Fort
Totten, one of only four strongholds
in the United States, and that the
three others are Fort Sheridan, Ill;
Fort Mcclellan. Ala, and Fort Mac
Arthur, Calf, is information in the
files of all important military attaches
Moreover, that the world might know
just what armament these super forts
have at their command, a great mill
tary demonstration was staged at Fort
Aberdeen Proving Ground. attended
by several diplomats. military and
naval attaches, ordnance and aircraft
engineers OF European manufacturers
and the usual mixture of spies.
An enemy country planning an air
attack upon the United States.
whether from nearby bases to the
north or south or from a-going air
plane carriers from the far Pacific,
would carefully consider, not the cost
OF the raid in lives and money, but
the advantages accruing from such a
hazardous undertaking, and the prob
able chances of success translated in
the amount of destruction accom-
pllshed, and the effect upon the
morale OF the nation attacked.
A raid on London Paris. New York
Chicago or San Francisco. with a
definite purpose to wipe one or the
other of the map, would necessitate a
verltaole air armada. because of the
large area to be destroyed. whereas to
devastate territory only 10 miles
square, as in the case of Washington
would be a comparatively easy task.
Reducing New York to ruins would
call for a sustained attack by an air
fleet of scouts, attack planes and
bombers, but to destroy WASHINGTON
only a small force of bombers would
be required.
A partial destruction of New York s
towering buildings would indeed be a
disaster creating wide public svm-
pathy. Annihilation of Washington,
seat OF Government of 125.OOO 900
people. with its historic White House
and Capitol, vast public buildings.
ordnance factory and Navy Yard, su-
perb memorials and foreign embassies.
would be calamity piercing the
heart of the Nation and spreading
terror over the land. Add to this the
horror of lives lost, the probability
that buried in the ruins might be the
occupants of the White House. mem
bers of the cabinet, Senators. Repre-
sentatives, judges of the Supreme
Court and other high oficials-wnat
then would be the morale of the Ma
tion?
Attack on Belgium Recalled.
Primitive man wore hideous masks
to frighten demons and drive them
away. Even today certain unenlight-
ened tribes believe that striking ter
ror in enemy devils will ward off evil.
Referring to Germany's swift and
ravishing attack upon Belgium, Wells
says the Germans were only following
"the theory that men should be ter
rible in warfare, and that the popu-
lation is best subdued by fear"
Herein lies Washington's attraction
to a foreign foe. Destroying New
York or San Francisco would be
viewed more as local disaster, but
the reduction of Washington to
crumbling stone and sand would be
considered by the enemy as a strategic
achievement, calculated, under the
chaotic conditions of the next day, to
produce a popular demand for an i'm
mediate settlement rather than suffer
a continuance of hostilitieS.
Such an expectation on the part of
foreign enemy would not be unusual,
for less than a century and a quarter
age the idea of attaining the same
end by the burning of Washington, in
cluding the Presidents House, Capitol
and public buildings, was not only con-
ceived by British officials, but carried
into successful execution. That it did
not have the desired effect upon the
American people is matter of history.
Washington in 1914 was mere shell
Of a city. Except for the pretentious