GERMAN ARMY LEADER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9943, 1 December 1914, Page 7

GERMAN ARMY LEADER.

TELLS HOW TO CONQUER AMERICA. (From the London Globe of Aug. 12.) "We publish the following translations of a memorandum entitled "Operationen über See," written by General von Edelsheim., of the Prussian general staff, which will be read with interest in .view of the suggestion put forward in America that in the event of Germany defeating the British Fleet she would invade Canada through New England. ' 'Operations against the United States of North America would have to be conducted in a different manner from those against England. During the last year's political friction with that state, especially friction arising from commercial causes, has not been lacking, and the difficulties that have arisen have mostly been settled by our giving way. A 6 this obliging attitude has its limits, we have to ask ourselves what force we can possibly bring to bear in order to meet the attacks of the United States against our interests and to impose our will. Our fleet will probably be able to defeat the naval forces of the United States, which are distributed over two oceans and over long disstances. But it would be a. mistake to suppose that tho defeat of their fleet will force the United States with its immense resources into concluding peace. "In view of the small number of American merchantmen, in view of the small value of the American colonies, which are not even pacified, in view of the excellent fortifications with which the great American seaports are provided, and which cannot be taken except with very heavy losses, and in view of the large number of American seaports, all of which we cannot blockade at the same time, our fleet has no means to force that opponent through successful maritime operations to conclude a peace on our terms.

I ''The possibility must be taken into account that the fleet of the United States will at first not venture into i battle, but that it will withdraw into I fortified harbours, in order to wait for a ! favourable opportunity of achieving minor successes. Therefore it is clear that naval action alone will not be decisive against the United States, but that the combined action of navy and army will be required. Considering the great extent of the United States, the conquest of the country by an army of invasion is not possible. But there is every reason to believe that victorious enterprises on the Atlantic coast, and the conquest of the most important arteries through which imports and exports pass, will create such an unbearable state of affairs in the whole country that the government will readily offer acceptable conditions in order to obtain peace.

THE REGULAR ARMY. "II Germany begins preparing a fleet of transports and troops for landing purposes at the moment when the battle fleet steams out of our harbours we may conclude that operations on American soil can begin after about four weeks, and it cannot be doubted that the United States will not be able to oppose to us within that time an army equivalent to our own. '"At present the regular army of the United States amounts to 65,000 men, of whom about 30,000 could be disposed of. Of these at least 10,000 are required for watching the Indian territories and for guarding the fortifications on the sea coast. Therefore only about 20,000 men of the regular army are ready for war. Besides, about 100,000 militia are in existence, of whom the larger part did not come up when they were called out during the last war. Lastly, the militia is not efficient ; it is partly armed with muzzle loaders and its training is worse than its armament.

"As an operation by surprise against America is impossible, on account of the length of time during which the transports are on the way, only the landing can be effected by surprise. Nevertheless, stress must be laid on the fact that the rapidity of the invasion will considerably facilitate victory against the United States, owing to the absence of methodical preparation for mobilisation, owing to the inexperience of the personnel, and owing to the weakness of the regular army.

"In order to occupy permanently a considerable part of the United States and to protect our lines of operation so as to enable us to fight successfully against all forces which that country, in the course of time can oppose to as, considerable forces would be required. Such an operation would be greatly hampered by the fact that it would require a second passage of the transport fleet in order to ship the necessary troops that long distance. However, it seems questionable whether it would be advantageous to occupy a great stretch of country for a considerable time. The Americans will not feel inclined to conclude peace because one or two provinces are occupied by an army of invasion, but because of the enormous material losses which the whole country will suffer if the Atlantic harbour towns, in which the threads of the whole 'prosperity of the United States aire concentrated, are torn away from them one after the other.

INVADING THE UNITED STATES. "Therefore, the task of the fleet would be to undertake a series of large landing operations, through which we are able to. take several of these important and wealthy towns within a brief space of time. By interrupting their communications, by destroying all buildings serving the State, commerce and the defence, by taking away all material for war and transport, and, lastly, bv levying heavy, contributions, we should be able to inflict damage on the United States. "For such enterprises a smaller military force will suffice. Nevertheless, the American defence will find it difficult to undertake a successful enterprise, against that kind of warfare. Though an extremey welL develeped railway system enables them to concentrate troops within a short time on the different points on, the coast, the concentration of the troops and the time which is lost until it is recognised which of the many threatened points of landing will really be utilised will, as a rule, make it possible for the army of invasion to carry out its operation with success under the co-operation of the fleet at the point chosen. The corps landed can either take the offensive against gathering hostile forces or withdraw to the transport in order to land at another place. "It should l>e said that Germany is the only great power which is able to tackle the United States single-handed. ' England could be victorious on sea, but would not l)e able to protect Canada, where the Americans could find consolation for their defeats on sea. Of the other great powers none possess a fleet of transports required for such an operation.''