The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-09-01
MAY mean BREAK
WILSON MAY SEND GERMAN AM
BASSADOR BACK HOME
MILLIONS FOR DEFENCE

Five Hundred Million Dollars
Wants Six Dreadnoughts and Sew
eral Battle Cruisers-Would In
crease Army to 100000.
While the president and his advis-
ers are still waiting for full official
regarding the sinking OF
the White Star liner Arabic, it is
known, says the New York Times,
that the administration already has
decided upon the course it will pur-
sue, if the details of the disaster
show that it was deliberately un-
act Oh the part of Germany.
This was decided upon when the last
note bearing on the submarine war
fare was sent to Berlin.
At that time the president and his
cabinet determined that if another
merchant steamer should be sunk by
a German submarine without warn
ing and the lives Of American citi-
zens should be lost thereby, diplo-
matte relations should be broken
with Germany and other steps should
be taken to put the United States in
a position to engage in policy OF
reprisal or uphold the rights of its
citizens on the high seas.
What these steps would be have
been outlined by a high official OF
the administration. Should it be
found necessary to dismiss Count yon
Bernstorff and recall MIR. Gerard, the
further course to be followed, it was
explained, would be generally along
the following lines:
1. Congress might be called in
extra session, but if the Immediate
situation was not critical enough
for that the president would wait
until the regular session il Decem-
Der and would then personally ask
for legislative authority to organ
ize a standing army Of probably
100000 men, with provision to
increase it to a war footing Of
600,444, and, in addition, to es-
tablish large reserve army.
2. Congress would be urged by
the president to make a large in
crease in the fleet, the increase to
consist Of probably as many as six
dreadnoughts, q considerable num-
Der of submarines of the sea-going
class, to appropriate heavily for
aeroplanes and dirigibles for both
the army and the navy, and pro-
vide scout cruisers, destroyers and
transports commensurate to the
increase in the battleship force.
8. A plan already formulated
for a system of increasing the
coast defenses will be laid before
congress for approval, and the ap-
preparation of the money neces-
sary to carry it into effect will be
asked.
4. Congress will be asked for
appropriations to increase the ca
pacities of the United States army
and navy ordnance and ammuni-
tion plants, and the adoption OF
measures to encourage private mu-
nition factories to extend their ia
cilities in accordance with sugges-
tions, of Brig. Gen. Crozier, the
chief Of the Ordnance Department
of the army.
President Wilson is represented a:
being fully aware of what it vii
mean to this country if diplomatic
relations with Germany are severed
All that, it was said, was considered
at the time the Lusitania case wa:
before the cabinet. The presiden
realizes that a break in diplomatic
intercourse between the two govern
ments may lead to even more seriou:
misunderstanding, and possibly tt
war. The president, it was asserted
had determined, when he sent hi
warning to Germany on July p, tina
prompt action should be taken if {
German submarine committed an &c
involving jeopardy to American citi
zens, approximating in principle tina
of the sinking of the Lusi mia.
According to the representation
of the attitude of the administration
it will be prepared to back up its re
sentiment toward Germany by po
icy that will amount to giving mora
support to the Allies, but positive in
formation in this regard is not avail
able. It is understood that method:
of obtaining a large amount o
money, necessary to put into efec
the plans for military and naval in
crease and the establishment of al
adequate reserve army, have beer
considered. The administration is &C
credited with an intention to asl
congress to authorize the expenditure
Of S500,O00,00O to carry out th'
plans for national defense which the
president will propose.
Additional information concerning
opinion in administration circles al
goes to support tho understanding
that there will he sew >rance Of dip
lomatic relations with Germany
should a full investigation convince
President Wilson and his adviser:
that the Arabic was torpedoed with
out warning and without justifica
ton.
Realizing the seriousness OF the
matter, however, the president viii
have all the obtainable facts at hand
before proceeding to put his policy
into execution. No doubt appears tc
remain in the minds Of officials that
no warning was given to the Arabic
by the German submarine; that she
was making no attempt to escape
when she was. torpedoed; that she
was not under convoy of British war
ships at the time she was attacked
and that she made no attempt to ram
the German submarine, which, in
fact, was not seen by those on the
Arabic at any time. according to all
the statements sent to the state de-
partment officially and made by sur
vivors of the disaster to newspaper
correspondents.
In these circumstances, only one
course appears to be open to the ad-
ministration, and that is to take
some positive action that will mark
its resentment Of the continued vio-
lations of the rights of American cit
liens engaged in peaceful travel. Ac-
cording to information obtained at
the state department, the govern
mont will NOT oct until Germany has