The Washington times., 1915-05-14

IL Is douDt1ul at present wnetner tne
Presidents yacht will be conveyed. If
It is not. Secretary of the Navy Daniels
will have selected the most critical pc
Rod in the nations history to depart
from a precedent always followed in
the past to protect the President of the
United States while on the seas. A
CONVOY has heretofore always been sent
with the President so that. in case OF
anv mishap to the vessel on which he
travels, the companion ship will be on
hand to render assistance. and If nee
cssary, take the President off.
Secretar. Daniels has defended MS
present unwillingness to provide con-
voy on the ground that he could not
York, and that the expense in coal OF
bringing another vessel to Washington
OF Norfolk to meet the President and
sending 1t back to New York would be
dent at frequent intervals will he out
Of sight of land. He will pass through
a squadron of British vessels patroling
the coast, whose purpose 1t Is to sink
any vessel suspected Of being German
ship trying to make for the open sea.
No Undue Haste.
There will be no undue haste on the
part of America in pressing for reply
from Berlin. High officials carefully
the note that can be construed as be-
ing an utimatum Because Of the dig
nitled protestations of friendship, 1t is
expected that Germany Will not lose
much time in considering It. But OFF,
Gals, especially President Wilson him
self. realize that war times are differ
ent from peace times and that with the
Kaiser at the front a few days will
nave to be allowed before a reply can
be expected.
Ambassador Gerard is expected to
notify the State Department so soon
as he has accomplished his mission, just
when the reply can be expected. And
he will report on the character Of his
reception. but this report will be of such
an extremely confidential nature that 1t
will be available only to President Will
SON and Secretary Of State Bryan.
At today Cabinet meeting the Presi-
dent and his advisers We're greatly
pleased over the almost unanimous ap-
provai with which the nation has re-
showed that the Administration has a
solidifed public sentiment at its back.
No Warlike Preparations.
One thing emphasized both at the
War and Navy Departments is that no
efforts are being made to get either
branch of the service on war foot
ing. The navy. of course. is far bet
ter prepared for emergencies than
usual in that the Atlantic fleet Is
mobilzed in the North River at New
York with complete personnel and
with coal bunkers filled and ammuni-
ton magazines crammed. But neither
the army nor the navy is turning a
wheel beyond the regulation routine
that would be necessary II the foreign
affairs OF the nation We're not in a dis
tinctly critical state.
Among diplomats. where the outcome
Of events is being watched with grave
concern. there Is disposition to be
somewhat optimistic. 1t is said that
Germany would consider long before
assuming responsibility for a break
with the nation that today dominates
the western hemisphere. With Chile.
one Of the chief factors in the powerful
A. B. G. combination that is now rum
ming South America. affronted and de-
fant because of Germany's position in
the Dresden affair, diplomats say that
Germany's need for conciliation was
never so apparent. And they point out
that in the past, when political expe-
diency has demanded. Germany has
never hesitated to change her attitude
or her policies. And, especially at thu
embassies of the allies, it is realized
that should Germany in the present
crisis meet the United States openly
and frankly, declare that her past
policy had been wrong. wave OF Ger
man sentiment would speek this coun-
try from the Atlantic to the Pacific
Attitude of Holland
incidentally it Is pointed out that Hol-
land and the United States have never
been so close as they are at present.
Holland, too, has serious grievances Her
rights have been invaded and ravlshed
in exactly the same manner as have
those of the United States. And the two
nations have been in close touch, so
close in fact, that there is a growing be-
lief here that Holland may specifically
indorse the declaration OF the United
States on the German submarine war
fare.
Holland has a determined army of
100000 men massed on her frontier
These men, officials here say are the
equal of the German first line hghting
force. And their position strategically
could hardly be improved. the Dutch
frontier being only about twenty-five
miles from Essen. the great German
munttion center. Therefore, II Ger
many should be convinced there was
danger of the United States and Hol-
land making common cause. she would
consider carefully diplomats say, be-
fore completely dcfYinG this country.
some diplomats think that Germany
will make conc liatory reply which
will dodge the question of ending at
once her submarine warfare. and pri-