New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-15
NOTE DELAYED;
IN BERLIN TO-DAY
Not a Sign Anywhere of
Unusual Activity in
Military Circles.
DIPLOMATS LESS EASY
With Most Navy Officers. They
Think Germany Will Not
Give Up Submarines.
BY W. l.. MCPHERSON.

Washington, May 14.-The strain
is over for the present. Washing
ton sees little pause ahead and is
settling back to enjoy it. The Presi-
dent will be absent in New York
until the middle of next week, and
no word from Germany is expected
in the interval.
The American note to Germany
was delayed in transmission and
was not telegraphed from Rome un-
til $40 p. m. to-day, so that IL
probably will not be presented by
Ambassador Gerard to the German
Foreign Office until tomorrow.
This was announced by Secretary
Bryan tonight.
The State Department received
message from Ambassador Thomas
Nelson Page, at Rome, saying the
note was received there at p. m. to-
day. and was Immediately copied and
forwarded to Berlin at 3:40. IL
should have reached Berlin Lite this
afternoon, but the time required for
deciphering is expected to delay its
presentation until tomorrow.
WILSON CONFIDENT.
President Wilson started on his
trip tonight immensely relieved and
supremely confident. He is relieved
and gratified to find the country in
dorsing so completely his method Of
seeking reparation and guarantees
from Germany. 1t is an open secret
in administration circles that he is
absolutely confident that Germany
will yield and that the United
States will not be driven or ma
nquvred into a declaration Of war.
The complete inaction of the mill
tary departments of the government
karmonizes with such pacific antici-
pations. Neither the War Depart
ment nor the Navy Department Is
showing the slightest inclination to
speed up in the way of preparation
for an emergency. II is true that
any war with Germany would have
TO be for several weeks-probably
for several months-a war at long
range. undramatic and bloodless.
Yet were a breach involving war
considered imminent, the admins
tration would be at this minute
feverishly engaged in putting the
country into a condition compatible
with a state of war.
A conflict with Germany might
not at once test our navy or the
quality of the armies which we
should think it prudent to organize.
But it would put upon us immeci-
ately the duty Of doing our utmost
in any field Of activity in which
our resources would tell heaviest
against Germany.
Could Supply Ammunition.
There is one field in which this coun-
fry could be Of vast assistance TO the
anti German coalition. The creates,
need Of all the combatants Is ammuni-
tion. Were we to be involved in war
the first hostile move Of the govern
ment would be 70 multiply its own IA
cilities for turning out munitions and
70 stimulate the activities Of private
manufacturers.
We could not afford 70 lose day In
starting such campaign Of sggres-
sion. A session Of Congress would DC
needed to authorize the extension OF
government plants. the taking over or
subsidiIing Of private plants and the
sale or loaning Of stocks on hand 10
other members Of the anti-Ieutonle
alliance. Even those ancient hrsg-
Jorgensen rifles which promoters nave
sold 80 many times in their imagine'
ton TO allied bidders would be well
coined by the supply departments OF
several OF the allied war ofiiees.
Liberal appropriations would also
have to be made by Congress Tor other