Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-03-22
PREPARATIONS GO FORWARD

PREPARATIONS GO FORWARD
Meanwhile every preparation for put
ting the nations defenses in condition to
meet state of war are going forward.
The principaractivities center in the navy
where far-reaching preparations are being
carried on to deal with the submarine
menace whether it is to be met in the
war zone about the British coasts, or at
the gates of American cities.
The army's plans are in less def
Mite state because of the uncertainty
as to what part it will be called upon
to play. General staff plans to fit sew
era] contingencies have been work ID
out however, and every step that can
be taken in the present situation has
been taken. Tonight Secretary Ba-
ker conferred with the President. but
the details they discussed were not re-
vealeJ.
The possibility of Germany extend
ing submarine operations to the At
lantic seaboard has not been underest-
timated, but it is recognized that when
she extends her warfare from the com
paratively limited barred zone to the
three thousand miles of broad Atlantic
she so effectively weakens her starva-
tion blockade of England that the an
nounced object of the campaign of
ruthlessness will of necessity be aban-
loned. At the same time the submc =
rine menace to shipping will compare
lively decrease.
CONDITIONS RAPIDLY CHANGING.
Next to war. the attention of the
American government is upon one 9th
er object--the internal situa ton in
Germany. With a military censorship
screening the history making events
transpring within the German empire
and equally screening from the Ger
man people the full meaning of events
in the world outside. the real condition
of affairs in that country. guardedly re-
nected in dispatches from abroad, COM
mands close attention.
MurmurinGs of Il revolt against autoc'
racy, emboldened by the revolution in Rus
sia, reports of food riots in Berlin which
are said to have necesstated the with
drawal of troops from the lighting lines
military successes by the entente on the
western front and in Asia Minor; the sub
marine campaign operating FAR below th'
eff ;ciency predicted for it. lead to the be
| lief among officials here that possibly be
| 70. e Co,.gr can assemble to meet thu
situation. the world may be confronted
| with an entirely different set of condi
| tons.
SOME POSSIBILITIES.
| While 1t has been generally assumed
! that any aggressive action by the unitet
states against Germany and in co-opera
! ton with the entente allies would b.
purely Of a naval character designed t
aid IN the determination of submarine
and raiders preyins upon commerce. stat
department officials declared to-day tina
| tr,r p1iplt 20 and all mill
! tary measures deemed necessary to max
effec i've its protest against German.
without actually entering into forma
political alliance. Even the sending of a,
! expcditionary force to Europe, it wa
held would not obl!gate this country I
all the details of the allied program.
Officials say that an amy could proper
| iy be sent to Belgium. for instance. t
help in the restoration of that violate
| territory and to throw Americas influenc
| in a real and practical way on the std
of international law and order.
The possibility of a large bond issue t
provide credit for some allies who need
most in their campaign against German
was suggested at the Capitol to-day !
the conferences of members of Congres
! still in the city.
1t was pointed out that the allies hav
plenty of equipment OF men and munitioi
now and that they want. most OF al
! credit.
| L. s. IN PECULIAR POSITION.
The armed neutrality status at preser
in force is held by the international la
experts TO present many points of veal
ness. Neither war nor peace, 1t involve
the country in continual misunderstant
ing with both sides. 1t is said to lea,
the door open for unlimited litigatio
! with Germany after the war. In ths
status the United States still is tecl
nically neutral and might be held r.
sponsible by Germany for any unneutri
acts committed here. With an actu;
recognition of a state of war, this diff
Guilty would disappear.
Moreover, automatically. the Unite
States Is in a most extraordinary situ,
ton sem-hostile TO the central power
and yet not aligned with the allies. RI
, government is not taken into the conf
dence of nations with which 1t former
communicated most freely. Especially
this so as to the Far East, about whio
the governments information is ver
mcagre. Hopes that this government wi
be able to take a leading part i'm the ut
mate peace conference as a neutral ha,
vanished and the belief is growing tn;
only as AN active participant will Anne
lea be heard on the great question qua
anteeing future peace.