The Washington herald., 1917-03-20

than war against the United States,
and constitute a challenge to Ameri-
can honor which must be accepted,
and accepted without delay.
A state of war" exists dc facto
if not de jure now. There is no dis
guising that fact. A formal procla-
nation by the President decreeing a
state of war is contemplated by the
administration. 1t is possible that
such proclamation may be issued to-
day. 1t is possible, also, that the
President may convene Congress in
extraordinary session within the next
two weeks; such action clearly pre-
saying a formal declaration of war
against Germany.
The exact scope of the warfare
which faces the nation remains to
be defined. 1t is entirely within the
fact to say that the American gov
ernmcnt at present does not contem-
plate plunge into the war hcadlong,
nor to become major participant
and full-hedged member of the en-
tente group. The present plan is
restricted, defensive warfare in the
protection of shipping. But even this
involves details which do not at pres
ent appear on the surface. 1t is clear
that arming merchant ships is not
sufficient; and the Navy is now con-
sidering the creation OF so-called
shipping lanes" by destroyer con-
voy, and other measures of kindred
type. Offensive and defensive opera
tions against U-boats are a matter
of the immediate future.
The further steps to be taken re-
main to be determined by the prac-
tical effectiveness Of those already put
in force. Should the destruction Of
American shipping proceed apace, and
the futility of the present defensive
measures be demonstrated, then it is
clear that the American navy will
have to go farther. What can it do?
For one thing, the submarine chaser"
idea can be tried out; new feet
of high-power patrol boats can be
sent into the zone; "smoke screens"
and other ideas are all worth expert
mentation.
In the meantime it is entirely pos
sible that Germany may declare the
entire Atlantic a blockade zone,
throw aside all restrictions, and at
tempt a raid on American shipping
near to our own shores. Such raid
is unlikely, but it is apparent that the
American navy, after mobilization,
must be constantly on its guard for
a surprise attack. War with Ger
many means that nothing is beyond
the scope of the German imagina-
tion in the way of submarine exploits;
mother ship" such as the Deutsch-
land or the Bremen might act as a
supply base for a U-boat fotilla oper-
ating off the seaboard in brief at
tack
The United States navy in such
conditions would act, in the absence
of full-hedged, concentrated warfare
between the United States and Ger
many, as an international police force
under much the same legal conditions
as existed when the joint expedition
OF the powers marched to Pekin to
suppress the Boxer troubles, and
when the seizure of the port of Vera
Cruz was ordered by the President as
reprisal against Mexico. 1t would
act as new force aiding in the sup
preston of marine anarchy, protect
ing American shipping and maintain
ing the sanctity of law.
The navy is girding its loins. 1t
is rapidly ridding itself of "red tape"
and the labyrinth of bureaucratic cir
cumlocution. 1t is spurring American
shipbuilders and manufacturers to
forget the traditional idea that the
American navy is merely a benevo-
lent institution for the awarding OF
"fat" contracts. 1t is ready to en-
force its demands; let there be no
obscurity on that point. 1t can COM
mandeer all the private yards in the
land if necessary. 1t can speed up"
construction to point that even
Great Britain might envy if Ameri-
can industrial efficiency be applied to
the task. A lesson in preparedness"
is being given the nation, and every
American should be thankful that the
price is no higher than it is.
History is being made today in a
way beyond the conception of three
years ago. The United States is find
ing itself out in the world. 1t is
ready for its share of the task of the
western democrariec