The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1917-03-23

which the United States, the presi-
dent has publicly declared, shall want
nothing for itself and shall seek only
to preserve the rights of civilization
and humanity.
In such an occasion the United
States might even demand actual par
ticipation in the hostilities on the
European continent without becoming
political ally of any of the entente
powers, simply casting it's weight of
men, money an dmoral influence into
the battle against common enemy.
Ports of the United States probably
would be opened to warships of the
entente navies; credits and the vast
stocks of gold, food, munitions and
other materials might be extended to
all the entente powers. The American
navy probably would cooperate with
the British and French navies in
clearing submarines from the seas. In
laying the whole situation before con-
gress the president is expected to de-
tail fully the warlike acts of Ger
many against the United States and
to pay particular attention to the fu-
ture of the American government as
the great conflict draws to close.
1t is not improbable that he will ask
congress to declare state of war ex-
isting, although there is some indica-
tion that he may only outline the stu
alton fully and leave to congress the
action which is accepted as unavoid-
able.
Meanwhile, every preparation for
putting. the nations defenses in con-
,,ditf6M TO meet a state OF war is going
forward. The principal activities CEN
ter in the navy.
Army Must Wait.
The army plans are in a less definite
state because of the uncertainty as to
what part it will be called on to play.
Tonight Secretary Baker conferred
with the president but the details
they discussed were not revealed.
The possibility of Germany extend
ing submarine operations to the At
lantic seaboard has not been under
estimated but it is recognized that
when she extends her warfare from
the barred zone to the 5000 miles of
broad Atlantic she so effectively weak
ems her starvation blockade OF Eng
land that the announced Object Of
the campaign of ruthlessness will CT
necessity be abandoned. At the same
time the submarine menace to ship
ping will comparatively decrease.
Next to war, the attention of the
American government is on one other
object-the internal situation in Ger
many.
With a military censorship SCREEN
ing the history making events tran
spring 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 reflected in dispatches from
abroad commands close attention.
Murmurings of revolt against au-
tocracy, emboldened by the revolution
in Russia ;reports of food riots in Ber-
lin, which are said to have necessi-
tated the withdrawal of troops from
the fighting lines; military successes
by the entente on the Western front
and in Asia Minor; the submarine cam
paign operating far below the cffic-
iency predicted for it, all lead to the
belief among officials here that possi-
bly, before congress can assemble to
meet the situation, the world may be
confronted with an entirely different
set of conditions.
While it has been assumed by many
that any aggressive action by the
United States against Germany ano
In cooperation with the entente allies
would be purely of naval character,
designed to aid in the determination
OF submarines and raiders preying
upon congress, state department of
flclals declared today that this coun-
try might take any and all military
measures deemed to make effective
its protest against Germany without
actually entering into formal politi-
cal alliance. Even the sending of an
expeditionary force to Europe, it is
held, would not obligate this country
to all the details of the allied pro-
gram.
Officials say that an army could
properly be sent to Belgium to help
in the restoration Of that territory and
to throw Americas influence on the
side OF international law and order.
-->-D-e
Mr. and Mrs r Easfarl;no. 1oft