The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-03-24
Sweeping War Measures to
Be Presented to Con-
gress Immediately.
WILL NOT SEND MEN
ABROAD UNTIL READY
If Army Is to BE Sent to
France 1t Will Be Big
One, Is Decision.

Washington, March a3.---Thc Amer
lean government has decided upon
sweeping measures to be put into cf-
feet following the expected dcclaration
by congress. soon after II meets April
p that n state of war exists between
the United States and Germany. Fully
apprcciating Germany's policy Of act
ing in war first and talking after
wards, the government has determined
to provide against every possible emcr-
gcncy.
Broad questions involved We're dis
cusscd today at a long cabinet meeting
to which heads of departments carried
reports on preparations already made
and others contemplated. Details are
being taken up between President
Wilson and the individual cabinet
members.
Regretfully the government appar-
entity has decided that since Germany
is making war upon the United States
through ruthless killing of Americans
and destruction of their ships, the Issue
must be met with steps much more
| far reaching than mere attempts to
protect individual merchant craft.
! II anything is ahead to prevent this
| II Is not now forcscen. once state
.. of war is declared to exist aggressive
| measures are expected to be taken.
No "Half- Way War;
AS outlined after today's cabinet
meeting the preparations of the goy-
| crnnent are not to be for u short war
or for a war marked by half way meas
urcs. A complete progam has been
prepared SO that everything done will
be carried out in systematic and or
dcrly manner.
The exact measure OF American par
ticfpaton in The war Is not expected to-
be revealed until after the president
addresses congress and until public
sentiment crystallizes SO far as is
known no political alliance with tho
entente allies IL contemplated. al
though military as well as naval CO.
operation Is possible and the govern
mcnt will be unsparing in both money
and supplies for the allies.
".a Address Not Written.
The president has not yet written his
address to congress- although he has
given 1t preliminary consideration. Hc
Ia expected to be specific and to make
clear that tho American government
and people have no quarrel with the
} German people. but cannot tolerate the
, acts Of the German government.
, Whether an army will be sent abroad
IS ono Of the questions to be left Ia
the future. 1t would take many months
To train an army for such service and
many things may happen in that pc.
riod.
Detailed plans requiring congressional
action are expected to be complett
. when congress meets April 2. Prior Il
9 that time the Democratic and Repub
lican leaders OF the senate and hous,
, | will be here and will hold conference.
cabinet. g..
Defense Council Summoned.
'he 'ouHCii ot national CeIenSc an,
: it's advisory committee have bee,
called to meet tomorrow morning. Thi
council. with the advisory committee o
n men prominent In almost every line a
, endeayor. is expected to plan an i'm
portant part in the conduct Of actua
: warfare. .. ia.
d The measures decided upon are mill
G tary, naval, industrial and financi;i
G They are understood to be most com
=, prehensive. All are receiving the per
:, sonal attention Of the president.
. The army plans have been full
drawn. Their first object will be full
t" protect the United States again!
any contingency,
l. To Build Up Navy. a.
'c The navy progam. aside from I'll
actual movement OF 2 existing ship
e' contemplated the building of vessels
IN all classes just as rapidly as the r.
sources of the nation will permit al
W the manning Of them as fast as tn,
81 are constructed. Secretary DAME
y will confer with private builders t,
Is morrow
The industrial plans now being G,
ed ordinated by the council Of national d
Continued on Pare FiveN