South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-03-13
RumOr is Denied by Swiss
Legation, But Story Re-
fuses to be OoWned.
Officials Are Silent.
GENERAL SITUATION
Is ONE OF WAITING
Nation IS Preparing and in
Case Break Does Come
viii be Able to Cope
With Conditions.
Interuatlonal News Service :

lnterudtlOudl news service.
WASHINGTON. March 13.-Ru-
mors that Germany would reply to
the world notification" of the
United States that its merchant yes
sells will carry an armed guard" by
"a declaration of war against the
United States were widely circulated
here today They met With denial
at the Swiss legation where German
affairs i'm this country are being
handled but they were none the less
widely persisted in.
Officials refused to discuss POSSIBLE
tiles. II was admitted that Ger
definite plan Of action and a declar-
alton of war, in view of the existing
rupture. would cause no surprise.
But. inasmuch as Germany has the
knack Of doing the unexpected at
all times. officials. by direct orders
from Pres't Wilson. are refraining
from discussing possibilities.
America il Waiting.
The general situation so far as
the country at large is concerned.
continues one Of waiting. The navy
is rushing its preparations. It's
purchase Of 16 non-rigid dirigible
aircraft and for an adequate num-
Der of high-powered submarine
Chasers for coast patrol is only pre-
liminary. officials say. to acquiring
everything that might possibly he
needed in protecting the country.
From his sick bed. Pres't Wilson
today was directing the preparations
of both branches Of the service. The
army plans are naturally held back.
No action can he taken so far as
increasing the personnel until a
state of war actually exists When
that comes. if it does. the first call
Will be for a volunteer force of $780,
600 men. The general staff has
worked out "A plan TO officer such
force 1t already has directed the
various regimental commanders TO
recommend from the enlisted forces
90 men for commissions from each
( regimental unit These lists must
be submitted 10 the staff not later
than March 20 one week from to-
day.
Sixty Minimum Number.
sixty is the minimum number but
there was some doubt in official
quarters whether some of the more
recently organized regiments would
he able to supply this many. If the
plan works out total of $50 Of
fcers would be Immediately avail
able
The greatest danger OF this plan
I is that il robs existing regiments Of
its best non-commissioned officers.
This naturally will seriously weaken
the professional standing of the
army. But. officers today declared
the method the general staff has
adopted is the only one by which
volunteer army could be speedily
whipped into shape. The regular
army as at present constituted has
: 1000 commissioned officers. None
| Of these could he spared from their
( regular posts 10 train volunteers In
addition 20 the men 20 be picked
from the ranks for this work 1000
members OF the officers reserve
corps. under the general staff plan
I NUulu Nt tdAlfN To Allf tOlNlS "
command volunteer regiments.
All Supplies Are Ready.
The government now has stored
at various arsenals throughout the
! country-principall ar the Rock
/ Island and Frankfort arsenals-
nearly all OF the supplies required
for a volunteer force OF 500. 600 with
| the exception OF uniforms. The
| equipment includes guns bayonets,
| haversacks. etc. A billion anu a
( haversacks etc. 4 billion and a half
rounds of regulation rifle ammuni-
! tion are in storage and ready for dis
| tributiOn to volunteers For each
rife in reserve there are 1000
rounds OF ammunition. for each
machine gun 10000 rounds.
But. army men admitted today
that these preparations were only a
start-that many more calls for vol
unteers would follow rapidly on the
heels OF the first. Vast quantities
OF supplies would be required 10
I equip these volunteers.
The general STAFF entertains no
i fears on that score however.