The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-21
Preservation of Civilization and
Democracy at Stake.
THEN WAR WOULD SOON END
Plan Already Adopted to Add a
Volunteer Army of 100000.
Observation-Disclosures in World
Ready to Serve Nation.

| Washington, March 21.-When the
president handed to Count Won Bern
storff his passports and notified con-
gress that he had several diplomatic
relations altogether with the imperial
| German government the United States
was placed in a position where all the
precedent OF centuries was pressing it
toward war
! All official Washington, openly ac-
knowledged that nothing less than
Germany's abandonment of her newly
announced campaign of submarine
ruthlessuess could prevent it and no
one here supposed that Germany
would change her determination. The
possibility that the United States
would soon be involved in the war
! was recognized in Germany before the
new submarine campaign was an
nounced when Foreign Minister Zim-
mermanu working thru Count Won
| BeInstorff and the German minister
! in Mexico attempted to unite Japan
and Mexico in an alliance to make war
| on the United States. All the re-
sources of the United States, indus
trial well military, are speedily
being modified to place the nation
in the fullest state of readiness for
any eventuality.
!
rests with the navy, which is arming
American merchant ships, placing
rush orders Cor submarine chaSerS
spending Sis, 100000 by special au-
thority of congress to hurry the naval
\ construction, already under way, ad-
vancing the graduation of classes at
| Annapolis, protecting American har-
| Tors against invasion by German sub
marines and marshalling the indus
trial resources necessary 20 stand be-
| hind the fleet.
| Plans for the army are not so fully
matured. 1t is believed however, that
| President Wilson will recognize the
possibility of the army's participation
in war when he addresses congress by
discussing universal training
In tentative way plans for mar
shaling the full strength of the reg
ular army, the national guard and the
raising of a volunteer army of 100000
men have been worked out in the
army college in contravention of all
/ the principles of law and humanity
| had come to constitute a state of war
being made on the United States and
| there was nothing left to do to call
congress to deal with the question.
Volunteer Army of 100000
! A volunteer army of 100000 is
| planned as a nucleus of what eventu-
| lion.
The mobilization of industrial re-
sources has gone much further. Hun
dreds of great corporations thru the
| efforts of the council of national de-
| Tense, have prepared themselves to
utilize their efficiency in the defense
of the nation.
Henry Ford has offered, and the
government has accepted, his automo-
| bile plant, to be operated without
| profit, in the event of war. Charles
| NJ. Schwab has announced that his
| Bethlehem plant, now greater than
| Krupps will be used entirely for the
| government. The United States steel
| corporation and a hundred other great
industrial organizations have been
making plans for their participation.
Yesterday the great copper interests
notified the government that they
would supply the army and navy with
their vital supplies of copper at about
| half the market price
$500, ZOO, 900 for a Starter.
! Leaders in the senate hold the view
that not less than $500, 100000 should
/ be granted at once in case war is de-
clared. 1t is not probable that legis-
! lation giving such a sum would meet
with any opposition. Aside from the
! task of protecting American lives and
rights against aggression on the high
seas, the president has considered the
broader question of the preservation
of civilization. the distribution of
world power after the war, natural
| arrangement OF the world S peoples In
| government by the consent of the gov
| erned and an effective league of ma
| tionst to protect the world against an
other cataclysm, of war The influ-
| ence of the United States in the con-
| ferenees which will make peace is
| everywhere admitted as not to be
/ oVerestimated. When the word that
the president has summoned congress
went thru the allied embassies this
morning it was received with accla-
nation. There is not a diplomat in
the corps who does not believe that
| it means the entry of the United States
! into the great war, bringing it's wealth,
| its armed forces, its great resources
and its moral power to the side of the
| entente allies in what they feel is
| their battle for the preservation of
civilization and democracy.
Hague Treaty All but AnnuIled.
| With the knowledge that the United
States is practically certain to declare
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