The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-04-03

teers. but there are indications that Il !
majority of congress faNors this course,
and a universal service bill probably
will be enacted shortly.
\ plan for universal military service
has been worked out by the general
staff of the army. A bill introduced by
Senator Chamberlain, chairman OF the
committee on military affairs, seeks to
carry out some of the features OF the
general stats plan. In effect, the
scheme Of universal military service
which has the support Of the general
staff and the senate military commit
tee provides for requiring young men
of 10 or % wears to make service Ill
the army for three years, the first SIX
months of which, according to the gen
eral staff plan, shall he spent with the
colors. The young men would be sub
iect to call in time of war i'll subsequent
years.
Struck a Popular Chord.
The President surprised some of his
| hearers by the generous measure of help
which he advocated FOR the entente
governments. 1t was evident from the
cheers that greeted the statement that
| he made i'll this connection that he had
struck popular chord. The President
| did not bring forward any suggestion
| for an ont and-out alliance with the en-
| tente, hut he said that the entrance of
| the United States into the war would
| involve the utmost practicable co-opera-
| tion in counsel and action with the en-
teute powers. That by faction he
meant physical force was apparent from
| the distinction he drew between that
form of help and the extension of the
most liberal financial credits to the
new partners OF the United States
| Whatever the President $ policy of co
| operation with the entente governments
may be, il is evident that it involves
united action in the use of land and
naval forces.
In his address the President brought
out clearly that his policy Of armed
neutrality was not adequate to meet the
situation created by Germany's aban
donment Of civilized warfare at sea. He
condemned Germany S ruthless subma
rine polc,, which, he said, spared Meth
or friendly nCutrals nor enemies. il,
called attention to the torpedoing q
hospital ships and ships carrying relic,
to the stricken Belgian people, and de
clared that Germany 5 war was a wa
against all nations and . a warfar
against mankind = There has been IL
, discrimination the President asserted
| "the challenge is to all mankind.
After defending his course in fur
nishing government arms to American
: merchant vessels and providing exper
5 gunncrs to work them, the Presiden
made known that Germany had int
+ mated that the armed guards placed O
r. our merchant vessels ''would be treat
r ed beyond the pale of law and suhlcc
o to be dealt with as pirate would be.
i One of the interesting features 0
I the President s address was his charg
0 that Germany had filled our unsuspec'
ing communities and even our Offices 9
f government with spies. The Presidcr
y ala not 20 into details as to his know
edge Of German spies in United stat,
e government offices. lie emphasized /
h Indictment of Germany III this respCC
r by the statement that it had bee
proved in our courts that agents of II
st German government accredited to II
Ic United States directed the pro-Germa
y plotting in this country.
70 Another count in the indictment WI
d the President s reference to the inte
Or cepted note sent by Herr Zimmerman
l., the imperial minister of foreign affair
lr TO the German minister at Mexico Cit
r in which it was proposed that Japf
and Mexico should be induced to 10
s. Germany in making war upon the Uni
be ed States.