The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1917-04-27
AGGRESSIVE WAR
ON GERMANY IS
PLANNED BY j. 5.
Armed Forces viii Fight on Both
Land and Sea.
AMERICA TO AID THE ALLIES
Full Resources of the Country Will BE
Placed at the Disposal of the En-
tente-President and Advisers
Aroused by Sinking of the
Steamer HeaIdton.

Washington, March 24.-The Amer
lean government has decided that
steps to meet the situation with Ger
many shall include preparation for
effective and aggressive warfare in
addition to measures for the protec-
ton of shipping.
So far, it was learned after the
cabinet meeting, there has been no
decision as to whether the sending
of a military force to Europe shall
be proposed, but the army, the navy
and the industrial resources of the
nation are to be made ready for any
demand that may be made upon
them.
Plans Aggressive Warfare.
1t was stated after the cabinet
meeting that this government intends
to help the allies in every possible
way, The question of an alliance will
be discussed with members of the
senate and leaders in the house. In
any event there will be a working
agreement which will place the re-
sources of this country at the dis
pOsal of the allies and may lead TO
naval cooperation even in European
waters.
High naval officers are advising the
dispatch of destrOyers and motor
boats to English, French and Mediter-
ranean waters to help clear them of
German submarines.
Aroused by Sinking.
The president and his cabinet dis
cussed the German situation with the
greatest care. There was sharp de-
nunciation of the action of German
submarines in sinking the American
oil tanker HealdtOn, resulting in
loss of seven and possibly more Amer
lean lives, and also the Dutch steamer
La Campine, with Americans on
board. Both of these ships were de-
stroyed outside the prohibited area,
and this fact served to emphasize the
belief of officials that Germany has
thrown aside all pretense Of regard
for neutral rights and intends to run
amuck upon the sea.
The shipping board will expedite
the construction of cargo boats for
the conveyance of supplies to Eng
land, France, Italy and Russia. En-
enlargement will be lent to credits for
the allied powers In short, the Unit
ed States, according to the decision
of the president, will not sit idle. Ii
will prepare for effective and aggres
sive warfare, and will put its plans
into execution.
Going Slow on Army.
The administration is going slow,
however, in the matter of creating a
large army.
So far as the navy is concerned,
that must be recruited without delay
up to the emergency number author
asked to appropriate for probably So
600 additional seamen. In order to
provide sufficient commissioned Off
GERS, Secretary Daniels has assigned
to active duty large number of re-
tired officers.
Fifty Destroyers Wanted.
Secretary Daniels will hold a con-
ference with Shipbuilders today to
urge them to construct torpedo-boat
destroyers with the utmost rapidity
If the secretary has his way, the de-
stroyers, contracts for which are yet
to be given, viii be completed within
ten months. From 22 TO "a months
has been the customary time.
Congress has authorized the con-
struction of only ID destroyers. LIZ
the shipbuilding plants can turn them
out, 80 will be ordered at once and
congress will be asked to approve the
action taken. During the next two or
three days contracts will be let for
some 800 submarine chasers. bids for
which have been received.