The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-09
Initial Battle Expected to Be
|, Fought in Atlantic.
Navy Is Now Operating Under
Strict Censorship.
PRESIDENT Is A BUSY MAN
He Spent His Easter Preparing
For Big Weeks Work.
Secret Service Men Are Very
Active on the Border.
BY e. r.. SARTWELL.

Washington, April 9-The nation
settled down to watch the fleet as
President Wilson, his executive lieu
tenants and the congress prepared to-
day to carry out the stupendous war
plans which have been agreed upon.
The first real war news" Washing
ton believes, will come from some
where in the Atlantic, where the
American grand fleet is under war or
ders.
No word as to the disposition of a
single unit of the fleet will be given
out at the navy department. Secretary
Daniels said The censorship will be
rigidly maintained until an actual en-
gagement of some sort has taken place
and even then the announcement may
be delayed. Meantime America S
naval forces is at sea mad ready for
action, whether it be against the sub
marine menace that strikes in the
dark, or German raiders, skulking in
the byWays of the seven seas.
As the navy-the nations first line
of defense-prepared for action, the
drive for superpreparedness went on
with redoubled energy. The officials
worked on the detailet plans of CO.
operation between the American navy
and the fleet of the entente powers.
The plans for financial cooperation
presidents advisers, and it was decid-
ed to press congress at once for the
necessary legislation tC pay for the
great three and a half billion dollars
military plans of the administration
and to extend a loan of two or three
billions to the entente powers.
Bond Issue Plans.
The ways and means committee of
the house of representatives, and the
finance committee of the senate will
get down to work at once, under pres
sure from the executive departments
and the White House on the legislation
to authorize the contemplated war
bond issue of 5 billion dollars and to
increase the revenues of the govern
ment from taxes in order to meet the
stupendous war expenditures.
Congress will be pressed also to
rush at once the army bill framed by
the war department, which contem-
plates the raising of the regular army
and militia to war strength,
and the addition to the pres
ent forces of an immediate increment
Of 500,0 900 men to be raised by Sc
lective draft. Despite indications of
opposition to the draft feature of the
army bill, the administration believes
that it will be enacted into law
promptly, and that it will be in opera
ton within a short time.
The precautions taken to meet the
abundant results, according to reports
from all over the country reaching the
department of justice today In the
neighborhood of 800 arrests of Ger
man aliens for various anti-American
activities were reported to the depart
ment as a result of the dragnet which
began to sweep the country as the
president issued his proclamation reg
ulating the conduct of enemy aliens.
The department declined to make any
! II 1a6 ont aC fn hn
rests made or the possible scope of fu-
ture operations but it was stated that
the secret agents of the government
were we'll satisfied with the results of
the anti-spy campaign to date
Active on the Border.
Agents of the department of justice
and secret service men showed great
activity on the Mexican border and a
I general clean up of suspicious persons
in that part of the country has been
ordered. 1t was estimated tonight that
a total of 100 arrests in the towns
along the border either have already
been made or are contemplated. 1t
was stated that if the circumstances
surrounding these arrests are made
public they will show a sensational
state of affairs along the nation s
southern border.
President Wilson spent his Easter
Sunday IN quiet preparation for the
rigorous weeks ahead. He went to
church in the morning and later in
the day took a short automobile ride.
! The remainder of the day was spent in
+, his study
| The president has before him grave
questions of international policy in
connection with the great war plans
which have been made, and he like
] wise must give his attention to the
! vast mass of war legislation which the
administration must have enacted by
| congress before the full power and
resources of the nation can be cast
! into the war scale to over-balance the