New Britain herald., 1917-02-02
U. 5. COULD SEND A
 FLEET OVER OCEAN
Army Could Also Be Ready by
 Summer Of 1918

Washington, Feb. 2.-The United States would organize as rapidly as possible to take a real share in the war, if it entered the conflict ot all. This was the opinion among officials here as the hopes of avoiding a break with Germany dwindled. This country would not be satisfied, it was declared, to stand on the out side and watch the other powers of the Entente fight its battle against Germany. At the present moment it is unprepared to send an army to Europe, but it could and would send it's navy to protect American com- merce.
 The raising of an adequate army, it was expected would begin immediate ly on the declaration of hostilities. It would take a year and half, at least, to get ready the first expedition. Tho war might be over by that time, but as peace without victory" would then be in the discard the chances are that it would not.
 The entrance of the United States into the war. though it would mean little to the Allies in a military way at the outset. would be of the greatest moral value. It would wipe out all the irritation of MT. Wilson's leace proposals. It would show the world that the American people were not 'too fat to fight" and it would make it certain that Germany could not win or even obtain a draw.
 Army By Summer of 1918.
 The American army that could be made ready for the summer cam- paign of 1918 would be formidable force. If the war were still in prog ress at that time, it should be 3 pre- ponderating frorce. A fresh army, against discouraged, and war-weary Germany, would give the coup de grace.
 But can the British withstand the German starvation blockade? Gan they hold out for the thirty days which Germany allots them, much less for year and a half, until an American army is ready?
 The British here say yes. They do not underestimate the seriousness of the German threat. They admit that reversion to the barbarian of the Stone Age will add to the effective ness of Germany's warfare. Many ships will be sunk. Many women and children, neutral as well as belEger- ent, will be murdered.
 The German plans were known in England, not for ten days only, ss has been stated, but for at least three months. Even before that prepara- tions against such a contingency were made.
 Britain Prepared.
 All the effectiveness would not be on the German side. The first intensive naval campaign against submarines Is recalled, when scores of the U-boats were trapped. Some were captured in nets and held under the sea and not discovered until their crews had per- ished. Still others were rammed and sunk by motor boats and destroyers, the German crews being drowned like rats.
 No accurate information, as 70 the extent of the British preparations was available here. but it was estimated reliably that at least 4,000 anti-sub- marine craft were ready, besides inn mense quantities of nets. traps and other paraphernalia.
 If the United States entered the war and undertook to protect its shipping against the submarines 1t could add to this force not only it's naval mosquito fleet, but innumerable fast motor boats and limitless facilities for pro- ductng submarine trapping devices.