Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-22

~ I'll tnc entente powers. The American
s3tyStAyy probably would cooperate with
tho British and French navies in clear
81 Ing submarines from the seas.
skS4skSHurry calls for all party leaders in
81 Congress went out to-day soon as
81 the President announced the advance
" lament OF the date OF the extra session.
II with the menace OF war looming close
Il ahead. political differences began TO
3 sS~fade away. Some Congressman already
here went so far as TO suggest that the
nSht for organization Of the House DO
sss postponed until after the International
W.. situation had been dealt with.
s-,,ii In laying the whole situation before
- Congress. the President is expected TO
81 detail fully the wariilSe acts of Ger
M. many against the United states and TO
BE- pay particular attention 10 the future
s.of the American government as the
great conflict draws TO close.
49, II ia not improbable that he will ask
Congress 10 declare state Of war
ess listing, although there is some ndica-
ton that he may only outline the sit
patton fully and leave to Congress the
action which is accepted unavoidt
a. able. So much can develop. however.
N,st before Congress assemblies that the
resident is keeping his plans in
alternative form. Germany, by her acts
.2-.ip the interim. may throw all the
4 -, plans awry and accept the onus OF
~. having forced the war.
-:sPUTTING NATIONS DEFENsEs
IN CONDITION FOR WAR
e. Meanwhile. every preparation for
~ putting the nations defeuscs in coudi-
n siion TO meet state OF war arc going
3, forward. The principal activities con-
.1er in the navy. where far-reachinG
e Preparations are being carried on TO
;;ttleal with the submarine menace.
81 whether ii is TO be met in tho war
IA zone about the British coasts or AT the
&c gates ct American cities.
n eThe army's plans arc III less def
~ mite state, because OF the uncertainty
az as 10 what part il will be called upon
.M TO play. General star plans to tit
sssf several contingencies have been worked
5nE out, however, and every step that can
,sN he taken in the present situation has
5:t been taken. Tonight Secretary Baker
m conferred with the President, but the
81, details they discussed were not re-
q, vealed.
q e, The possibility Of Germany extending
Is submarine operations to the Atlantic
-. scaboard has not been undcrcstimatcd,
q. but is recognized that when she en-
y. tends her warfare from the compa ra
~ lively limited barred zone to the 5000
IA miles OF broad Atlantic she so effcc-
* Of England that the announced object
q, OF the campaign Of ruthlessness will
q. OF necessity he bandoned At the same
n, time, the submarine menace TO shipping
4, Will comparatively decrease
~. Next to war, tho attention Of the
=, ~ American government Is upon one other
~ subjcct--thc internal situation in Ger
y; many. With military censorship
g, screening the history events
i'm, irir, tl,;,,
a, and equally screening from the Ger
~ man people the full meaning of events
TX in'the world outside. tho real condition
n of affairs in that country Euardcdiy
\, reelected in dispatches from. abroad
:, commands close attention.
:, MAY BE CONFRONTED
.st WITH NEW tONDlTtONS
2s. f., Murmurinss OF revolt against au-
-,tocracy, cmboldcncd by the revolution
s,-sin Russia: reports Of food riots in R"t.
lin. which arc said to have ncccssitatcd
The withdrawal OF troops from the
lighting lines military successes by the
entente on tho western front and in
Asia Minor: tho submarine campaign
operating far below the efficiency pre-
dictcd for 1t, lead to the belief among
officials here that possibly before Con-
gross can assemble 10 meet tho situa-
ton. the world may hc confronted with
an entlTclN Inherent SGT OF Conliton
While II has been generally assume cd
that any aggressive action by the
United States against Germany. and in
cooperation with the entente allies
would be purely OF naval character,
designed to aid in tho cN,ermina ton
= of submarines and raiders prcying upon
commerce, State Department officials
) declared to-day that this country might
take any and all military mea sures
~ Il
protest asafffs, ucimany without ac-
tuaiiy entering into a formal political
alliance.
T y. Even the sending OF An cxpcdtionary
force 10 Europe. il is held. would not
- sobtGato this country 10 all the details
. or the allied program
~! Officials say that army could
properly be sent 10 Belgium. for in
stance TO help in tho restoration of
that violated territory. and to throw
4 1, Americas influence in real and prac-
tical way on the side Of International
law and order.
MANY POINTS OF WEAKNESS
IN ARMED NEUTRALITY STATUS
The armed neutrality status at pres
= ent in force is held BY the international
law experts 10 present many points az
,i 'weakncss. Neither war nor peace. il
Involves the country in continual mis-
- understanding with both sides. 1t is
said TO leave open The door for unlim-
Iitcd litigation with Germany after the
war. In that status. the United states
II, is still technically neutral. and might
s. he held responsible by Germany for
any unncutral acts committed here
With an actual recognition of "a state
s; OF war this difficulty would disappear
Moreover AUTOMATICALLY the United
States is in a most extra ordinary si;u-
alton. semihostilc 10 The central powers
So and yet not aligned with the allies The
.
is not taken into the con-
fdence OF nations with which IL former
81 lj1y communicated most freely. Espcci-
81 ally is this 10 the Far East about
= which the governments information