Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1917-04-06

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 90 years to make service in
the army for three years, the first six
months of which, according to the gen
cral staff plan, shall be spent with the
colors. The young men would be sub
iect to call in time Of war in 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 in this connection that he had
struck n popular chord. The President
did not bring forward any suggestion
for an out and-out alliance with the en-
tcntc, but he said that the entrance of
the United States into the war would
involve the utmost practicable co-opcra-
tion in counsel and action with the en-
tcnte powers. That by "action' he
meant physical force was apparent from
the distinction he drew between that
form of help and the extension of 'thc
most liberal financial Credits to the
new partners of the United States.
Whatever the President S policy of CO.
operation with the entente governments
may be, it 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 Gcrmany's aban-
donmcnt of civilized warfare at sea. He
condemned Germany s ruthless subma-
rinc policy, which, he said, spared Meth
or friendly ncutrals nor enemies. He
called attention to the torpedoing Of
hospital ships and ships carrying relief
to the stricken Belgian people, and de-
clarcd that Gcrmanv's war was ga war
against all nations and " warfare
against mankind.' There has been no
discrimination, the President asserted ;
"thc challenge is to all mankind. -
After defending his course in fur
nishing government arms to American
merchant vessels and providing expert
gunncrs to work Them the President
made known that Germany had init
mated that the armed guards placed on
our merchant vessels "would be treat
ed beyond the pale of law and subject
to be dealt with as pirate would be. -
One of the interesting features of
the President S address was his charge
that Germany had filed our unsuspcct.
ing communities and even our Offices Of
government with spies. The President
did not 90 into details MS to his knovl-
edge of German spies in United Stat IS
government offices He emphasized his
indictment of Germany in this respect
by the statement that it had been
proved in our courts that agents of the
German government accredited to the
United States directed the pro-Gcrman
plotting in this country.
Another count in the Indictment was
the President s reference to the inter
ccpted note sent by Herr Zimmerman,
the imperial minister of foreign affairs,
TO the German minister at Mexico City.
i'll which it was proposed that Japan
and Mexico should be induced to Join
Germany in making war upon the Unit
ed States.
No Break With Austria Now.
The President made it clear to his
hearers that for the present, at least
he had no intention of breaking rela.
tions with Austria Hungary or of going
into war with that country. The wal
he advocated was to be a war with the
German government only.
The President drew sharp diStinc.
ton between the German government;
and the German people. He expressed n
friendly feeling for the German popu.
lace and gave a word of assurance to
the Germans in this country that thew
would be treated with Kindness and
consideration. At the same time he