Middletown transcript., 1917-04-07
WAR PLANS ON AN
EXTENSIVE SCALE
Congress Clears The Way for
Action.
PLANS FOR C0NsCRIPTI0N
Army To Be Raised In lnstaIlments
OF 100000 Until Enough Have
Been Trained To De-
feat Germany.

Berlin (via London).-The press re.
port of President Wilson's state OF
war" message reached Berlin Wednes.
day morning.
1t is declared here that there would
be no change in the German attituce,
even if Congress adopted President
Wilson's views. Germany will not de-
clare war nor take any step to wage
war against the United States. The
submarine war will be continued as 1t
has been conducted since February l.,
but this, declared the officials, is not
directed more against the United
States than any other neutral.
1t also is declared that there will be
no change in the treatment of Amerl-
can citizens in Germany, who now
have the same freedom as all other
neutrals. But Germany expects that
the United States will continue the
same treatment Of Germans in that
country.
Washington. War plans, military,
economic and financial, for aggressive
hostilities against Germany are being
rushed forward by the administrative
branch of the Government and only
await action by Congress on a war
resolution to be put into execution.
Sentiment Almost Unanimous.
Sentiment in favor of the resolution
is almost unanimous and the only
question is how much time shall be
devoted to speechmaking.
President Wilson and his Cabinet
went over the war plans at two-hour
session and previously the National
Defense Council, with its civilian
advisory commission and several
subsidiary organizations, developed
policies and details of momentous con-
sequence to the nation. Meanwhile,
the War and Navy Departments were
going ahead with the most immediate
preparations for defense.
Navy To Engage In War Quickly.
Already the navy has taken steps to
insure cooperation between the
American fleet and those Of the En-
tente Allies, to become effective upon
the formal entry of the United States
into the war. The most important
plans under preparation by the Ad-
ministration include:
Enlistment by selective conscrlp-
ton of young men for national army
in addition to the regular establish
ment and National Guard, in incre-
ments of 100000 until enough men
have been trained to make certain the
defeat of Germany.
ORGANIZATION of the nations COM
mercial interests for economical and
effective distribution of commodities
among the civilian population.
Rapid provision of adequate means
of combating the submarine menace.
The raising of a very large sum OF
money, as much as possible to be OBJ
tanned by taxation, and the definite
amount of the first budget not to be
fixed until the exact needs of the army
and navy and of the Entente Allies are
ascertained.
Purchases of supplies and equip
ment of all kinds for the army under
the provision of law which allows the
Secretary of War to fix reasonable
price," and
Division of the young men Of the
country into service classes, those
needed more in industries than in the
army or navy to receive insignia
showing they are performing duty
equivalent to fighting.
For War To the Hit.
Most of these plans will require the
authorization of Congress-, but from
opinions expressed at the Capitol it Is
believed that once the war resolution
is adopted further legislation to en-
power the executive branch to 60 full
speed ahead will follow quickly. There
is every indication that the nation,
through it's representatives, will fol.
low out President Wilson's words to
Congress and exert all its power and
employ all its resources to bring the
Government of the German empire to
terms and end the war"