Omaha daily bee., 1917-04-02
Government Bends Every Eff
fort to Hurry Defense Meas
ures as Though Actual
Hostilities Unavoidable.
WILSON SPEECH TUESDAY
Predictions House Will Be Or
ganized Monday and Way
Cleared for Reading Of
Address.
ACTIVITY AMONG PACIFIsTs

Washington, April IA declara-
ton that state OF war exists be-
tween Germany and the United
States is generally expected to follow
close upon the assembling of con-
gress in extraordinary session Mon
day. Yesterday the government bent
every effort to hurry preparedness
measures as though actual war was
an imminent certainty.
Indications that a wave of war
sentiment is sweeping the country
came to the White House in mes
sages conveying resolutions adopted
at patriotic mass meetings in differ
ent states and in reports from SEN
ators and representatives that the
nation stands ready to back up the
president.
Likely to Speak Tuesday.
Predictions were general at the
capitol that the house will be organ
lied promptly SO that the president
may deliver his message making rec
concentrations for congressional ac-
tion. Unless there should be an un-
looked-for change he will speak Tues
day.
News of the sinking of additional
ships by German submarines and the
resulting losses of more American
lives only increased the tension
slightly. For some time the general
feeling has been that Germany al
ready had shown utter disregard Of
American rights and actually was
making war on the United States.
Army Plans. Completed.
Secretary Baker conferred with the
presi .ent and afterward announced
that more than 1000 additional Ma
tional Guardsmen had been ordered
out for police duty in different states.
He also said that complete plans for
raising larger army had been made.
Plans in the navy for securing
many submarine chasers and organiz-
ing them for coast patrol went for
ward rapidly, and the National De-
tense Council perfected plan for CO.
ordinating in practical way the ma
tons industrial preparedness.
President Wilson has almost fin
ished his message to congress. He re-
mained in his study much of the day
and also was in close touch with the
War, Navy and Treasury depart
ments, regarding preparedness plans.
Await Congressional Action.
1t was indicated that tentative
plans of the administration for pro-.
viding men, money and supplies for
war purposes await action by con-
gress on the main question of
whether a declaration of a state of
war is TO be adopted. Careful to OBJ
serve the war-making prerogative of
congress, the president and his ad-
visers are desirous of doing nothing
to be construed as an act of war
beyond maintaining state OF armed
neutrality and making ready for war
if it comes.
Plans of pacifsts for attempting to
keep congress from declaring a state
of war attracted some attention, but
most of the reports to the admins
tration indicated that the nation as
whole believes that the time for
war has come,
Stone Against War.
A statement by Chairman Stone of
the senate foreign relations commit
tee today that he would vote against
war, but would support the govern
ment in any policy decided upon, was
the most noticeable anti-war develop
ment.
Outside of the main question to be
decided, chief attention OF the ad-
ministration is directed toward
guarding against possible disturb
ances in the United States. That
such danger exists was generally ad-
mitted, but officials believe the situ-
alton is we'll in hand.