The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-04-03
ONLY GERMAN BACkDONN
CAN CHANGE STATUS NOW
GhancellOr's Speech of No Enect.-
President to Speak Along Bread
Lines OF Americas Safety and Du-
ties.-To Touch Briefly on Many
Incidents.

Washington, March 29.-Nhile 1t is
assumed from the defensive measures
already taken by the military arm OF
the government that President VIZ
son in addressing congress next week
will ask for war against Germany or
a declaration that state OF wa:
exists, it is known that he VIII SPEAK
along broad lines, dealing briefly WITH
incidents leading up to the present
crisis.
Officials feel that the time is past
when incidentals should be discussed
and that henceforth only fundamen-
tai questions of both present and 1u-
ture American safety should be con-
sidered.
The general situation has not been
changed by the speech of the German
chancellor, Won Bethmann-HollWeg,
today. according to the view tonlght
of officials who read press reports OF
the portion of the address dealing
with the United States and submarine
warfare. Germany, it was SAID, mas
consistently attempted to lay the
Only complete abandonment OF un-
restricted submarine warfare could
change the attitude of the Unltea
States. it has been said semi-officlally
recently. and press reports indicate
that the German chancellor did not
even discuss that possibility.
Wants Quick Action.
The president, who Will meet MS
cabinet tomorrow for the last time be-
fore beginning the actual writing
of his message to congress, is hope1ul
that no time will be lost in ORGANIZING
the house so that he may deliver MS
address as soon as possible. :.
The attitude of both congress anu
public opinion is sought. AS to the
former the president is anxious not
to transgress the constitutional pre-
rogative of congress as the war max
ing body.
Public opinion, it was said here, as
indicated by clippings from news
papers in all parts of the country, un-
mistakably favors decisive acton.
Belligerency is not confined to the AT
lantic and Pacific sections, If opinions
gathered by the administration are
true index. Demand for action oy
congress comes also from the inter-
ior section between the Alleghanles
and the Sierras.
The great point under considera-
ton by the administration is whether
Germany has noGunmlstakaoly SHOWN
through a long succession OF VIOLA
tions of international law that the
United States must definitely unite
with the liberal democrats OF the
world against the four most complete
autocracies both for its present and
its future safety. All hope has been
lost as shown in the note to Germany,
on the treaty of 1925. in the good
faith of the present German rulers.
The Belgian invasion and deporta-
4ions. ruthless submarine warfare
attempts to embroil neutral countries
in plots and the general conduct OF
the war have convinced many offlclals
that the German military system as
at nresent directed is permanent
danger to the worlds peace.
Plots Proof of Perfidy.
German plots in this country, run
ming back almost to the beginning OF
the war, and finally eliminating IN
the Zimmerman note to ally japan
and Mexico in war against tnls
country, are regarded as evidence OF
the general system The administra-
tion has much material not yet made
public and it is understood, moreover,
that the complete text OF the Zlm-
mermann note has not been publish
ed. Further disclosures of intrigues
may be expected at any time.
Germany, through the coolness
with which she treated the presidents
proposal to name peace terms. IS feit
to be the greatest source of danger
to world peace. Some officials here
who felt the original offer was insln-
cere and merely play for domestic
consumption believe her refusal to
state terms is proof of that conten-
tion.
Full cooperation with the allies
therefore is generally favored as al
necessity to Americas future safety.
German victory now, it is said, might
lead to a direct attack on this coun-
trv later and would at least necessl-
tate extensive armament A deadlock
would be tantamount to German
victory on the basis that while after
peace the German union would be-
come stronger, the entente might very
easily fall apart and Germany be left
relatively world supreme.
Can Hope Only For Draw.
Military authorities here believe
that the most Germany expects now
is draw. Why she seems so ln-
different to shis countrv's entranse
into the war causes much interest,
Some officials have predicted for more
than year that Germany would at
tempt to force this nation into thej
conflict at the last moment. first IN
order that her autocrGcv might save.
its face before the people by surren-
dering TO the whole world. and sec