The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-02-08
MAY YET DECIDE
TO AVERT WAR
Little Hope, However, That Ger.
many VIII Change Policy
PRESIDENT WILSON HOPEFUL

waiting For "cvers Act" to PreeIpl.
tate Hos,ilities-Lack Of Details
Concerning Killing Of American by
U.Boat ShcIis--Leading Industries
Tender Services 70 Government II
They Are Misunderstanding Naval
Construetion--Wa viii Result In
Censorship Legislation--volunteef
Army Of Hail a Million Men May
Be Called Out
Washington, Feb. 6.-Fearing that
war with Germany cannot lie averted =,
administration officials are directlng
all kinds Of military and naval meas
urcs OF preparedness so as TO be pre-
pared for every possible emergency.
President Wilson and some of his
advisers are still hoping that Ger
many, even at the eleventh hour,
might decide &c change her policy and
thus avert the threatened clash.
All the dispatches from Berlin,
however, tend TO dissipa this hope.
All the news was to the effect that
there would be no turning back on
the part OF the kaiser's government.
and that Germany was determined TO
carry out her submarine policy, no
matter what action the United States
saw III TO take.
The POSITION OF the United States,
therefore, is that the administration
oficials are waiting for the overt
act which will start active hostili-
ties. and in the meantime are making
all possible preparations for whatever
may come afterwards.
American Sailor Killed
Something dangerously near the |
overt act" came in the report tha. en- |
American sailor on the British steam |
or Eavestone had been killed when a
German submarine shelled the crew
IN the boats in which they were cs-
Gaping from the vessel.
No official report from the United
States consul at the port where the
crew were landed has arrived, and
therefore the administration officials
could not determine just bow serious
the case might turn out.
II the boats we're wantonly sheiled
after the steamer had been abandoned.
the act would be a clear violation or
the principles for which the United
States has contended.
Whether the vessel had been
warned or not, or even had the ves-
eel attempted to escape, the she'll
ing Of the crew In the boats after
wards would be violation OF inter-
national law as upheld by President
Wilson and Secretary Lansing. A
submarine is within its rights in ,
shelling a vessel attempting to escapo.
but after the vessel stops and sur
renders she regains all her former i
immunity and her crew are entitled u
10 an opportunity to escape In safety. a
However. the attitude Of President
Wilson Is said to be that II decla- "
ration of hostilities must come il is o
better that It should be for some n
overt act" which will be so fragrant
n IT'S lawiessness that there viii ne b
10 chance for criticism for over-hasry h
lctlon. 2
War Preparations
In the meantime preparations are IA
icing made to provide foi all cen tc
incencies. N
Various bureaus OF both the war
md navy departments are laying plans :.
or swift action should a war emer- 4.
'ency come. Further messages from :,
Individuals and corporations Offering
her services continue to flow into the
epartmenrs Oh
Secretary Baker said that a gencr- 10
ma resronse ~ tho rat,o,,s rooo, ep
Tas coming from the business end
crsonnel OF the country" er
The navy department issued a list la
I prompt offers reaching Secretary a
aniels on which appeared the names
several Of the largest Steel. ship hi
electrical. engineering and NJ;
lbhcr concerns in the country, as es.
ell as railroads.
Ten members OF the Volunteer or,
erfal Coast Patrol have asked 10 wh
Ike advanced course OF training in ps,
lvai seronantics under the navy de-
lrtment. They are ready to pur-
lsse their own machines and to re- n =,
,rt anywhere for training. '
Work on wsrshirs
In an ehcu 10 speed up naval con-
raction, a decision mast first re poi
ached rs to what tyre OF vessels is 70.
be fiyen preference. This is 'e'
rely military qaegticn founded ON 7
e probable pstsre of attack 10 be MI
pected and fe'erse that can Be Nil
a!niaire lrHesraas ate that val,
cry rc Il on are