Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-02
Prepare Now

IT is tho duty of the present CONGRESS IN
prepare this naton for war Ii peace
negotiations fal--and there seems to he every
unhappy probability that they viii fail-the
United States will face break with GERMANY
frcsGtnl Wilson has sounded that warning
ON more than one occasion. and in language
ueSpite the current fluhdub about it, which
Is absolutely unmistakahie.
IN seeking 10 bring together the minds OF
inc warning nations, the President dis
charged an obligation TO them aud To
humanity. but he consulted also the vital
interests OF his own people I'm tho very in
PRODUCTION OF tho note addressed 10 the bel
hSercht powers, Secretary Lansing said tho
President besought consideration for the
course ot action outlined "as coming not only
from friend. but also as coming from the
representative" OF a neutral nation. whose in
tcrcSts have been most seriously affected Nv
'hc war. and whose concern for its early con
ciusiOh arises out OF manifest necessity to
safeguard those interests if the war is ia
continnc. And later in the note the Sccrc-
'arE OF state repeats the same plea on the
ground that il hostilitics arc much longer
continued. the situation Of neutral ma tions
now exceedingly hard to endure" will he
rendered altogether ntolerable"
u is we'll known that Chancellor Won Beth
mann-liollweE is the representative in Ger
many of policy Of moderation and that his
critics and political enemies arc not the
OF the TirpitE and $Reventlow type What
his peace terms arc the neutral world does
no, know, but that the pan-Germaus the an
h'Aauohists and the war party generally will
oppose any peace which is not a .'victorious''
ono no student Of German politics will doubt.
The choice is not between tho Chancellor and
greater moderation, but between tho Chan
ccllor and policy of unrcstraincd conoucst
and fright fulncss
Whatever construction is placed on the
German peace tenders. their failure will bring
the United States to the verge of war The
alhcs have branded them as attempts Ito
Justify in advance "A new series of crimes =
including submarine warfare: if this be true,
the ruthless use Of snbmarn will cause the
severance OF relations between this country
ana the central powers. Ii. on the other
hand. the Chancellor is sincere. the failure OF
the negotiations will either drive him from
power or into the camp of those to whom
frightfuness Is creed in that event "a Ter.
America will have to act
We may we'll be thankful that the call IN
the National Guard for service on the border
has given us $4,000 trained men and that
rapid additions arc being made to the Of
hcers corps OF the regular army and to the
array reserve corps. We arc not In the hope
less condition Of year ago. Something
although not nearly enough---is being done
Tor the aviation service of both army and
navy. and navy construction is being rushed
rapidly as possible
This Congress should provide universal
min'arE training, SO that a start may be made
az once Our reserve supplies of arms and
munitions should be largely increased. The
regular army. by increase in the rate of nav
or otherwise. should be recruited to its fun
authorized strength Tho situation. what
ever lis outcome may be- = too critical now
To permit any further delay