El Nuevo mexicano., 1917-05-03
VERY EXISTENCE
OF ENGLAND AND
FRANCE IN PERIL
BY THE U-BOATS
Situation Alarming to
America, Lane Tells
Governors
100000 TONS IN
PAST WEEK SUNK
President Makes Earnest
Speech to State
Defenders
(Ry Leased Wire to New Mexican.)

(By Leased Wire to New Mexican.)
WASHINGTON, May ~2.-secretar,
Lane told the governors comforting
here today with the council of nation
al defense on the part state govern
ments will take in the war, that the
federal government had heard 100000
tons of shipping had been sunk in the
last week by German submarines.
The. destruction, Secretary Lans
said, was not only threatening the ex
istence Of England and France blu,
was alarming the United States
Study Of inventions to combat the
submarine menace is being diligently
pursued in the interior department
he said.
The United States must build ships
as rapidly as possible, he told the
delegates. "If we don't fight the war
on the other slde," he said, 1--WE shall
have to fight It on this side of the
Atlantic"
Secretary Lane declared he believ-
ed the war would last several years
and that every u Of the coun-
try must be brought into play to bring
1t to a successful conclusion.
Cannot ForeteII End
MANY persons thought said Sec.
rotary Lane, that all we had to do
was to issue bonds and that Germany
would bow her head in submission.
Nothing could be farther from the
truth. We do not know when this
war will end. 1t may not be a one
year war. Personally, / believe, it will
last several years. Herbert G. Hoover
has informed this government that
Germany has food enough to last two
years, perhaps longer.
Germany has put up the greatest
fight of history and she has the ad-
vantage Of now fighting a defensive
warfare. Don't go back home and in
spire your people with the thought
that immediate action can bring this
war to an immediate end. Your peo-
pie must look to this years crop and
next years crop and the next after
that.
Every Man Involved
"We can't afford to fail in this war.
Every man in this county is involved
Ill Ills WOIh anu oNCiy man III tAO
country is a soldier"
Secretary Lane warned his hearers
against discomfort and attack Oh the
government. Always, he said, there
was dissatisfaction with those who
are directing a war and he urged his
hearers to base their criticism on
facts and not on rumor. Secretary
Baker asked the state representatives
to cooperate with the government in
putting into operation the army draft
law. He told of military and indus
trial preparations and described dit
ficulties the government faces in rails
ing the greatest army in the history
of the country and Of the need of sup
plies, especially farm products and
ships.
"The states" Secretary Baker said,
"can assist the government by giving
support to the draft; aiding recruit
ing and seeing to it that proper ex-
emptions are enforced and that men
needed home are not sent into for
eign countries"
'cWe are not going to make war"
he said, with our right hand or u
left hand but with both hands and
every man in the country can aid"
Secretary Daniels asked the aid OF
the states in recruiting the naval
personnel to 10000 men after the
new bin is passed.
Later at the state department Sec
retary Lansing in response to inquiries
said:
ut may as we'll be recognized that
the submarine situation is very seri-
ous."
National prohibition during the war
to conserve the grain supply for food
a recommended to the council OF
national defense in resolutions pre-
sented today by a committee of repre-
sentatives of state defense councils.