New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-10-09

Big OFFENSIVE
BY AMERICANS
Everything Ready at Washington
for Quick Action in Europe

Washington, D. c., Oct. 9.-Ger-
many is about to feel the first telling
! blows of America at war.
Military and naval activities on the
broadcast scale are under considera
ton. With the congress session end
ed, President Wilson is ready to give
his sole attention to effective steps to
| bring Germany to terms.
| Up to this time-six months after
| the declaration of war-Mr Wilson
| and his associates in the cabinet have
| been devoting much Of their time to
getting what they wanted from con-
gross to enable them to make the
| participation of the United States in
the conflict most effective. Now, since
they have obtained the powers they
desire, they are ready for the mill
tary program.
Detailed recommendations of what
should be undertaken by the Ameri-
can military forces. in cooperation
with the other Allies. have been
placed before the president through
Mr.. Daniels, secretary of the navy.
and Mr.. Baker, secretary of war; They
represent the best tactics worked out
by the most skilled officers after per-
sonal observation on the battlefronts
and conferences with allied officers in
France and England.
Details Yet to Be Approved.
In general the schemes have re-
ceived the approval of the president
and it was to accomplish them that
many of the bills were asked of con-
gress. The details, however, are yet
to be approved by the commander in
chief of the army and navy to put
them into operation.
So he can give the program the
most careful study Mr.. Wilson will re-
main in Washington while congress
is not in session, foregoing his GUS
tomary rule Of passing few weeks
in the mountains or at the seashore
as an annual vacation. 1t is possible
that some time during the autumn
he will go for trip or two aboard
the presidential yacht Mayfiower,
where he will be alone TO work and
rest, but he does not intend to &C
cept any OF the numerous invitations
received from cities all over the coun-
try to make speeches.
While congress was in session Mr..
Wilson, Of necessity, was unable to
give his undivided time to the work.
ing out of the war program. He had
to have conferences with congress
sional leaders on a wide variety OF
questions, directly and indirectly re-
| lated to the war, but entirely away
from military operations. Now, how
ever, he feels that he has sufficient
| authority to begin the prosecution Of
the conflict with telling blows.
U-Boat Campaign Most Important
Mr.. Wilson Is understood to realize
that the most important thing which
should be done at this time is to
eliminate the submarine menace.
Since early in the summer American
naval vessels have been on patrol
duty in European waters, chasing
submarines and protecting merchant
and passenger vessels carrying war
supplies and men to the front. The
president feels that they have been
of great help in diminishing this
submarine campaign, but he knowL
that there is still much to do to wipe
them out altogether.
In this connection it would not sur
prise close observers in Washington
if a gigantic offensive campaign would
be begun very soon against the sub
marines and that the activities of the
German craft would continue to di-
minish rapidly within the next few
months. The Allies have a slight adj
vantage in launching such a cam
paign at this time, owing to the fact
that the submarines in winter are not
so efficient as in summer.
Just what recommendations have
been made for the activities of the
armies is not revealed, but 1t is known
that General Pershing, in command
of the troops in France, has submit
ted definite scheme of cooperation
with the French and British armies.
The arrangements, which have been
worked out from personal observa-
ton and after conferences with mill
tary commanders in the field, are to
be acted upon soon, so that all will
be ready when. the time comes for
the actual getting into the fray.
EVENTS T0NICuT |