New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-05
II S. Expected to Refrain
from Actual Alliance
with Entente
FLEET WOULD GUARD
ENTIRE HEMISPHERE
pange Waters from Hall
fax TO Brazil - Subma-
rineS for Canal

Af.OAAe hAlNe@a
r..b;rgton. Feb. Confronted with
.robabiIity of a declaration OF war
-, the United States and Ger
-, military and naval experts are
-,Eipe preparations for any eventual
= The details Of the plan Of cam
~, adopted will. it was declared to-
= dsnend 20 a large extent upon the
s.,sral policy Of the government to be
100 upon by President Wilson and
bis Cabinet.
One Of the first questions to be de-
.5.d bv President Wilson if war should
..,pr would be whether the United
s.,.es should wage a separate cam
,sign against Germany or cooperate
zitb the military and naval plans OF
me Allied governments.
Although officials Of the State, War
ed Navy departments are unusually
,,,ieent regarding their war plans, 1t
an be said with authority that 1t IS
.-,robable ln any event that the United
S.stss would actively join the Allies IN
heir present military operations. IL
a. declared to-day that the aim Of the
United States government was 70 com
ii recognition of and protection for
he rights of neutrals, and that It's Cd
10. would be obscured by actively par
;;gpating in the war on the side OF tae
Allies.
L. S. Army Not Needed
!, addition. 20 participate with the
Allied campaign would mean the send.
no Of a military expedition 20 one OF
10 fronts IN Europe, and II Is eX-
t-smely unlikely that such a move
would meet with popular approval IN
his country or be acceptable 70 the
lilies. The military situation on the
Eastern and Western fronts, according
d the understanding of officials here,
satisfactory and no additional men
are needed.
Probably the first step in the plan
q campaign of the United States
against Germany under ordinary cir
egmstances would be the establish
rsut Of a line Of speedy cruising war
vessels several hundred miles out in
,se Atlantic Ocean, along line run
ning from Halifax TO a point east
vard Of Porto Rico, and thence south
esst toward the coast OF Brazil.
IN case Of a war with a European
raysl power the existing war plans
syised by the Naval War College. IN
e,speration with the General Board
q the navy, call for the presence OF
tie Atlantic bsttleshlp feet at some
convenient point within the cruising
h line where the fleets full strength
can be thrown against an enemy feet.
OF course. under existing condl-
tons, il would be manifestly lmpos-
sible for the German government TO
send feet Of vessels to American
shores, and the existing plans as 20
cruising vessels would probably be
/ modified 50 as TO permit the scouting
rsssels 20 accompany the fleet.
No action. however, has been taken
sEard moving the Atlantic battle
nip feet from its present winter
tsse AZ Guantanamo, where II is en-
aged in tactical manpuvres and exer-
dses. T. was declared tonight BY
T. official Of the Navy Department
ast no orders had been sent to the
Set 70 come northward, IN spite OF
he censorship established several
as ago over the movements OF ma
sl vessels.
Mask Navy Yard Activities
TINS shutting down Of the lid on
ava movements, il was stated, was
,nmarily for the purpose OF prevent
z the visits OF war vessels and
ssziliaries 70 navy yards from becom-
Y known.
The visi. Of the U-53 70 Newport,
p l., last summer and her return 20
asf home port after sinking several
ssIehant vessels of the New England
east however. was shock 70 naval
Seals. VINO had previously believed
'asi the American coast would be
--gne from operations Of subma-
l,1 because OF the long distance
ron their bases in Germany.
Tie cruise OF the U-53 and her re-
N without taking on any fuel oil or
J 'tser supplies proved that the Allan
* coast would not be safe from Ger
-sn submarines in the event Of war.
ne belief here among naval officials,
'9Eeyer, is that most Of the German
1snarines viii be needed at present
2 maintain the blockade Of British,
ifsnth ard Italian waters, as well as
control the Baltic Sea.
Protection Of the Panama Canal would
accomplished b. the use Of a fiotllia
submarine az each end OF the canal
iieh would be able 10 keep hostile
90 from approaching within 100 miles
tie waterUsy.
special precaU lions have been taken
ne nav yards OF the country. Cards
admission we're issued yesterday 20
y The employees Of the Washington
an Yard. and similar precautionary
eas1res viii be taken a. the other
ards.
I How Naval Militia May Be Used
shs naval militia organization prob
Il ~ would be called into service imme-
.y upon the outbreak oS war. The
sas o. the Atlantic feet are short
~ o. ofesrs and men, and additional
-. Of ofbcers and men will be given
4 ,ssts % bring their compliments
% full war strength. The other
i vessels heretofore in reserve Will
II paced in commission.
II ~ ne last few days recruiting has
n stinulzted By ths rumors Of ez-
80 var, and a large number Of
&c men who formerly served in the
are expected % return 20 the SER
- ne Navy Department has kept a
Aesz, giving their names, ad-
physical condition, qualihca-
49,. prior service in the navy and all
aS5a Necessary % the department
'1sihg crews for extra naval YES
p.
-sis are many retired officers Of the
az q whom have a var station
ths7 are directed % report 300
" tnergency. IN add ton. there
-, s'siai hundred former naval OF Z
~ ne country who resigned from
1 sssfFiee. practically al Of whom