Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-24
Measures Being Taken For
Aggressive Action When
Time Comes.
PLANS GO BEYOND
PROTECTING SHIPS
Preparations Designed ta Meet Event.
ualitiss Made At Special Cabinet
Mseting-Money and Supplies For
Allies Without stInt-Questien Of
Sending an Army Left to Develop
msnss. I'll.

Washington, March '24-The United
States government is preparing meas
ures Of far-reaching and aggressive
character In the event Of war with
Germany. will not be satisfied with
mere plans to protect American mer-
chant vessels. It's preparation will be
designed to meet any eventualities-a
long war If necessary.
This program was agreed upon at a
long cabinet meeting yesterday. The
program decided upon includes mill
tary, naval, Industrial and financial
measures. The question of sending an
army abroad will be left for future
consideration.
Money and Supplies Without Stint.
Whether political alliances with the
entente allies will be formed Is not
known, altho military as well as naval
cooperation is possible and the gov
ernment will furnish both money and
supplies to the allies without stint.
Suggestions before President Wilson
today included the possibility of float
Ing lean of $5,eee,eee,ooo for the en-
tente When President Wilson goes
!. 80. thet tba ,,aon1a ~ tha Tinted
c.atss - nm not ha nron,nted hv hostiJi-
!, .,,,.,,. ~ tha cerr,.n neonle
NJ. p.nc..,, ~ n e
Here are the principal decisions
reached BY The president and his cabi-
net:
That every department Of the gov
ernment shall rush preparedness meas
...s uS,,, 10 ..,;o-orons,v nroaecuted -
~" ,r,.s. az nh;.f ehtec+ ~ the Govern.
.,,.rt 4, tho initial stage Of the conflict
.,.aI, 10 Nc IN nroduce and TRANSPORT the
sa"s a,,a w.r munitions needed, bv the
aI,;ss
rrhat ~. nayv .hau he emnloyed to
aynt s,,hmarines and to patrol Ameri-
a., ,as Z -. nan rhich win res
-. ~. J. MAJ naval ,,nits from duty on
All. ~ aide of the Atlantic.
,rh.t M American army shall be sent
.n9tha Euronean trenches. but that the
secular army shall be recruited to the
, Strength Of 100000 men.
's That the national guard shall be
=. Ilod o,,t after the assembling of con-
e.ress and recruited to a war strength
IF 400 600 men for home defense.
That free facilities for the floating
az loans in this country shall be ac-
corded the allies and that eventually
large loan or perhaps an outright
l;.ont ribution for war purposes be made
nv American government to the enc
mics Of Germany.
That the warbound German mer-
chantmen In American harbors shall
not be seized unless such action be-
comes an imperative necessity, in
which event Germany will be compen-
stated after the war.
That q complete plan of harmonious
co operation but not alliance with the
entente allies shall be formulated by
negotiations with these governments
already in progress.
Rifle Plants to Triple Output.
With facilities for producing 1900
rifles q day, the government arsenals
at Springfield and Rock Island are to-
day turning out only about" 500
every twenty-fonr honrs.
Up to Sept. / Springfield was turn
ing out fifty or sixty rifles daily; the
rifle works at Rock Island had been
lille for years.
There are available today approxi-
n,htely 100000 Springfield rifles of the
latest type used by the army. There
also are available about 100000 Krags,
discarded for the new model, Bpt
which are still serviceable.
According to Representative Hull,
republican, of Iowa, member of the
house military affairs committee, it Is
the fault OF congress that govern
ment plants have not been turning ou.
more rifles. The army appropriation
bill would have furnished money
needed for this purpose.
Hull said arrangements now are un-
49,. .,ro,, a., r,,n tho nIants a+ ful1 "a.
nacity within a short time.
The navy has recalled into active
service a large number of retired Off
cars. Secretary Daniel announced.