The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-15
Illegal Because the Vessel Car
ried No COntraband.
WILSON PROCEEDS CALMLY
Daily War Council MObiliZing
American Resources.
Nations Biggest Business Men
Assisting Administration.
BY ROBERT j. BENDER.

Washington, Feb. 15.-AH hope is
fast waning in official circles that the
clash looming between the United
States and Germany will be avoided.
Germany's persistence in her ruth
less U-boat destruction of neutral as
well as belligerent merchantmen is
helping to kill hope for continuance
of peace; entrance into the new ruth
less U-boat campaign yesterday by
an Austrian submarine added to the
crushing weight on this hope. espe-
cially in view of the fact that the
American ship sunk did not have
contraband of war aboard.
Germany's position, apparently, is
to cast all caution to the winds; at
least her statesmen are quoted as say
ing she will not have regard for
America or any one else.
In addition to this is the fact that
the nations business is fast piling up
tied up by Germanys blockade"
All these things are making author
tiles dubious of the future.
The president intends to proceed
deliberately-not to be stampeded on
a single incident, his friends say.
Break With Austria Looms Up.
But the accumulation of German
misdeeds, and the evidence that these
will grow rather than decrease, is rap
idly forcing Wilson to his next step
that of asking congress for protec-
ton of Americans on the seas.
While negotiations still continue to
prevent a break with Austria and
other central powers, serious turn
was given to the situation by the fact
that an Austrian submarine sank the
American schooner. Lyman M. Law,
n
This situation may mean that it will
not be long before President Wilson
breaks with Austria.
Meanwhile. behind the curtain of
secrecy the preparations by the gov
eminent are proceeding rapidly.
The council of national defense con-
ferring with Secretaries Daniels, Ba-
ker, Houston and Lane are holding
daily sessions from 10 a. m. to p. m.
At these conferences are gathered
some of the biggest men in America $
business, railroad and financial lines.
Men whose yearly incomes run int ]
several sets of figures and who arc
donating their time and labor to the
government in an effort to systemat-
ically coordinate American resources.
MobiIizing War Resources.
Efforts of mobilizing war materials
are now occupying the councils atten-
ton with E. F. Stettinius, of j. P. Nor
gan & Co, outlining the means he
followed placing large orders from
the entente powers. Plans for guard
ing the nations railroads in case OF
war and for making them available to
the national needs have been made
but are secret.
A remarkable intelligence system
has been perfected and has been
operated for several days.
Most of the work is being done Sc
cretIy but it is declared that, should
war actually come, the rapidity with
which the nation would be able &c
bring it's resources into action is high
" satisfactory to government heads.
Ask Railroads to Prepare.
New York, Feb. 15.-Washington
has called upon the railroad men OF
the country, so it was learned today,
to prepare 4 plan of military trans
portati6n and communication for use
when necessity arises. Such a plan
will be considered tomorrow at the
meeting of the executive committee OF
the American Railway association in
this citV.