The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1917-03-28


| ficers issued more than month ago
| to cover any future mobilization
| showed plainly that the war depart
| ment had learned its lesson and pro
posed to decentralize it's mobilization
| problems as far as possible. Depart
mental commanders will completely
| supervise the assembling of state
| troops in their districts hereafter, and
| will take over Immediately on the call
for federal service the task of recruit
ing for the guard regiments through
| organization of reserve battalions.
Now Await Action of Congress.
Indications are that the administra.
ton plans to await action by congress
before further warlike preparations
| are ordered. President Wilson has
authority to direct that the regular
| army be brought up to full war
strength at once and also to call out
| the remainder of the National guard
and the naval militia.
In designating state troops to be
called out, it is apparent that the war
| department has carefully surveyed the
| field of private enterprises which
might be assailed in event of domestic
| disturbances The number of troops
| from each state summoned to duty
| bears a direct relation to the ship
| yards, munition plants or other in
! dustries in that state which may need
| military protection.
The president, following conferences
with Gov Mccall Of Massachusetts
and Secretary of War Baker, reached
| the conclusion that as the federal gov
| eminent is responsible for the situa-
| ton which creates the danger of in
/ ternaI disorders, it also should assume
the burden Of providing adequate pro-
lection.
Under the policy he has resolved
upon and put into execution no state
and no private manufacturer will be
, called upon to bear the expenses of
military police work Many plants of
various kinds have sought protection
either from the federal or state au-
thorities, and the war department can
now decide what course to take with
each such application.
Special Session Called
Washington, D. c., March 22.-Presi-
dent Wilson on Wednesday met the
constantly increasing probability of
war with Germany by summoning con-
gress to assemble in extraordinary SEES
sion on Monday, April 1.-TWO weeks
earlier than the date he had chosen
before the latest assaults upon Amer
lean rights on the seas.
When the president addresses con-
gress, he is expected to show how
state of war actually has existed for
some time because of the unlawful ag-
gressions of German submarines.
Congress is expected formally to de-
clare a state of war existing, vote a
large sum, probably $500,000,000, for
national defense and clothe the presi-
dent with authority to use the armed
forces of the United States, as it en-
powered President Mckinley to deal
with the menace of Spain in 1898
Not War Declaration.
Such action would not be declara-
ton of war, except in a technical
sense and whether the Uunted States
and Germany actually go to war in
the fullest acceptation of the term will
depend on what the imperial govern
ment does before congress is assem-
bled or after it acts.
Much to change the presidents pres
ent intentions or the course of the
government in the crisis may develop
before April 2. The first American
armed ships will by that time have
reached the war zone. The ruthless
destruction of one of them unQuestion-
ably would be an act of war.
On the other hand sinking of a sub
marine by one of the armed merchant
men probably would be met as an act
of war by Germany. Even the arming
of American ships, with the avowed
purpose of defending them against
U-boats may be declared such an act
All Blame on Germany.
In any of these events practically
nothing would remain except for con-
gress to acknowledge a state of war
existing from certain specified date
probably March Is, when three
American merchant ships, the City of
Memphis, Vigilancia and Illinois, were
sunk with loss of life.
The next ten days, until congress
meets, will be days of tense enxiety, OF
eager waiting and watcing, fraught
with possibilities of tremendous con-
sequences to the United States
President Wilson and his advisers
in the cablne and in congress have no
intention that war shall be declared
by the United States. By the hostile
acts of German submarines they be
Heve that the imperial German govern
ment is actually making war upon the
United States, and that it shall be rec
ognized as such a state. To meet
such a condition the armed forces of
the country and all the national re-
sources are to be put in state of
readiness. Then whether the nation
shall enter the war in its full sense
will depend upon how much further
Germany carries her acts of aggres-
sion.
Would Be War of Defense.
In every sense war. if it actually
comes, will oe a defensive war, free
from ambitions of spoils or territory
Doubtful
please, mister, can you help a poor