Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1917-02-17

\. ~ y XnXX v
ened today by a personal visit from
President Wilson
Walking over from the White House,
the President appeared unannounced
at the office of Secretary Daniels and
after the conference dropped in ON
Secretary Baker.
To Use Private Plants.
With Secretary Daniels he talked
over the amendments to the Naval APP
preparation bill, which the House is
expected to pass tomorrow, empower
ing the President to take over ship
building plants, munitions works and
other private agencies vital to the
construction or operation of the navy
in war times. The President de-
scribed his visit to Secretary Baker as
routine He is understood to have
been told just what the army is do
ing in the way of preparation.
There was no change in the situa-
ton at the War Department, as far as
surface indications went. Demobiliza-
ton of national guard regiments home
from border service has not been in
terrupted nor have orders gone out
to speed up the return of other guard
units. There are indications, however,
that the question of just what steps
would follow a declaration of war or
a hostile act are being carefully
weighed.
For Half Million Volunteers.
The most probable course of the adj
ministration, in the view of many Of
ficials, would be to summon yolun-
teer force of half a million men and
allow the decision as to passing to a
universal service system await the re-
Spouse to that call. The War Depart
ment has at hand study of the steps
necessary to organize such a yolun-
teer army, made at the time the stu
alton on the Mexican border was
acute No officer believes voluntary
service will supply a force of the size
the army general staff has repeatedly
declared an adequate defense the coun-
try requires.
Breaks With Germany
Washington, Feb. president Will
son has broken off diplomatic rela-
lions with Germany and warned the
kaiser that ruthless sacrifice of Amer
lean lives and rights means war.
Similar action is waiting for Aus
tria when she notifies this govern
ment that she joins in the campaign
of unrestricted submarine warfare.
The President made formal an
nouncement of his action to the coun-
try and to the world Saturday at a
joint session of congress.
Passports have been handed to
Count Won Bernstorff. Ambassador
Gerard with all his staffs and all
American consuls have been ordered
out of Germany. All German consuls
in the United States are expected to
withdraw, that the severance of rela-
lions may be complete. American
diplomatic interests in Berlin have
been turned over to Spain; German
diplomatic interests in the. United
States have been taken over by Switz-
erland. Foreign diplomatic interests
which the United States had in charge
in Germany have been turned over to
various neutrals.
Two years of diplomatic negotia-
ton, marked with frequent crises and
attended with the loss of more than
200 American lives on the high seas,
have eliminated with an act which in
all the history OF all the world has al
ways led to war. Every agency of the
American government has been set in
motion to protect the country against
acts of German sympai hizers. These
motives of necessity are being kept
secret
With the severance of the diplo-
matte relations the United States sent
to Berlin a demand for the release of
the sixty-four Americans taken from
ships captured by German raiders in
the South Atlantic.
At the request of the President, con-
gress, Immediately after hearing his
address, began work on new laws
framed by the department of justice to
check conspiracies and plots against
the United States which cannot now
be reached under existing statutes.
The question of conveying American
merchant ships through the su5ma-
rine blockade has been taken up and
is being considered as one of the next
moves by this government.
Housatonic News Causes Sensation.
The news of the torpedoing of the
American steamer Housatopic, coming
almost before President Wilson's
words in congress had died away,
created a tremendous sensation, but
doc NOT r,oao ~,