The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1917-03-25
ARMY AND NAVY WILL BE
Modified TO MEET
ANY EMERGENCY.
CAPINET PREPARES
COMPLETEPROGRAM
War Seems Inevitable, and the
Government Is Preparing for
Long Conflict.

Washington, March 23.--The gov.
ernment has decided upon sweeping
measures to be put into effect fol
lowing the expected declaration by
Congress soon after it meets April
2, that a state Of war exists between
the United States and Germany.
Fully ,appreciating Germany's pol
icy of acting in war first and talk
ing afterwards, the government has
determined to provide against every
possible emergency.
Broad questions involved were dis
cussed yesterday at long cabinet
meeting to which heads of depart
ments carried reports on prepara-
tons already made and others con-
templated. Details are being taken
up between President Wilson and
the individual cabinet members.
Regretfully the government ap-
parently has decided that since Ger
many is making war upon the United
States through ruthless killing OF
Americans and destruction of their
ships, the issue must be met with
steps much more far reaching than
mere attempts to protect individual
merchant craft. If anything is ahead
to prevent this it is not now fore
seen. If state of war is declared
to exist, aggressive measures are ex-
pected to be taken.
AS outlined after yesterdays cab
met meeting, the preparations Of the
government are not to be for short
war or a war marked by halfway
measures. Nothing iS.-to be tahen
for granted. A complete program
has been prepared so that everything
done will be carried out in syste-
matte and orderly manner.
The exact measures of American
participation in the war is not ex-
pected to be revealed until after the
president addresses Congress and un-
til public sentiment crystalizes. So
far as is known no political alliance
with the entente allies is contemplat-
ed, although military as well as naval
cooperation is possible and and the
government will be unsparing in both
money and supplies for the allies.
The president has not yet written
his address to Congress although he
has given his preliminary considera-
ton and has general idea of what
he will propose. He is expected to
be specific and to make clear that
the American government and peo-
pie have no quarrel with the German
people, but cannot tolerate the acts
of the German government.
Whether an army will be sent
abroad is one of the questions to be
left to the future. 1t would take
many months to train an army for
such service, and many things may
happen in that period. But this pos
sibility is being taken into considera-
ton, and the government proposes to
be ready for it as soon as practica-
Bile.
Detailed plans requiring congress
sional sanction are expected to be
complete when Congress meets April
Prior to that time the Democratic
and Republican leaders of the Senate
and House will be here and will hold
conferences with the president and
members of his cabinet. Speaker
Clark and Representative Kitchin re-
turned to Washington yesterday from
the south.
The council of national defense
and its advisory committee have been
called to meet. This council, with
the advisory committee of men
prominent in almost every line OF
endeavor is expected to play an i'm
portant part in the conduct of actual
warfare. Through it and through
individuals and organizations many
proffera Of help and cooperation
have come from all parts of the coun-
try.
The measures decided upon are
military, naval, industrial and finan-
cial. They are understood to be
most comprehensive. All are receiv-
ing the personal attention of the
president.
The army plans have been fully
drawn, but a portion of them may
become evident at any time. Some
are contingent upon action by Con-
gress. Their first object will be to
fully protect the United States
against any contingency.
The navy program, aside from The
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