The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1917-03-15

Western Newspaper Union News Service
Washington.-Withi the next few
days the question of actual hostilities
or peace between the United States
and Germany will be settled. With
American armed merchantmen soon to
be prepared for the dash through the
German submarine zone. the Presi-
dent and his advisers have settled
down for a period Of ''watChful wait
ing" Long days and nights of wait
ing for news from the war zone will
now occupy Washington and the cOun-
try. The Administration is convinced
that the differences between the Uni
ted States and Germany will reach 4
climax when the first armed American
merchant ship meets a German sub
marine.
While all ship movements were
shrouded behind impenetrablc secrecy,
it has been stated the departures of
American commercial ships carrying
naval guns and gunners would be a
matter OF but q few days. and within
10 days armed American ships would
be In the war zone.
Clash to Bring Results.
With the gunners aboard American
ships under orders to fire al once on
any submarine which approaches in a
threatening manner, the first enCoun
ter between an American ship and a
German undersea boat will bring def
mite decisive results The Administra
.:0n still hoped against hope that the
German submarine commanders in the
war zone will follow international law
and respect American rights.
If the usual rules of sea warfare are
delivered, and American ships are
boarded and searched for Contraband
the ships will not resist. Only this
course, it was stated, can prevent open
hostilities between the two nations
Meantime the Navy Department
went steadily forward with the work
Of arming merchantmen to defy the
war zone. Every American merchant
ship which requests protection will be
given adequate armament and quail
fed naval gunners. Every government
agency will be invoked to insure prop
er safeguards in the way of concealinf
vessel movements and keeping secret
departures, arrivals and probable
courses of American ships.
Waiting for definite action in tho
war zone to precipitate the climax il
the German dispute. the Admnistra
tion concentrated all its energies il
preparations for any eventuality. The
war-making machinery of the govern
ment is under orders to get into fight
ing trim, and the mobilization Of the
industrial and commercial forces o
the nation to meet whatever the new!
from the war zone may bring fortl
will go steadily on.
Through the Council of National De
fense and its Advisory Committee th'
work of organizing the nations labo
and business will be continued. and al
of the vast energies Of the COuntr.
will be made available for any use tn,
President may need to make the mos
OF them.
President Wilson and his adviser
began planning the program of wa
legislation" which will be placed be
fore the extraordinary session of Cor
gress called for April 16. All of tn
matters which the President will cal
to the attention OF the Congress viii
have to do with the international sit
uation.
President Wilson and Secretar,
Lansing have begun an intensiv
study of the latest Austrian COMMIT
nication on the submarine question I
is expected that the negotiations wit
Austria will be continued temporarily
at least 1t has been stated. however
that the Austrian situation would III
doubtedly be brought to a climax
an actual clash between the Unite
States and Germany is precipjtate
by happenings in the war zone.