The Washington herald., 1918-04-13
SPEEDINGUP OF WAR
PROGRAM DISCUSSED
ATCABINETMEETING
Goethals Made Assistant
Chief of Staff with Spe-
cial Department.
WAITING FOR BAKER
Army Increase Legislation
Held Up Pending
His Return.

The Cabinet meeting yesterday
resulted in FIVE important an
nouncemcnts, which were declared
to demonstrate the determination
of President Wilson to rush war
participation at top speed and
brook no interference. They are:
I. Secretary OF State Lansing
was authorized to release the re-
ply to the protest of the Neither
lands government against the
seizure of Dutch ships. The an
swer placed above all questions
of legality the ideals and rights
for which the United States is
fighting. The enforcement of these
which will be greatly aided by
the additional tonnagc-was set
forth as justification for the seiz-
ure.
Gen. GOethaIs Promoted.
Mai Cen. George W. GOcthais was
promoted to the position of Assistant
Chief Of the General Staff. He was
directed . to Immediately consolidate
the War Department divisions of
storage. traffic, purchase and sup
plies into one division, over which
he will preside This will be known
as the division of purchase, STORAGE
ard traffic. The changes are in the
interests of greater coordination.
Gen. Goethals will retain his title as
acting quartermaster general and Will
have as assistant Col. Hugh s. John
son.
.. Hans Sulzer. Minister for Switzcr-
Il nd, reported the safe arrival Of sew
eraI food-ladcn ships to the French
port Of CCtte. the neutrality Of wmcA
Germany recently refused TO lOEgHt
recognize. Negotiations With Germany
to allow ships Of the Dutch fleet nov
flying the American flag to enter
Cette were said to be progressing.
The rumor that Germany is threat
ening to sink further grain shipments
unless Switzerland consents to send
part Of the grain to Germany was
declared to be unfounded.
g. Publication BY Premier Clemen-
ceau OF the letter from Emperor
Charles of Austria recognizing the jus
tice of the French claim to Alsace-
Lorraine prompted the unofficial state
ment that such a conclusion to the
controversy recently started by Count
CzeTnin was most satisfactory to the
President and all members Of the Cab-
met 1t was said the incident served
to show the high morale of the French
government officials.
Whit for Baker
>. \ decision was reached TO with
hold all suggestions for legislation to
increase the size of the army until
the arrival of Secretary Of War New
ton d. Baker. who is expected back
from Europe shortly. We are wait
ing almost brcathlessly for Baker.
was the way O'e Cabinet officer put it.
Among the material reasons set
forth as making Necessary the seizure
Of the Dutch ships was the failure
of the Netherlands government to full
I'LL the agreement made in London on
January %, 1918 This provided that
when 4 Dutch ship left the United
states for the Netherlands a corre-
spending Dutch vessel should stimuli
taneously leave the Netherlands for
the United States. This arrangement
which never became effective was pro-
posed by the Dutch Commissioner and
accepted by the United States.
The refusal of the United States to
supply bunker coal TO the ships de-
tanned here before the seizure was as
cribed to the existing shortage OF
fuel 1t is also said that If the ves-
sells had been enabled to sail they
would have carried grain to the
Netherlands where. as events have
ed and where it would only have serv-
ed to release equivalent foodstuffs for
the enemy"
Emphasis was given to the refusal
of the Dutch owners to permit their
ships to perform any service except
that which it was clearly impossible
for the United States to. facilitate"
After enumerating the terms by
which the owners of the vessels seiz-
ed are to be paid both for services
and losses, the shortage of shipping
available to the nations opposing Ger
many is set forth as follows:
Result of Submarine War.
las a result OF a species Of naval
. warfare directed against belligerents
and neutrals- alike which the Meth
erlands government have themselves
QeClafeu 10 ne Illegal, tnere mas, dur
ing this period existed a shortage OF
shipping which threatens to postpone
at frightful cost the ultimate victory"
The friendship of the United States
for the Netherlands government is
reasserted with the statement that
since America abandoned neutrality
negotiations for an effective, friendly
agreement were permitted to ocupy
almost a year before the seizure was
made.
The Presidents decision ~ increase
the responsibilities OF Gcu GOethals
did not come as a surprise 10 the mem
beTs OF the Cabinet. it was said The
great ability of the Panama Canal
builder, as an organizer. is said to
have worked wonders in the War De-
partment during the short time he has
occupied the position Of Acting Quar-
termaster General
As Assistant Chief Of STAFF, Gen
Goethals will be brought into still
closer touch with the White House.
II Is thought he may be invited to at
tend the weekly conferences between
- President and the heads Of the
big departments which form the war
council.
The Cabinet Is understood to have
reached a decision to disregard the