Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-04-18
HOW CLOSE WE CAME
TO WAR IN 1916 Is
TOLD BY DANIELS
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ing vessels. the government of the
United States can have no choice but
To sever diplomatic relations with the
German empire altogether,
Rest Hopes on U-Boat.
when we listened to the reading OF
these words and realized what they
meant and the tremendous possibilities
they implied. everyone of us was pro-
foundly moved and there were some.
of optimistic temperament, who hoped
that this firm threat of American ac-
iton would result in complete ahan-
donn,ent of Germany's warfare on mer-
chant shipping; but there We're others
who held no such hope. The latter were
convinced that Germany relied too
greatly upon her U-boat weapon to
allow II to be restricted in striking
power for any great length of time.
The end of the submarine as the de-
cisive weapon Germany regarded 1T at
that time / shall narrate later. Some
temporary concession she might make.
but where separate need or tempting
opportunity appealed TO her. there
seemed no reason to doubt that Won
Tirpitz would forget all pledges and
undertakings and strike wherever he
could do most damage
There were those. indeed, who doubted
IL Germany would make even a tenn
porary concession. and | think all felt
that the possibility of war brooded over
us with darkening shadows when we
left the White House with the knowl-
edge that Americas ultmatum was on
its way to Berlin.
Order for Mobilization.
My own apprehensions that relations
might be broken off induced me TO take
immediate steps to have the fleet in
readiness The navy department made
complete plans for mobilization. and on
April - / approved the order. and it
was forthwith sent TO every ship. 1t
vas accompanied by the mobilization
sheets. showing when each hattleship
and destroyer would be available for
'crvice. The test OF the mobilization
RIDER follows:
Navy Department
Washington, April -. 1916
Confidential.
From: Chief Of Naval Operations
To
subject: Mobilization plan
I. The following order has this
day been approved by the Secre-
tary of the Navy:
Il. In case of mobilization for
war in the Atlantic the orgauiza-
tion OF the naval forces will be as
indicated in the mobilization sheets
published from time to time BY the
department
-. Plans will he developed by all
the officers concerned for execution
upon the receipt of the order 10
mobilize.
3. The order 70 mobilize when re-
ceived will be construed as an order
TO take all necessary action for the
rapid assembly Of ships at the rem
devious in all RESPECTS ready for
war service.
{. The rendezvous is designated
as Chesapeake bay. =. Copies OF
mobilization sheets are forwarded
herewith
Ready for Emergency.
This as the order itself indicates. was
strictly confidential communication.
Congress alone has power TO declare war,
and no waT order may be issued until il
has given authority. But when war
threatens il is the navys duty to get
ready Tor emergency. AS the first line
Of defense il must not be caught nap
ping. Mobilization is the next step to
actual hostilities, and is justifable only
when conditions are extremely threat
tning. That was the case in the spring
az 1916.
As il happened, Germany Welded. She
replied to our ultimatum with a declara-
IiOn that her government was prepared
- do its utmost TO confine the opera tions
If war for the rest Of its duration to the
lighting forces Of the billigerents" She
further promised that merchant vessels
should no longer be sunk without warn
ing or without saving human lives, ex-
Cept in cases where they attempted TO
escape or TO offer resistance.
Note the phrase for the rest OF it's
duration" This made the pledge bind
ing until the war ended. Within eight
months Germany was laying her plans
10 shatter this solemn promise. and
within nine she had repudiated IL For
the time. however. it averted the rupture
between the two countries and post
poned for nearly a year what many of
US by now had come 10 regard as in
evitable.
War STAYED OF for Year.
But this I want TO enphasize-if Ger
many had declined 10 abandon the sort
Of warfare the Sussex sinking represent
ed. President Wilson would have sent
Bernstorff home in the spring OF 1916
and we would have been at war, in all
human probability, before midsummer
We were set for this program when
Berlin backed down.
Early in 1915 I asked the general
board 10 make a study and submit
recommendations concerning the prep
arauon necessary to be made by the
bureaus and Offices of the department
10 insure state of preparedness for
war"