South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-04-17
By JOSEPHUS DANIELS
Former Secretary of the Navy.

Copyright. 1927. 10y John p. Ollie. Copyright by
Canada and throughout Europe. All rights reserved
Including translation foreign languages including
the scandinavian Unauthorized reprintng for
ARTICLE -FOUR
The navy prepared for action i'm April 1915. for
seemed almost imminent then it did the year
When Prest Wilson sent his Sussex note to Germany
declaring that relations would be broken if ruthless
submarine warfare stopped. made all plans
10 mobilize the fleet Nothing could show more clearly
critical situation than the step the took to
meet IT,
Mv mobilization order Of April o. 1916 shows that
- of 30 battIcshps ready for immediate
tion. and that one of the remaining three would be
ready i'm three weeks time.
The corresponding table for the destroyer force
that OF so desroyer A. immediately avail
able and that three of the remaining would be
available within so days
The sinking of the Sussex the biggest jolt which
had come 10 the peaceful hopes of Washington since
the sinking plainly disregarded
the American position defined the presidents
Iusitania note that i could not be ignored Either
Germany repudate Sussex typical
Of policy continued relations would he impossible.
II was about this time I think although I do not
recall the exact date when the president after dwell
upon the gravity the situation said
solemny- Il hope that those Of us who believe in
prayer. viii ask divine guidance"
Those who knew him best most people know his
reticeucc about his personal beliefs will appreciate
lo deep ms anxiety when he spoke thus TO his Of
bcial family.
WILSON READS ULTIMATUM.
The Sussex was torpedoed on March "a When all
the in the possession of the state department
and NO satisfactory explanation had come from Berlin
the president called together read the ulu-
rlatum which he had prepared TO upon Germany
Let me recall the significant words ultimatum
They have been forgotten in the overwhelming. sub
sequent but they words which would have
carried that date surely the dipio-
matte rupture Of 1917. had Germany well 70
withdraw temporarily from her utterly intojerabe and
unpermissibe position
Here are the presidents plain words.
IF IS stiu the purpose of the imperial govern
rnent 10 prosecute relentless and iudscriminate
warfare against vessels OF commerce by the OF
submarines without regard 20 what the govern
reut OF United States consider the sacred
and fndfsputabIe rules OF international law the
universally recognized dictates OF humanity. the
government the United states at last forced 90
the conclusion that there is but course 20
rrrsue Unless imperial government should
now Immediately declare and abandonment of its
rr.sent methods OF submarine warfare against
seueer and freght-carrying vessels the government
Of the United States can have no choice but 10
seyer diplomatic relations with the German empire
altogether"
REST HOPES ON U-BOATS
When we listened the reading OF these words and
realized what they and the tremendous possihH
fties they implied everyone OF us was profoundly
moved and there were some. OF optimistic tempera-
-,ert who hoped that threat OF American
4on would result in a complete abandonment OF Ger
,nanv's warfare merchant shipping. but there were
o.bers no held such hope. The>attcr were con-
,vtnce6 that Germany relied greatly her u