South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-04-14

miral believed it would be impossible
for the United States 20 find tonnage
or TO keep it aloat, he had very little
fear OF an American army. He wrote
in tho secret document: Just as
little decisive effect can be ascribed
20 any extent 20 American troops.
which, in the first place. can not be
. brought over through lack OF ton
mage"
Warning for all Time.
BY such stupid underestimate Of
/ American resourcefllness were the
( Germans persuaded by their own
+ leaders 10 their own undoing. Il IS
10 be hoped for mutual welfare and
4 the peace Of the world that no nation
viii ever again underestimate the
1 power and resourcefulness OF Ameri-
I ca in war
/ Finally Holtzendorff emphasized
the importance Of launching the L
boat terror without warning The
4 beginning and the declaration Of the
I unrestricted U-boat war must follow
/ so quickly one upon another that
/ there is no time for negotiating, es-
1 pecially between England and the
| neutrals. The wholesome terror will
/ exercise in this case upon enemy and
neutral alike"
That last sentence is significant. as
/ showing Germany's attitude toward
the neutrals of whom United States.
at this time. was one. Enemy and
neutral alike'-On such terms TO
have remained a neutral would have
+ been folly. To this conclusion mem
bers Of the cabinet we're being strong
/ Is impeHed
: Navy Acts at Once.
/ OF course I was notified at once Of
/ the serious nature of.the communion
ton made by the German ambassa-
/ dor to Sec'y lansing. Its mo-
mentous character was Immediately
apparent. Apprehension had been
/ felt that Germany might do some in
tolerable thing, but this utter def
! ance of civilization this complete
reputation of pledges. without
warning or chance for argument, ex-
! ceeded apprehensions.
The navy acted at once, without
waiting for the cabinet meeting
which was called for Friday. Feb.
2. on Thursday. as the German L
/ boats were squirting themselves to
/ the pursuit Of their prey, all ships
and stations were being notified to
/ be in readiness for a possible mobil-
! ization order. The Instructions which
sent to the whole ieet read as fol-
lows:
The order TO mobilize for war
will be an 'Alnav' message in secret
code. Upon receipt of the message
to mobilize every effort should be
made to assemble ships at the des-
! ignated rendezvous at the earliest
possible date, ready in all respects
/ for war service"
BE Ready for Service.
The rendezvous for the various
/ forces batheships. scouts, destroy
ers. submarines, mine force, Atlantic
/ and Pacific coast divisions, and naval
district forces-were set forth. All
( vessels were notified that upon re-
ceipt of the message, "Alnav avail
/ ability" they were TO report immed-
lately to the navy department as to
when each vessel could be at its
assigned rendezvous. or at its war
station, ready in all respects. so far
as material is concerned, for war
! service
! For the first time 7 am giving to
the public the steps which we took
simultaneously with the menacing
movement of Germany Outside of
| official circles the fact has not been
known until now that complete
plan for the mobilization Of the en-
tire navy, brought up to date in
every detail. was sent out before the
| cabinet met.
Plans Quietly Carried Out.
While rumors were flying about
Washington. and politicians were en-
gaging in excited speculation in hotel
! Hobbies and congressional corridors,