South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-04-17

boat weapon to allow it to be restricted in striking
power any great length
The end Of the submarine as the decisive weapon
Germany regarded that time shall
Some temporary concession she might make but where
separate need or tempting opportunity. there
reason to Tfrpitz forget
pledges and undertakings and strike wherever he could
do most damage.
Thcia those, indeed. who doubted if Germany
would make temporary concession. and think
with darkenng ,hadows when left the white house
with the knowledge that Americas utmatum
its way TO Berlin.
ORDER FOR MOBILIZATION.
My aDprehensons that relations might be
broken off induced take immediate steps have
in readiness. The navy department made
pete plans for mobilization. and April q approved
the order and it forthwith every ship. II
was accompanied by mobilization sheets showing
when each batteshp and destroyer would
lows:
NAVY DEPARTMENT
WASHINGTON, April %. 1915.
CONFIDENTIAL
From Chief OF Naval Operations.
Subject: Mobilization plan.
/. The following order has this day been APP
proved by the secretary Of the navy:
Il In case of mobilization for in the Atlantic
the organization OF the naval forces will be indi-
Gated in the mobilization sheets published from
time time by the department.
80 Plans will be developed by all the officers
concerned upon the receipt
order to mobilize.
3 The order to mobilize when received will be
construed as an order to take all necessary action
for the rapid assembly OF ships a the rendezvous
in all respects ready for service.
"A. The rendezvous is designated Chesapeake
bay . Copies Of mobilization sheets forward
ed herewith.
READY FOR EMERGENCY
This the order itself indicates "A strictly
hdential communication. Congress alone has power
declare war. and order may be issued until
1t has given authority But when threatens it is
navy's duty to ready for emergency As the
line of defense be caught mapping Mo-
bizatiOn is the next step to actual hostes, and is
justifabe only when extremely threat
ening the in the spring of 1916.
As It happened. Germany yielded. She replied
utmatum with declaration that her government
prepared to do its utmost TO conne the operations Of
the Of its duration TO the fighting
of the belligerents" she further promised that
chant vessels should no longer be sunk without
ing without saving human lives. except in
they attempted to escape to offer resistance.
the phrase for the OF its duration. This
made pledge binding until the ended. Within
eight months Germany laying her plans
this solemn promise. within nine she had repudi-
ated it. For the time. however it averted the
between the countries. and postponed for nearly
year what many Of US by now had come TO regard
inevitable.
WAR STAYED OFF FOR YEAR.
But this 1 10 emphasize-if Germany had de-
clined 10 abandon the sort of warfare the Sussex sink
ing represented. Prest Wilson would have Bern
s;orf home the spring OF 1915 and would
been at war in all human probability before mid-sun
We set for this program when Berlin back
Early in 1915 I asked general board to make a
study and submit recommendations concerning the
preparation necessary TO be made by the bureaus
offices OF the department TO insure state of prepared
for war
on March 49, 1915 the board then headed bv A5
miral Dewey. furnished the desired plans
7 sent them each bureau chief with instructions 10
comply with their requirements
War plans had been made already. and corrected up-
to-daje. for the fleet
In July of 1918 / invited Edison and 90 other
eminent engineers. scientists 10 devote
their genius TO naval efficiency. urged them