GERMANY EXPECTS WAR WITH UNITED STATES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16496, 23 March 1917, Page 5

GERMANY EXPECTS WAR WITH UNITED STATES.

COUNCIL- OF DEFENCE ESTABLISHED IN AMERICA. PUBLIC. OPINION' MORE STRONGLY FOR WAR, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. NEW YORK. March 21. ■', The Amsterdam correspondent of the United Press Association states that private messages from Berlin to the Dutch Bourse show that war with America is expected within 48 hours. '" . - . Several leading newspapers demand the recasting of the Cabinet to.include national leaders, and form a, coalition. Mr. Wilson has so far 'refused to consider this suggestion, but a National Council of' Defence has been established, in which will bo included members of the Cabinet and railway and industrial experts. Thin will probably act as a War Council. ; Congress has _ already; given the Defence v !Council a quasi-official _■ status, and : it, is believed that it will be able' r to operate ; efficiently under these powers. The Council's first business ' will be to mobilise the financial, : industrial, and transportation ,: : resources of the country. •'. The Department of State has announced that, the United ' States will co-operate with -the allies 'in all war; operations. / - ' ' Z ':. Mr. Wilson has called an extra session l of 'Congress for April 4, . to discuss more-. drastic measures to protect American.commerce. It • is believed in , many quarters that the extra session means that the ,'' President will ask Congress to declare war, or pronounce ; that a state ■ y 'of war exists: through Germany's acts. :;;..; Some ';, of the President's ; - advisers, however, are urging that war be ■: not, declared unless a sub- > marine sinks an armed American merchantman, . but meanwhile Congress should institute a maximum preparedness campaign, including provision for raising an army for immediate use when necessary. r Mr. ' Wilson's final decision .will be influenced by public opinion, which is )' ■now developing strongly towards war.' At a meeting of the Union League Club, speeches were delivered by Messrs. Roosevelt, Joseph Choate, former American Ambassador ? "to Britain, ' Elihu Root, -• and Ohas. E. Hughes, '; Mr. ] Wilson's• opponent•> at the Presidential elections. Resolutions ; were adopted stating that a state of war now ; exists by act of Germany, and urging the people ' I • to concentrate the united weight of their loyalty to secure effective . action by the Government. ■ '■'■ . ..j'sv-.i.- "■ ■'.' ':'.-'--"-- -: ■■.;':l.'' : . ■.-•"■..'''..." ''. " '". " '.'v'. I '' "■ : ".- " : '; '■■!''■'■.'.■' .>.■''' ■^■'~-'. ■■':^%V