AMERICAN PREPARATIONS

Waikato Times, Volume 88, Issue 13447, 28 March 1917, Page 5

AMERICAN PREPARATIONS

PRECAUTIONS AGAINST OUTRAGES MACHINE-GUNS IN READINESS. GERMANS PROTEST THEIR LOYALTY. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received March 28, 11.25 a.m. NEW YORK, March 27. The news-paper Nation states that wide precautions are being taken following upon the realisation of the necessity to prevent bomb plots and pro-German outrages in the event of the declaration of war. The local governments as well as the Federal authorities throughout the United States are co-operating with the police force in New York, Chicago. St. Louis and other cities with large German populations. An exhaustive canvass is being made to ascertain the addresses, occupations, sympathies and possible activities of German-Americans. Surveillance is also being established over German restaurants and clubs for the purpose of becoming familiar with their probable operations in the event of war. The New York police have worked out elaborate details to meet any emergency. Many sections of New York have almost exclusively a German population, and these are under particularly close surveillance, with machine guns on motor lorries ready in case of emergency. Members of the Cabinet realise the need for rigid precautions to prevent plotting. The first step was the decision to call out the National Guard to protect the public works. Many leading German-Americans are openly proclaiming their loyalty to America and signing the loyalty pledge. The members of one German club refused to sign, asserting that it is unnecessary. There is much comment on this action.

The Nation says the precautions which are being taken are known to the pro-Germans, and are causing them intense uneasiness, and the knowledge of the Government's intention to inflict extreme penalties for plotting are thought likely to have a deterrent effect.

Other newspapers point out that the llrmest policy is the only way to prevent outrages. Meanwhile the remarkable rush for naturalisation continues. Pamphlets explaining how to become an American citizen are being sold like wildfire in the streets. MUST VINDICATE HER HONOUR. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received March 28, 10.15 a.m. WASHINGTON, March 27. The House of Representatives' Foreign Affairs Committee is preparing a resolution for presentation to the new Congress, declaring that the time has arrived when the United States must vindicate her honour and rights by declaring that a state of war with Germany exists through German acts, and giving the President power to act. The resolution will authorise increases in the Army and Navy.