UNITED STATES.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 March 1917, Page 5

UNITED STATES.

THE STATES PREPARING. BRITAIN LENDING ADVICE. OPERATIONS OF GERMANAMERICANS. New York March 20. The London correspondent of the New York Times says that Britain is supplying the American Embassy with a l '. ,U>tails of her war measures, inchulirg the raising of her army and the organising of icunitipns, financial control, anl ccn j scription. All information that will give j the United States the advantage of l',ritain's experience is being forwarded to America. The Providence Journal throws an interesting light on pro-German activities. It says that the peace demonstration planned in Washington for April 2 -,va:. really a pro-German movement in the guise of pacificism, arranged and launched by a German-American propagandist with the object of lobbying and delaying action leading to war. Secret meetings were held in New York at which representatives of pro-German newspapers promised press support. Albert Staub, the Red Cross director, says that spies placed poisonous chemicals and ground glass'in lied Cross bandages. The Herald states that two German submarines were seen a few miles off Long Island. The report is not confirmed, but the State Department is investigating it.

An unofficial report says that Germany is detaining the relief workers in Belgium, also Mr. Whitloek, for about a month, in order to prevent the disclosure of military secrets. Officials says this will be the grossest violation of Germany's promises. The Paris correspondent of th% New York Herakl says that 500 of the prettier,t girls in Eoseil were dragged from their homes between April 18 and 23. and sent to Maubeuge as "Orderlies and lady companions to the German staff." There are persistent rumors that Berlin intends another spectacular move prior to April 2, in the hope of thwarting Mr. Wilson's plan.

'flie Tribune's Washington correspondent states that Germany will attempt a peace drive, which is expected within 24-hours, possibly when Herr Von Beth-mnnn-Holhveg addresses tlw Reichstag. Mr. Wilson is determined to proceed with his war programme, despite pacifists' moves.

The Pctrograd correspondent' of the New York World interviewed M. Sokoloff, the Socialist leader, who says that the war will be vigorously prosecuted until the Germans are conquered. The Socialists want a National Assembly soon, and will not wait till the end of the war. They will be content with a democracy like that of America or .France. If the Germans want to hasten peace let them kick the Kaiser out.

MOTIVES FOR WAR. BERLIN BELIEVED WILSON WAS BLUFFING. London, , Feb. 8. What were Germany's motives in risking war with the United States? Tha't is the question which everyone is asking in view of (lie developments of the last few days. Many theories have been advanced, more or less dogmatically, ami to each, though not to all, some objection may be urged. The wisest and most reasonable assumption is that Germany took account of all the possibilities and all the. dangers of the policy she decided to pursue, and that, weighing the possibilitis against the dangers she came to the conclusion that in her I existing military and economic straits the risk was one which she had no alternative but to take. Any idea that her decision was in any sense a hasty one may be entirely dismissed. For months ■past. She must have been preparing for the submarine campaign of super-fright-fulness which she is now launching. She may have hoped that American warnings were mere bluffs, and that in any case President Wilson would never go to the. extreme length of declaring war. She entertained the same hope about Great Britain's attitude at the commencement of the war when she launched her legions against Belgium and France. But though she hoped for the best she was fully prepared for the worst, and there can hardly be any doubt that this her attitude also towards the American danger. 4nd one can imagine very much tho same line of reasoning being pursued in Berlin in both instances. America also has "a contemptible little army" of little more than i a hundred thousand men, and in the military sense at least Germany counts confidently on the United Stateß being unable to influence a military decision on the Western front at any rate until the spring of next year. And by that time the optimists in Berlin calculate that if only they can starve England into surrender the v. will be. over and Germany will be in a position to dictate peace on her own terms,

NAVAL BASE FOR PANAMA. Received March 30, 8 p.m. Washington, March 29. Rear-Admiral T-'hirras is named a3 the first Governor of the Danish West Indies, sold to the' 'United States by Denmark recently. The United States takes possession on Saturday. Important fortifications will be constructed upon the island, which will be used as a naval base for Panama ,and for general military purposes.