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Show NEUTRAL OFFER LATESTRUMDR State Department Refuses to Talk, but Story Has No Effect Upon Preparations Prepa-rations for War. PURPOSE OF THE PRESIDENT PLAIN Germany Is to Be Called to Account for Destruction of American Lives and ' Property on Seas. WASHINGTON, March 22. "Word that a European neutral might offer mediation to prevent open war between the United States and Germany has come to the administration without causing surprise or in any way affecting affect-ing the government's plans for meeting the situation forced by submarine ruth-' lessness. Such a proposal is regarded here as nothing more than another scheme fostered by Germany with the hope of confusing tho issue and possibly pos-sibly dividing sentiment in this country coun-try while the destruction of American lives and ships on the high seas continues. con-tinues. At the state department today officials offi-cials would neither deny nor confirm that the government already had been approached on this subject, although it was admitted informally that some j such move was not unexpected. It was very emphatically stated that no suggestion sug-gestion of mediation or discussion would be considered unless it was accompanied ac-companied by abandonment of illegal assaults upon American shipping, a course to which there is no reason for believing the imperial government is j giving a thought. j No Basis for Discussion. The feeling in all quarters here is that the United States has with infinite in-finite patience and forbearance done everything possible with honor to avoid the virtual state of war now existing through German aggression. So long as this aggression continues, officials say there is nothing to be done but adopt measures of defense, and no basis exists ex-ists for discussion. During the ten dayB that must elapse before congress assembles President Wilson will give close personal attention atten-tion to the preparations goiug forward through the war and navy departments. depart-ments. He saw no callers today, but was iu touch with both of the departments. depart-ments. One of the duties he performed was the signing of a formal proclamation proclama-tion suspending the eight-hour law as applied to plants engaged on naval work, a step authorized by congress as a part of the general plans for speeding up construction. Defense Council Called. Secretary Baker, as chairman of the council of national defense, today called the council and its advisory committee of heads of great industrial concerns to meet here Saturday to discuss dis-cuss how much more work is necessary to put the country in a state of adequate ade-quate preparedness for defense. The council already has accomplished much toward mobilization of all the nation's resources. Samuel Gomprrs, as chairman chair-man of the council's committee on labor, issued invitations to a large number num-ber of workmen, employers and scientists scien-tists to accept membership on the committee com-mittee and attend its forst meeting April 2. Additional efforts to stimulate recruiting re-cruiting for the navy were launched during the day. The response to the recruiting re-cruiting service during the last few months hae been the best on record, but Secretary Daniels is determined to fill up promptly tn the full authorized strength of 74.500 men. Orders to Be Placed. Word was received that eypry shipbuilding ship-building plant capable of building destroyers de-stroyers would be represented at the department de-partment Saturday, when a great number num-ber of. building orders will be placed. The department, plans to build to the full capacity of the yards, and the number num-ber of dc.-troyers to be ordered can bp determined onlv when that rapacity is known. A standard tyro boat, the tbir- ' v-f ive-'.;r."t VP: M res:u-i.cd l.'ist veHr will be or-iererl, to ha-ten construction. The ' newlv cjc.t.ed compensation hoard of thp navy will die,;.a detculs of the destrovpr orders with the builders build-ers and determine the steps to he taken. (Continued on Pago Two.) fill. OFFER OF ' MEDIATION 1 M (Continued from page One.) The hoard also will hold its first conference con-ference on Saturday with the builders recently awarded contracts for battle cruisers. The department is receiving an en-cnuragincr en-cnuragincr number of communications from former sailors saying they will present pre-sent themselves for service in the event of war. The only army order given out today was the recall of the Twenty-second infantry in-fantry from the border, assigned to Governor's island, N. Y. The regiment is destined to be used in connection with spring training camp work and a regiment regi-ment also will be sent to the central department de-partment for that purpose. The Twenty-second has been under canvas practically prac-tically continually since early in 1911, when it was called out for border service. ser-vice. Its service in the field has been more continuous than that of any other infantry unit. |