Show 4 0 K 5 MANY REPORTED 1 READY r TO JO e DECLARE WAR ON U. U I S. S I WILSON M FROM BED tI II I t I II tf II I I f ORDERS PLAN FOR FORr I r FIGHT I N. N C. C B US H ED ft p By John Edwin Nevin International News New Service News co Staff Correspondent nt WASHINGTON ASHINGTON March Rumors 13 H Rumors mors that Germany would t leP le i P ply to the world notification n of the the United States States- th that t Its merchant vessels will wiH carr carry an an armed guard declaration r U n of I war against the United States were widely idely c r e herc c 61 tp today j ay They met with denial at the thc Swiss lc legation where n affairs c in this country are being being- handled but 1 they S were none the less 1 widely persisted in Officials refused to discuss possibilities It was admitted that Germany undoubtedly has adopted a definite plan of action and a declaration of war in view yiew ot of the existing rupture would cause no surprise But inasmuch as Germany has the thc knack of doing the theu u unexpected expected at all times officials by direct orders from rom President Wilson Vilson are refraining from discussing possibilities The general situation so far as as' the country at large rge is concerned concerned concerned con con- continues one of waiting The navy is rushing its pr prepa prepa- pa- pa rations Its purchase of sixteen dirigible aircraft and for foran foran foran an adequate number of high powered submarine chasers for coast patrol purposes is only preliminary officials say officials say to acquiring everything everything everything every every- thing that might possibly be needed neede in protecting ting the country From his sick bed President Wilson Vilson today was directing the preparations of both branches of the service The army plans are naturally held back No action can be taken so far as increasing in- in in increasing creasing the creasing the personnel until a a state of war actually exists When that comes if it does docs the first call will be for a volunteer force of men The general gen staff has w x r p plan lan to officer such a force The government now has stored at various arsenals throughout through through- out the country principally country principally at the Rock Island and Frankfort arsenals nearly arsenals nearly all of the supplies required for a volunteer force of with the thc exception of uniforms But army men admitted today that these preparations were only a start that start that many more calls for volunteers would follow rapidly on the heels of the first Vast quantities of supplies would be required to equip these volunteers The general staff entertains entertains entertains enter enter- no fears on that score however |