The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-04-19
Traces History of Events Since War
Zone Established on High Seas
and Declares Parting of Ways
Has Come Unless Demands are
Conceded; Reiterates Mer-
chant Ship Stand
BY United Press.

BY United Press.
Washington, April 19.-President
Wilson left the White House for the
capitol at 1890. At one'clock he be-
gan his address before the joint ses-
sion, telling congress of the communi-
cation on submarine warfare, just sent
to Berlin which may mean the break
ing off of friendly relations between
the two nations. He read his message
in the hall of the house Of representa-
tives, concluding his address at 1:l0.
The president spoke as follows:
"A situation has arisen in the for
eign relations Of the country OF which
it is my plain duty to inform you. II
will be recalled that In February, 1915,
the imperial German government an
nounced its intention to treat the wa
ters surrounding Great Britain and
Ireland as embraced within the state
OF war and to destroy all merchant
ships owned by its enemies found in
that portion Of the high seas, and that
Germany warned all vessels OF neutral
ownership to stay out Of the waters
thus prescribed or enter them at their
peril.
Protests unheeded.
"The government of the United
States earnestly protested against
this action In pursuance of their pol
icy of submarine warfare, despite the
solemn protest OF this government, the
commanders OF German submarines
attacked merchant ships with greater
and greater activity wherever they so
could encounter them, in way that
has grown more and more ruthless
and they have delivered attacks with
out compunction against vessels Of
every nationality and bound on every
sort of errand Sometimes passen-
gers and crews were vouchsafed the
poor security OF being allowed to take
to the ships boats but again no warn
ing was given and they were not al
: lowed to escape"
The president concluded his address
by declaring that unless the impe-
rial German government shall now inn
mediately declare and effect abandon
ment of its present methods Of war
fare against passenger and freight car
rying vessels, this government can
have no choice but to sever diplomat
ic relations with the government of
the German empire altogether"
This declaration came as the climax
of a message to congress in which the
president delivered the most severe
indictment OF the German submarine
campaign.
This decision have arrived at
with the keenest regret the presi-
dent said. THE possibility Of the ac-
ton contemplated | am sure all
thoughtful Americans will look for
ward to with unaffected reluctance"
In his address the president traced
the course OF submarine warfare and
negotiations since Germany first de-
clared the waters around England and
Ireland a restricted area, warning
ships OF whatever ownership to enter
at their peril He pointed out how
this government had earnestly pro-
tested. Great liners like the Lusi-
tania and the Arabic and mere ferry
boats like the Sussex have been at
tackled without a moments warming,
the president said. He declared that
the lives of non-combatants and pas
sengers and crews had been sacrificed
in a wholesale manner which the gov
ernment of the United States cannot
but regard as wanton and without the
slightest color of justification. In the
course of his message the president
re-asserted his stand on the armed