The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-19
Washington Stunned as by
Blow Is Silent Pending Full
Official Reports
WILL HASTEN WILSON'S
PLANS AGAINST MENACE
Drastic and Prompt Action Is
Looked For-New Call For
Extra Session of Congress
May Be Issued
IL. D.. X. SNRTMiII
International New service stan
4 .r.a.a M md


{ IRE popdrat.
- taaiustcp, at4rch 1S-The de-
.trertson vt three great American
shr, Nv t1c German 4ublas the gone
i'm -h, brouSnt the United states one
st~p nearer an actual physical clash
with germany With bat meagro re-
t.arts Of the latest toll of the eampaign
,,t re4thlass3+Ass before them. President
Wilson aud his advisers were late to-
uiEAt In doubt AZ ~ the fate az
Seores o. American citizens who were
%monx the crews ii the three Amerl-
ear ships lost ~ days news from
the war x1rtr vas clearly the gravcst
that has come to Washington since
She submarine campaign was insti-
tnied and x threatened 10 hasten the
prosecution OF President Wilson g
plans for combating the submarine
menace.
According to the information before
rho president and the state depart
ntent tonight. all three of the ships
Inc City Of Memphis, the Nig4lancia
end The Illinois were sunk without
warning. and their crews were left to
the mercy OF the seas Ia small. open
boats.
All but eight of the crew OF the
Mem phis were reported saved by
British patrol boats but the measre
reports gave no account OF thc men
~ the Nig!lanc.a and the Illinois.
Urgent instructions were sent 70
American consular gents late tonight
70 rush to Washington immediate fun
accounts OF the three disasters
.'>rysidcnt May Alter Course.
rne days destruction added To the
gravity and concern which the adj
,s,gr .txrr hue &C 70 S4sh y9-a t..
rine situation. but there was some
doubt tonight as to whether the nresi-
dent would alter his carefully consid-
cred plans for resting the whole case
al the United States on combating
S. '''s~e' menace by armed rner-
chant ships.
waite the president Secretary of
state lansing and Counsellor Polk. OF
the state department. reviewed IN de-
tail the meagre reports from Consul
Frost at Queenstown and Consul
General Skinner a. London. no an
nounccment was forthcoming from
either the Whit House or the state
department Both declared that moth
reports OF the sinkings had been re-
ceived It was stated that today
sinkings materially aggravated the
situation. but there was no indication
OF an immediate change In policy.
The president has up to now declined
70 make any further move against
Germany until the armed neutrality
,3ian has been given a trial. There
was growing feeling IN Washington
tonight. however, that the continued
destruction of American shipping and
American lives might force drastic
and prompt action.
May Call Congress sooner.
IN this connection II was suggested
that the president may find It neces-
sary TO hasten the converting of the
extraordinary session of the sixty-fifth
/. ongress called for April Is. A new
call for an extra session In ten days
or two weeks was believed possible. If
the president decides upon a more
aggressive policy than that now in
effect.
In tho sinking Of the three
American ships reported to-day.
Official WASHINGTON SAW the doom
OF the Last faint hope thrt Ger
many might so modify her SUBJ
marine warfare IS to render an
actual clash between tho toun-
tries unnecessary. The dcstruc.
tion Of the City OF Memphis,
yigilnnria ard Illinois was nc
,rpted rs final proof That An,cri-
Gan shtnniR~ and Anscriceo citi-
WI ,x,sa must take tho same chances
In the VAR zouc that MI other
neutral and belltgcrrnt shipping
takes.