The Monticellonian., 1917-02-08

I
 returning from his night confer.
 ence with the senators, determined that a break in relations was the only act consistent with the dignity and
 the honor of the United States
 Gerard Ordered Home.
 He worked most of the night pre- pairing his address to Congress.
 At 10:30 o'clock 1t became known that Ambassador Gerard had been or dered home and that passports had I been sent to Count von Bernstorff Although there was no official confirm ation of the presidents decision until he formally announced it himself to Congress, the knowledge spread rap | idly.
 Count von Bernstorff heard 1t unof- ficially while talking with an Assocfat- ed Press correspondent While ap- parently deeply moved, he was not surprised.
 Neutral Diplomats Present In preparation for the history-mak- ing event, the Senate and House had assembled in the hall of the latter body. Justices of the Supreme Court had seats on the floor, the cabinet sat in reserved space. Ambassador Jusserand of France occupied his re- served seat in the diplomatic gallery, which was packed principally with neutrals, who came to hear words of far-reaching importance affecting their own governments.
 AS usual, a committee of congress- men met the president and escorted him to the speakers dias. The whole body rose and cheered as the presi- dent, acknowledging their greeting without his usual smiles, but grim-fac- ed and solemn, took his place at the document which is being heard round the world.
 Not sound came from the floor or galleries, but the clear, calm tones of the president, reading slowly and distinctly. The assemblage of sena- tors, representatives and notables about him listened with closest atten. ton to words which may record one of the somber moments of American history, if not, indeed, of the world.
 Briefly he revied how last April the United tSates warned Germany, after the destruction of the Sussex. that un- less the imperial government declar- ed and effected an abandonment of that sort of submarine warfare, the United States would have no choice but to sever diplomatic relations. Then he quoted from the German re- ply, which gave assurances that no ships would be sunk without warning and provision for safety of passengers and crew.
 Three Cheers of Approval
 The president did not refer to the long list of submarine operations which have been conducted in viola tion of the Sussex pledge, but pro- ceeded at once to the new war zone order which became effective Feb ruary 1.
 When he told how the German pro clamation left nothing for the honor and dignity of the United States but break in relations, and that he had ordered passports sent to Von Bern. storff and a recall to MT. Gerard, the assemblage broke into cheer, in which Republicans and Democrats alike joined. More applause greeted his declaration that only an overt act could convince him that Germany in- tended to violate American lives and rights. and there was prolonged ap- plause and cheering when he eonclud- ed by announcing that should Ameri- can ships and lives be sacrificed in "heedless contravention of the just and reasonable understanding of inter- national law and the obvious dictates of humanity" he would again appear before Congress to ask authority to use any means that may be neces- sary for the protection of our seamen and our people"
 As he concluded there were cheers of approval from both sides of the chamber and the president returned to the White House to discuss meas ures of precaution with Secretary Daniels of the Navy and Secretary Baker of the War Department