Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-22
tRy Associated pressl


WASHINGTON. March .l.-Prcsident
Wilson to-day met the constantly in
creasng probability of war with Ger
many by summoning Congress to as
scmhlc in extraordinary session on
/. Monday. april 1.-TWO weeks earlier
ihan the date he had chosen before
the latest assaults upon American
rights on the seas.
When the President addresses Con-
gress he is expected to show how n
state Of war actually has existed for &
some time because of the unlawful
agSressions OF German submarines
Congress Is expected formally to de-
clare state Of war existing. vote q
large sum. probably half a billion doll
lars ior national defense. and clothe
the President with authority to use the
armed forces of the United states. as
IL empowered President Mckinley to
deal with the menace of Spain in 1895
such action would not be a declara-
ton OF war except in u technical sense
and whether the United States and
Germany actually go TO war In the full
est acceptance of the term will depend
on what the imperial government does
before Congress is assembled or after
il acts.
Dispatches from abroad tonight de-
ciarinE that the German government
expected II state of war within the next
iortv-cisht hours placed an ominous
aspect on the situation Much to
change the Presidents present iuten
tions or The course of the government
IN the crisis may develop before Anri,
:. The first American armed Ships will
by that time have reached the war
zone. The ruthless destruction Of one
.of them undoubtedly would be an act
OF war.
AIMING OF I. s. SHIPS MAY
HE DECLARED ACT OF WAR
oh the other hand. sinking OF a sub
marine by one of the armed merchant
men probably would he met as an All
or war by Germany. Even the arp,inr
of American ships with the ayoweJ
purpose of defending them against
u-boatS may be declared such an act
In any OF these events, practically
nothing would remain cxccpt for Com
Srcss 10 acknowledge a state of war
ensuing from Il certain specified date
probably last Sunday when three
american ships were sunk with loss
OF life
The noxt ten days. until CONGRESS-
meets, viii be days of tense anxiety.
=.
with possibilities OF tremendous conse-
uucnccs 10 the United States
President Wilson and his advisers in
the Cabinet and in Congress have no
intention that war shall be declared by
the United states. By the hostile acts
OF German submarines they believe the
imperial German government is act
haliE making war on the United States
ana that il shall be recognized as such
/" state. TO meet such "a condition. the
armed forces Of the country and an
the national resources are to he put
in "a state Of readiness. Then. whether
the nation shall enter the war in It's
tu'i sense will depend upon how much
further Germany carries her acts OF
aggression.
In every sense, war, II it actually
comes. viii be a defensive war, free
from ambitious Of spola or territory
~ witch the United states. tho Pres
idcni has luhiicly declared. shall wan,
nothing for itself and shall seek only I.
To preserve the rights OF civilization
and humanity.
MAY HECONE Participant
IN EUROPEAN HOSTILrTiES
IN such situation the United states
might even become an actual partici-
pant IN tho hoStiiitics on tho E.uropcan
continent without becoming a political
any OF any OF tho entente powers, sim
ply casting Its weight OF men. money
and moral influence into tho battle
aSninst n common enemy.
Ports OF the United states probahIy
would be opened TO watsh,ps OF the );