The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-03-20
ARMED NEUTRALITY
MAY CHANGE TO WAR
Unofficial Admission in Washington
That Conflict Has Come.--President
VIII Decide.

washington, March S.-N ltn Ulc
announcement of the ruthless de5-
truction OF three -unarmed American
merchant ships by submarines. 1t was
unof1cially admitted here tonight that
virtually state Of war exists BE-
tween the United States and Ger
many.
Technically the United States re-
mains in position OF armed neutrail-
". Whether this shall be changed
before April 16. the date fixed for a
special session Of congress, the war
making branch Of the government,
President Wilson has not decided.
One step the president is contem-
plating is call for an immediate ses-
sion of congress to hear an address
asking for authority to adopt ag-
gressive measure against the suo-
marine menace. Already American
ships are being armed to defend
themselves. The next move must De
to send warships with orders to seek
out submarines and clear the trans
Atlantic lanes.
Some of the highest officials Of the
government hold that the executive
has power to declare that state OF
war exists and to proceed with as-
gressive protective steps pending the
assembling of congress. There is NO
indication. however. that the pres1-
dent will follow that course.
Of the three chips destroyed, two
were unloaded and homeward bound.
All we're American built, american
owned and Differed and manned
largely by American citizens.
Meagre dispatches indicate that ali
were sunk with complete disregard
for the safety Of tnose on board, and
that some of the members Of the crew
have been lost.
Todays developments brought the
government face to face with the
problem of formulating a definite pol
icy for the nation in case the United
States actually enters the war. This
possibility was mentioned by the pres
ident in his inaugural address Marcn
9TH.
All of the conditions outlined by
the president in his message announc-
ing the diplomatic break with Ger
many as leading. to state Of armed
neutrality have now been fulfilled.
The covert act" described by him
then has actually come; if, in fact,
II had not already been committed
when the president went before con-
gress. Since then he established a
state of armed neutrality without the
specific authority of congress.
President Wilson was out automo-
billing when the first associated press
dispatch telling Of the three disasters
came. Through Secretary Tumulty
he was given all available facts i'm
mediately on his return. In the
meantime Secretary Lansing and 9TH
or state department officials as well
as cabinet members, were given the
information.
Several hours later official reports
came from Consul Frost at Queens
town and Consul General Skinner at
London, telling of the sinking Of the
City of Memphis, the Vigilancia anu
the Illinois. These dispatches COLI
frmed press reports but added few
details.
International lawyers and constitu-
tional experts here showed no hest
fancy tonight in saying that Pres1-
dent Wilson has full authority to in
terpret this an act of war and an
nounce that this country considers
that an actual state Of war exists by
reason of Germany's fragrant assault
on American shipping. Such action
would be subject to the approval OF