The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1917-04-05

ashington-President Wilson ask
ed Congress to declare state of war
existing between the United States
and Germany.
While the news of the summarizing
of the steamer Aztec-the first Ameri-
can armed ship to sail into the war
zOne-was being told from mouth to
mouth in the Capitol, the President,
appearing before House and Senate
in joint session, asked Congress to
recognize and deal with Germany's
warfare on America.
The President stated that war with
Germany would involve practical CO.
operation with the governments now
at war with Germany, including lib
eral, financial credits.
The President made it clear that no
action was being taken against the
Austrian Government and the other
nations allied with Germany.
President Wilson spoke as follows:
81 have called the Congress into
extraordinary session because there
are serious, very serious, choices. of
policy to be made. and made imme-
constitutionally permissible that I
should assume, the responsibility Of
making
ION the third Of February, last,
officially laid before you the extra
ordinary announcement of the Impe-
rial German Government that on and
after the first day of February it was
it's purpose to put aside all restraints
of law or humanity and use it's sub
marines to sink every vessel that
sought to approach either the ports
of Great Britain and Ireland or the
Western coasts of Europe or any of
the ports controlled by the enemies
of Germany within the Mediterranean.
That had seemed to be the object of
the German submarine warfare ear
lier in the war, but since April of last
year. the Imperial Government had
somewhat restrai@ed the commanders
of it's undersea craft in conformity
with it's promise then given to us that
passenger boats should not be sunk and
that due warning would be given to all
other vessels which it's submarines
might seek to destroy, when no re-
tempted and care taken that their
crews were given at least a fair
chance to save their lives in their
open boats.
German RuthIessness.
THE precautions taken where meag-
er and haphazard enough, as was prov
ed in distressing instance after in
stance in the progress of the cruel and
.unmanly business, but a certain degree
of restraint was observed. The new
policy has swept every restriction
aside. Vessels Of every kind, what
ever their flag, their character, their
cargo, their destination, their errand,
have been ruthlessly sent to the bot
tom without warning and without
thought of help or mercy for those on
board, the vessels of friendly neutrals
along with those of belligerents. Hos
pital ships and ships carrying relief
to the sorely bereaved and stricken
people of Belgium, though the latter
were provided with safe conduct
through the prescribed areas by the
German Government itself and were
distinguished by unmistakable marks
VI AucALACy, nave US0n SUNK Win the
same reckless lack of compassion or
Of principle.
II was for a little while unable to
believe that such things would in fact
be done by any Government that had
hitherto subscribed to the humane
practices of civilized nations. Inter
national law had it's origin in the at
tempt to set up some law which
would be respected and observed up
on the seas where no nation had
right of dominion, and where lay the
free highways fthe world. By pain
full stage after stage has that law
been built up with meager enough re-
suits, indeed, after all was accom-
pfished that could be accomplished,
but always with clear view, at least,
OF what the heart and conscience of
mankind would demand. This mini