The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-04-12
ASKS ARMY OF 100000
Also Urges Liberal Financial
Credit For Allies.
DISlOyALTy TO Be SQUElCHEO

lons Controversy With Germany
over Submarine Operations Review
ed at Length and Imperial Govern
ment Severely Arraisned-PresL
dent Makes Il Clear That No Action
10 Being Taken Against Other Cen
trial Powers.
Washington, April 3.-Appearing
before a Joint session OF the house
and senate last night. President VIII
son asked congress TO declare that q
state Of war exists between Germany
and the United States because OF Ger
manys illegal submarine warfare.
The president also requested that
immediate steps be taken to put the
country in a more thorough state Of
defense and that IL be permitted to
employ all It's resources TO bring the
government OF the German empire to
terms and end the war.
Tho president said acquiescence by
congress would involve the utmost
practicable cooperation In counsel
and action" with the governments
now at war with Germany, the raising
OF 100000 men who. in his opinion,
should be chosen upon the principle
OF universal liability TO service and
the granting of adequate credits to
the government The full text OF tie
message follows:
THE MESSAGE.
Gentlemen OF the Congress.
II have called congress into extra
ordinary session because there arr
serious. very serious. choices OF pol
Icy to be made and made immediate
~. which Il was neither right OF
constltutionally permissible that l
should assume the responsibility Of
making
ION the 81 Of February last ! Off
cially laid before you an extraordin-
airy announcement OF the imperial
German government that on and after
the LIST day OF February II was its pu..
pose to put aside all restraints OF law
or N humanity and use its subma
rines TO sink every vessel that sought
TO approach either the ports Of Great
Britain and Ireland or the western
coasts ~ Europe. or any Of the ports
controlled BY the enemies Of Germany
within the Mediterranean. That had
seemed To be the object OF OF the Ger.
man Submarine warfare earlier In the
war. but since April Of last year the
imperial German government had
.fa.N.a
OF its undersea craft In conformity
with It's promise then given TO us thai
passenger boats should not be SUNK
and that due warning would be given
10 all otner vessels which its subma-
rines might seek to Destroy, when no
resistance was offered or escape at
tempted and care taken that their
crews were given at least a fair
chance 70 save their lives IN their
open bodts. The precautions were
meager and haphazard enough. a.
was proved In distressing instance
after instance In the progress OF the
cruel and unmanly business. but a
certain degree OF restraint was Oh
served.
"The new policy has swept every
restriction aside. Vessels of every
kind. whatever their flag, their char
aoter. their cargo, their destination.
their errand, have been ruthlessly
sent TO the bottom Of the sea without
warning and without thought ~ help
or mercy for those on board the YES
sells OF friendly neutrals along with
those Of belliRerents.
Warfare Against Mankind.
81 was for 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 its origin in the at
tempt TO set up some law which would
be respected and observed upon the
seas, where no nation had right OF
dominion and where lay the free high
ways of the worli. by painful effort
stays after stage has that law been
built up. with meager enough results,
indeed after all was accomplished
that could be accomplished. but al.
ways with clear view at least OF
what the heart or conscience Of man
kind demanded. This minimum OF
right the German government has
swept aside under the plea OF retalia-
tion and necessity and because II had
no weapons which II could use at sea
except those which II is impossible. as
Il is employing them. without throw,
ing 10 the winds all scruples OF hui