Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-02-04
NEUTRAL GOVERNMENTS
INVITED TO FOLLOW LEAD
Kaiser Warned That Ruthless
Sacrifice of American Lives
and Rights Means War.
ENDS LONG SERIES OF CRISES
Demand Goes to Berlin for Immedi-
ate Release Of Sixty-Four Amer
leans Captured by Raider.
tRy A--ociated Pre,.l

BY Associated Pre,.yl
WASHINGTON. February 3-PresI-
dent Wilson has broken off diplomatic
relations with Germany. and warned
the Kaiser that ruthless sacrifice OF
American lives and rights means war.
Similar action is waiting for Austria
when she notifies this government that
she joins In the campaiEn OF unre-
strictcd submarine warfare
The President made formal announce
rncnt OF this action to the country and TO
the world to-day at r joint session OF
Congress.
Passports have been handed to Count
von Rernstorn: Ambassado Gerard
with all his STAFF, and American CON
suls have been ordered out Of Germany.
All German consuls in tho United
States arc expected to withdraw, that
the severance of relations may he COM
plctc. American diploma tic interests In
Berlin have been turned over to Spain:t
German diplomatic interests in the
United States have been taken over by
Switzerland. Foreign diplomatic In
terests which the United States had in,
charge in Germany have been turned
over to various neutrals.
Two years OF diplomatic negotiations
marked with frequent crises, and at
tended with the loss OF more than 200
American lives on the high seas. have
eliminated with an act which in all tho
history OF the world always has led
To war Every agency OF the Amer
lean government has been set in mo-
ton To protect the country against
acts OF German sympathizers These
moves are OF necessity being kept
secret.
DEMANDS IMMEDIATE; RELEASE
OF 64 SEIZED AMERICANS
With tho notice Of severance Of re-
lations the United States sent TO Bcr-
lin demand for the Immediate re-
lease Of siNty-four Americans taken
from ships captured by German raid
crs in the South Atlantic.
AT the request of tho President Con-
Srcss. Immediately after hearing his
address, began work on new laws
framed by the Department Of Justice
IL check conspiracies and plots against
the United states which cannot now ba
ached under existing statutes
The question OF conveying American
merchant ships through the submarine
blockade has been taken up. and is
being considered ono OF the ncAt
moves by this government
The news OF the torpcdoing OF this
American steamer EIousatonic. coming
almost before President Wilson'S
words in Congress had died away.
created tremendous sensation but
it does not necessarily constitute such
an invasion OF American rights as the
President said he would meet by ask
/ ing Congress for additional authority
to act
only the establishment OF the actual
! facts can demonstrate whether The
sinking Of the ship was a new attack
OF American rights. or whether the
case comes within the range OF other
! \merican ships carrying contraband.
DESTROYED in accordance with interna-
tiunal law and presenting a case TO bn
settled under its preceIts
Admittedly, il the iiousat onic was
sunk without warning or with loss Of
American life it Will amount to little
less Than an act OF war, and be fol
Owed by all the consequences whici,
tho President SO clearly pointed out IN
ui, address