The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1917-03-23
WITH THIRTY AMERICANS MISS.
ING UNOFFICIAL OPINION is
THAT STATE OF WAR WITH
GERMANY EXISTS.
PRESIDENT MAY CALL
CONGRESS IMMEDIATELY
Sending Warships to Clear Sea Lanes
Of Submarines Is Regarded as the
Next Move-President Has
Power to Treat Attacks as
Act Of War.

London, March 20.-Three ships fly
ing the American flag are the victims
Of Germany's campaign Of unrestricted
submarine warfare.
Thirty-eight members Of the crews
are missing and a number may have
persisted. OF the 3S, more than 80 are
known to be American citizens.
The freighter Vigilancia was sunk
without warning. Fourteen Of her
crew are missing.
The freighter City of Memphis and
the tanker Illinois, returning to Amer
lea light, are believed to have been
warned before sinking, but of 81 Am
orleans aboard the former, "a are mis-
sing and 33 saved The crew of the
Illinois was rescued.
The submarine which sank the Vigi-
lancia did not appear. The captain,
first and second mates, first, second
and third engineers and % members
Of the crew have been landed at the
Sicily Islands. The fourth engineer
and Is seamen are missing.
Virtually State of War.
Washington, March 19.-With the
announcement of the ruthless destruc-
ton of three unarmed American mer-
chant ships by submarines, it was I'M
officially admitted here that virtually
a state of war exists between the
United States and Germany.
Technically the United States re-
mains in a position of armed neutral
fly. Whether this shall be changed
between April 16, the date fixed for
a special session of Congress, the war
making branch of the government,
President Wilson has not decided.
May Call Congress at Once.
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 aggres-
sive measures against the submarine
menace. Already American ships are
being armed to defend themselves; the
next move must be to send warships
with orders to seek out submarines
and clear the transatlantic lanes.
Presidents Course Unknown.
Some of the highest officials of the
government hold that the executive
has the power to declare that state
of war exists and to proceed with ag-
gressive protective steps pending the
assembling of Congress. There is no
indication, however, that the Presi-
dent will follow that course.
OF the three ships destroyed two
Of them were unloaded and homeward
bound, and all were American built,
American-owned and Differed and
manned largely by American citizens.
These latest developments have
brought the government face to face
with the problem of formulating a def
mite policy for the nation in case the
United States actually enters the war.
This possibility was mentioned by the
President in his inaugural address
March 8.
Overt Act Has Come.
All of the conditions outlined by the
President in his message announcing
the diplomatic break with Germany as
leading to state of armed neutrality
act" described by him then has actual.
ly come; if in fact it had not been
committed when the President went
before Congress again. Since then he
has established a state of armed neu.
trality without the specific authority
of Congress.
President Wilson was out automo
billing when the first dispatches tell
ing Of the three disasters came in
quick succession. Through Secretary
Tumulty he was given ali available
facts Immediately on his return. In
the meantime Secretary Lansing and
other State department officials as well
as cabinet members were given the
news.
News Is Confirmed.
Several hours later official reports
came from Consul Frost at Queens
town and Consul General Skinner al
London telling of the sinking of the
City of Memphis, the Vigilancia and
the Illinois. These dispatches con
firmed press reports, but added few
details.
Consul Frost, reporting the sinking
of the American steamer City of Mem
phis, said 40 survivors had been pick
ed up and that an admiralty vessel
was searching for eight missing.
Eight Of Crew Missing.
The consuls dispatch follows:
American steamer City of Mem
phis, Cardiff to New York, reported
sunk by German submarine, 4 p. M
March IT, 35 miles south of Fastnet