The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-03-09
Will Either Arm Ships Right
Away or Convene Con-
gress Immediately.
WIRELESS BETWEEN
MEXICO AND BERLIN
Only LaFollette, Sherman
and Gronna Against the
Cloture Rule.
~ AssocIATEp Press.


Lansing and Attorney General Greg
DRY have advised President Wilson he
has full authority to arm American
merchantmen against illegal attacks
by German submarines.
Whether the president will arm
ships Immediately or wait for a spe-
cial session of congress to approve
arning, was not revealed tonight.
Since the senate changed the rules, the
special session is not expected before
July.
Regarding the special session the
only question tonight was whether it
will be called Immediately. On all
sides the prediction was made that
the president will announce soon, pos
sibly tomorrow, whether he has de-
cided to arm ships Immediately, or
whether he will call special ses-
sion Immediately, and one problem
in consideration is the probable diff
ficulty over an anganization of the
new house because of the balance
power so evenly distributed between
the democrats and republicans, which
out. The president is determined that
no unnecessary delay in action on the
armed neutrality question. It was to
Lansing and Gregory that the presi-
dent referred the question whether
old statutes giving American mer-
chantmen authority to fight pirates
: barred them from defending them
selves against recognized warships to-
day, as the wording seemed at first
to do.
Filibustering is Dead.
Washington, March 8.-The senate
this afternoon passed the amendment
to senate rules giving two thirds of
its members the right to limit debate.
Senators Gronna, LaFollette and
Sherman were the only ones voting
against the change.
Never while the new senate rule is
in effect can "little group of willful
men," as the president termed those
he held responsible for defeat of the
arnnd neutrality bill, prevent a vote
on any bill before the senate, if two
thirds of their colleagues will it 9TH
erwise, and the organized filibuster
as recognized in the senate is dead.
The action came Unexpectedly, after
six hours debate on the bill as draft
ed by bipartisan committee.
Mexico Berlin Wireless.
Washington, March S.-The gov
eminent has received information
from a semi-official source that a
TooweY-fI1l UiraleSe nIap+ has baa,, on,,
structed in Mexico City, enabling
communication direct to Germany, and
has ordered an investigation.
Officials realize that if the story
of the wireless plant is true, the news
is of great importance, since through
connection by land telegraphs leading
into the United States, Germany NAV
be able to get complete exemption
from the United States censorship
over the wireless at Sayville and
Tuckerton, and from the entente CEN
sorship cables. Sea raiders and sub
marines might be directed regarding
the departure of ships from American
ports. German agents in the United
States may be kept in close touch
with Berlin, and in case of war, Sc
rious results might follow. From
other seni-official sources the gov
eminent is informed Germans have
been holding meetings at Vera Cruz
and Monterey to determine uniform
action by Germans in Mexico in case
of war between Germany and the
United States.