The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-03-20
AWAIT FATE
OF ARMED SHIP
Actual Declaration of War
Against Germany Depends
on What Happens i--
Few Days.
PREPAREDNESS 81 So S
Everything Possible 10 Bel HS med
For What 10 Amos =
:, to Follow tho II
strain.
PREPAREDNESS

IUnited Press Leased Wire Service.]
WASHINGTON, March 20.-Actual
declaration Of war by the United
States against Germany appears to
depend upon the fate which befalls
the first armed American liner.
It also appears today that avowal
Of hostilities by President Wilson
against the imperial German govern
ment will not result, from the sink
ing of the three American fredghters
last Saturday.
While taking every preparedness
step which he believes can be taken,
President Wilson Is loathe to take
further action.
He has more aggressive steps un-
der consideration, however, and this
afternoon discussed all phases OF the
problem with his cabinet which con-
.vened at 2: 80. 1t has been definitely
ascertained that the president strong
.ly questions the advisability Of
\ forcing" the present situation. He Is
understood to feel that everything
that possibly could be done to meet
actual hostilities-now believed in
evitable-is being done. He further
questions whether calling congress
into extra session before April I6
would accomplish any particular good.
The president is understood to feel
that the program he has outlined
thus far, does not call for actual dec
laration OF war at this time. despite
calls from the country for such an
act If an armed American ship Is at
tackled, the situation, will then call
for the next forward step.
The president is declared today,
however, to be still considering all
phases of the present situation and
it may be q day or two-pOssibly
more-before any further decision is
announced.
Meantime the very fact that he
has delayed this long, has given rise
to the general belief in official cir
cles that session OF congress be-
fore April 16 is unlikely.
The United States will gain an
immense advantage In coping with
submarines If it can drift" into a
state of active warfare without formal
declaration of war, military men here
held today. They have SO told white
house officials. ~. -. -.
Under such condition this coun-
try, they pointed out, could engage in
an Industrial cooperation with the
allies which it Is believed would
soon break the back of the central
powers. Munitions and gold could
then be poured across the Atlantic
between lanes of allied and United
States warships.
Should the United States, however,
declare formal war, public opinion
here would demand an immediate
cessation of shipments Of war ma
terials abroad until the country accu-
.:su!a.ea sufficient supplies 10 care
for itself. 1t would then be America
first" with the public insistent that
American resources be conserved at
least until the country is on an ade-
Quate war footing.
Declaration Unnecessary.
WASHINGTON, March 20.-Cer-
tain members of President Wilson's
cabinet when they arrived at the
white house for the cabinet meeting
this afternoon were outspoken in
their view that q state of war now
exists with Germany.
While saying they believed dec
laratfon Of war unnecessary, at this
time. they were firm in their stand for
for hostilities. They in
iicated that when the president next
addresses the congress he will say
war existed with Germany since last
Wedn esday when the American eteam-
ar Algonquin was sunk: