The Harrison times., 1917-04-07

mentS now at war with Germany,
including liberal financial credits, 3
The president urged the organiza-
ton of an army of at least 50O,-
900 men, chosen upon the princi- :
pie of universal liability TO ser
vice"
The president made it clear
that no action was being taken
against the Austrian government
and the other nations allied with
Germany
sss*s.
President Wilson spoke in part as
follows:
81 have called the Congress into eX-
traordinary session because there are
serious, very serious choices of pol
icy to be made, and made immediate
ly, which it was neither right nor con-
stitutionally permissible that | should
assume the responsibility of making.
No Ships Safe in Danger Zone.
"On the third of February last | Of
ficially laid before you the extraordi-
nary announcement of the imperial
German government that on and af-
ter the first day Of February it was
its purpose to put aside all RESTRAINTS
of law or of humanity and usefts sub
marines to sink every vessel that
sought to approach either the ports
Of Great Britain and Ireland or the
western coasts Of Europe or any Of
the ports controlled by the enemies of
Germany within the Mediterranean
That had seemed to be the object Of
the German submarine warfare earlier
in the war, but since April of last
year the imperial government had
somewhat restrained the commanders
of its undersea craft in conformity
with its promise then given to us
that passenger boats should not be
sunk and that due warning would be
given to all other vessels which its
submarines might seek tos destroy,
when no resistance was offered or es.
cape attempted, and care taken that
their crews were given at least
fair chance to save their lives in their
open boats.
"The precautions taken were meag-
er and haphazard enough as was
proved in distressing instance after
instance in the progress Of the cruel
and unmanly business, but a certain
degree of restraint was observed.
o "The new policy has swept every
restriction aside Vessels of every
kind, whatever their flag, their char
acter, their cargo, their destination,
their errand, have been ruthles3ly
sent to the bottom without warning
and without thought Of help or mercy
for those on board, the vessels Of
friendly neutrals along with those Of
helligerents. Even hospital ships and
ships carrying relief to the sOrely be-
reaved and stricken people of Bel
GUM, though the latter were proyid-
ed with safe conduct through the pro-
scribed areas by the German govern
ment itself and were distinguished by
unmistakable marks of identity, have
been sunk with the same reckless lack
~ noCcinn pf prip ip1O
~ was for a 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. Interna.
tional law had its origin in the at
tempt to set up some law which would
he respected and observed upon the
seas, Where no nation had right of do
mini0n and where lay the free high
ways Of the world
Germans Making War On Mankind.
"By painful stage after stage has
that law been built up with meager
enough results, indeed, after all was
accomplished that could be accom-.
plished, but always with a clear view,
at least Of what the heart and con-
science Of mankind demanded This
minimum Of right the German govern
ment has swept aside under the plea
Of retaliation and necessity and be.
cause 1t had no weapons which II
could use at sea except those when
1t Is impossible to employ as it ia
employing them without throwing to
the winds all scruples Of humanity or
Of respect for TIE understandings tina.
were supposed to underle the inter
course OF the world.
II am not now thinking Of the loss
Of property involved, immense and
serious as that Is, but only Of the
wanton and wholesale destruction of
the lives Of noncombatants, men, wo-
men and children, engaged in pursuits
which have always, even in the dark.
est periods or modern history, been
deemed innocent and legitimate.
Property can be paid for; the lives
Of peaceful and innocent people can