Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-02-27
Asks Congress for Author
ity to De fend Commerce
and LiUes of Our
Citizens.

WASiilNGTON. rcbruary "s-rhc
President, in his address to Congress
day spoke as follows;
Gentlemen of the Congress-
~ have again asked tho rrivilere OF
addressing you because we are moving
through critical times. during which
1t seems 10 me 10 br my duty to keep
III close touch with the houses of Con
Grcss. SO that neither counsel nor ac-
ton shall run ut cross purposes be-
tween us.
ON tho 3rd OF February officially
informed YOU Of tho sudden and un
expected action of tho imperial Ger
man government in declaring it's in
tcntion to disregard the promises T.,
had made Ia this government in April
( last. and undertake Immediate sub
marine operations against all COM
m"r"e. whether. of bcliiGercntS or az
n"uirals. that should seek TO approach
Great Britain and ireland, the Atlantic
coasts OF Europe, or tho harbors of the
Eastern Mediterranean. and TO conduct
those operations without regard TO tho
established restrictions Of international
practice. without regard to amy con
Separations of humanity even which
might interfere with their object
That policy was forthwith nut into
practice. II has now been in active
execution for nearly four weeks.
Its practical results are not fully
disclosed
The commerce Of other neutral ma
tons is suffering severely, but not, per-
maps. very much more severely than il
was already suffering before the LIST
OF February. when the new policy of
the imperial government was put into
operation. We have asked tho CO.
operation of tho other neutral govern
ments to prcIent those dcprcdationS
but fear none OF them has thought il
wise to join us in any common course
Of action.
orr SHIPS rIaIIDLY
kEEPtNG TO HOME PORTS
our own commerce has suffered. l.,
suffering. rather in apprehension than
in fact. rather because so many Of our
ships are timidly Keeping Ia their home
ports than because American ships have
been sunk
Two American vessels have been
sunk. tho lIousatonic and the Lyman Nj
Law. The ease OF the Uousatonic
which WAS carrying foodstums con-
signed TO II London firm was essential
ly like the case Of tho Frye in which
II viii be- recalled. the German govern
ment admitted it's liability for dam
ages. and tho lives Of the crew. as in
the case Of the Frye, were safcguardcs
with reasonable care.
fhe case of the Law which was
carrying lemon box StavcS To Palermo.
disclosed ruth lessncss of method
which deserves grave condcmnation
but was accompanied by no circum-
stances which might not have been cx-
rcctcd at any time i'm connection with
The use Of the submarine against mcr-
chantmcn as the German government
has used it.
I'm sum, therefore, tho situation we
find ourselves i'm with regard TO tic
actual conduct Of tho German sub
marin" warfare against commerce, aud
its effects upon our own ships ana
people, is substantially the Same that
IT was when | addressed you on the
3rd of February. except for tho tying
up of our shipping in our own ports,
because Of tho upwilingncss of our
shpowncrS tn risk rhcir vessels at sea
without insurance or adequate protcc-
ton. and the very serious congestion
Of our commerce which has resulted,
a congestion which is growing rapidly
more and more serious every day. This
in itself might presently accomplish.
In effect, what the now German suo
marine orders were meant 10 accom-
plish. so far as we arc concerned. We
can only say, therefore. that the overt
act. which | have venturcd To hope