Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-19
PRESIDENT MAY
SEEK AUTHORITY
FOR HIS NEXT STEP
Contemplates Calling Con-
gress in Immediate Ses-
sion to Take Action.
CRISIS COMES TO HEAD
WITH SINKING OF 3 SHIPS
"Overt Act" Described by Will
son Actually Has Been Com
mitted by Berlin.
NO HOPE FOR PEACE REMAINS
Washington Accepts as Fact That
Ruthless Sea Warfare Must
BE Faced.
CRISIS COMES TO HEAD
WITH SINKING OF 3 SHIPS.
no HOPE FOR PEACE REMAINS
LRy Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
WASHINGTON. March lS.-With the
announcement Of the ruthless dcstruc-
ton OF three unarmed American mer-
chant ships by submarines. il was un-
officially admitted here tonight that
virtually a state of war exists between
the United States and Germany.
Technically. the United states re-
mains In position OF armed neutral
ity. Whether this shall be changed
before April l6. the date fixed for a
special session OF Congress. the war
making branch of the government,
President Wilson has not decided.
One step the President is contem-
plating is a call for an Immediate ses-
sion OF Congress to hear an address
asking for authority to adopt aggres-
sive measures against the submarine
menace.
NEXT STEP Is TO SEND
wARSHIPS TO WAR ZONE
Already America1 ships arc being
armed to defend themselves. Tho next
move must be to send warships with
orders to seek out submarines and
clear the transatlantic lanes
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 aggres-
sive protective steps pending the as
sembling of Congress. There is no in
dication. however. that the President
will follow that course.
OF the three ships destroyed, two
we're unloaded and homeward bound,
and all were American built American
owned and officered and manned largely
by American citizens. Meager dis
matches 70 haf oil
with complete disregard for the safety
of those on board. and that many of
the crew may have been lost.
To-day's develo opments brought the
government face to face with the prob
lem of formulating a definite policy
for the nation in case the United
States actually enters the war; This
possibility was mentioned by the
President in his inaugural address on
March 5.
ALL CONDITIONS NAMED
by WILSON FULFILLED
All Of the conditions outlined by the
President in his message announcing
the diplomatic break with Germany as
leading to a state OF armed neutrality
have now been fulfilled. The overt
act described by him then has ac-
tually come. If. In fact. it had not
been committed when the President
went before Congress. Since then he
has established state Of armed neu-
trality, without the specific authority
OF Congress.
President Wilson was out automo-
billing when the first Associated Press
dispatches telling OF the three dis
astera camo in quick succession
Through Secretary Tumulty, he was
given all available facts immediately
on his return.
several hours later. official reports
came from Consul Frost. at Queens
town. and Consul-Gcneral Skinner. M
London telling of tho sinking OF the
CITY or Memphis. the vtgilancia and
the Illinois. These dispatches con-
hrmed press reports. but added few
details.
International lawyers and constitu.
''onal experts hore showed no nesi-
fancy tonight In saying that President
wilson has full authority to interpret
rs an act OF war and announce that
TINS country considers that an actual
state OF war exists by reason OF Ger
manys naSrant assault on American
shipping.
Such action would be subject to the
approval OF Congress.
Despite the unwarned sinking OF BIZ
passenger liners like tho California
ana the Laconia, the jcopardizing OF
Americans on nearly q score OF other
vessels and the sinking OF three other
American ships, the Housatonic, The
Lyman NJ. Law and tho Algonquin.
since the unrestricted warfare began.
some officials. inspired by tho Prcsi-
dents announced reluctance to believe
that Germany would carry through her
threat, have clung desperately TO the
nope that some slight respect for In
ternational Law might still he shown.
SEA WARFARE SURPASSEs
MOST TESSIMISTIC FORECASTS
German sea warfare may fairly be
stated. however. to have surpassed
even the mos, pessimistic forecasts
here. That she actually means to send
every vessel to the hottom that 6ares
TO venture within her forbidden zones
Is now accepted as Il fact. Neutral,
passenger. Belgian relief. appear TO be
all In the same category.
With the practical certainty that this