Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-04-10
CUBA JOINS j. s. IN
WAR: SENATE AND
HOUSE UNANIMOUS
Document Signed by Presi-
dent MenOcaI Saturday Night
PIungeS Little Republic Into
MaeIStrOm of Steel

HAVANA, April Cuba. not yet
out Of her teens as a republic. is at war
with Germany-the first of the Latin
American countries 10 range herself
alongside the United states, her liberia
tor and protector.
At 1916 tonight President Menocal af-
fixed his signature to the joint resolu-
tion passed unanimously late this after
noon by both the senate and house with
out dissenting voice being raised, thus
putting into effect the declaration that
state of war exists between Cuba and
the imperial German government.
The joint committees appointed only
yesterday by the senate ana house
agreed early this Afternoon upon the
phraseology of the resolution to be pre-
scented and the stage was set for quick
action before either branch of congress
convened.
The senate acted with extreme solemn
ity The resolution was ready. DR..
Ricardo DOLE, conservative leader, then
took the floor and made short, impress
i've speech in favor of the resolution No
amendments were offered and the seven
teen senators present voted AYE" when
the motion was put There was no ap,
plause or excitement following the vote
The scene i'm the house was more en-
Iivening The galleries were packed long
before the session opened, the ministers
of France. Spain and Uruguay occupying
seats in the diplomatic section.
After the reading of the joint resolution
Representative Alfredo Betoncourt
speaking for the conservatives, made an
'impassioned speech. in favor of it's
adoption. He was frequently interrupt
ed by tremendous applause, the entire
house and galleries rising to their feet
cheering and clapping wildly.
Jose NJ. Cortinia, addressed the house
for the Libral side in support Of the reso'
luton.
Then by a rising vote the house unai'
mously adopted the resolution. The
resolution follows:
article / Resolved, that from today
a state of war is formally declared be-
tween the republic of Cuba and the i'm
perial government of Germany. and the
president of the republic is authorized
and directed by this resolution TO en-
ploy all the forces of the nation and
the resources of our government to
make war against the imperial German
government with the object of maintain
ing our rights guarding our territory
and providing for our security; prevent
AGAINST us, and defend the NAVIGATION
and the rights of neutrals and interna-
tional justice.
POWERS OF PRESIDENT.
article q The president of the re-
public is hereby authorized TO use all
the land and naval forces in the form
he may deem necessary, using existing
forces. reorBanizing them or creating
new ones. and to dispose of the econom-
ic forces of the nation in any way he
may deem necessary.
article 3. The president will give
account to congress of the measures
adopted in fulflllment of this law, which
will be in operation from the moment
of its publication in the official ga
zette"
Late this afternoon Chief Inspector
of the Port Panne notified Eusebio Az
piazu secretary to the president. that
he had observed large volumes of smoke
pouring from the funnel OF the self-in-
termed German ship Bavaria. Port po-
lice went aboard the ship and were in
formed by her commander, Captain
GIaafies. that he, in compliance with
orders from his government, had at
tempted to damage the machinery in
order to render the ship useless.
The crew. together with the captain
and his wife, were removed as were the
crews of three other interned German
ships in the Havana harbor. All were
sent to Cabanas fortress.
The other vessels were found to have
been slightly damaged They are the
Adelheid. Kydonia and Olivant.
A rumor was current that it had
been the intention of the Germans to
move their ships out to the mouth of
the harbor and sink them there thus
closing the port TO navigation.