Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1917-03-23
UNITED STATES
VIRTUALLY AT WAR
Germany Has Committed Overt
Act by Sinking Three Ships
Congress Has Been Called in Special
Session April 2-Plans Being Rushed
for Naval Equipment.

1t is probable that a declaration 20
that effect will be made when congress
convenes in special session April 2, two
weeks earlier than the time first fixed
by the President Immediately after his
Inauguration.
The President states, in a proclama-
ton issued Wednesday, that the calling
of congress together is for the purpose
of receiving communication from
him concerning "grave questions of
national policy He does not state
that war exists, but leaves the question
for discussion in his message and for
action by congress.
1t is believed that the President will
| recite the overt acts committed by
Germany since the last warning given
to that country.
The communication President Wilson
will personally address to congress when
it meets in extraordinary session, April
3, will in substance be that state of
war has existed between the United
States and the German government
since Saturday, March II.
1t was on this date that German sub
marines, operating under instruction
from the admiralty sunk without pro-
NONdllOh lllc hmtIlCdu SHIPS lRlldHCld
City of Memphis and Illinois.
Among the plans now under consid-
Grafton by the government are the fol-
lowing:
l. The mobilization of the entire
naval forces, supplemented with ade-
quate auxiliary facilities to assist III
DISCRIMINATING the submarine peril to
neutral nations, with full uses of al
lied bases on both sides of the Atlantic
for the necessary supplies.
2. The granting of permission to
the warships of the allied nations at
war with Germany to use American
ports as supply bases while doing pa
troll duty, and the removal of all re-
strirtions such as the armament OF
merchantmen entering and clearing
United States ports.
3. The unlimited provision of war
equipment to the allied nations at war
with Germany, with particular favor to
be shown the new Russian government
4. The passage by congress of n
universal training and service bill. de-
signed to provide an army of 100000
men within six months.
>. The mobilization of the National
Guard following the adoption Of n
resolution declaring the existence of a
state of war so as to bring the land
forces to an immediate strength of
300, 900 men; this army to be used for
domestic service until eventualities, not
now anticipated, may compel the de-
spatching of it as part of an expedition
airy force that the United States may
feel compelled to send to foreign soil.
G. The requisitioning of German
owned war and merchant ships now
held in American continental and in
sular waters for war purposes, to be
compensated for at the termination of
hostilities between the United States
and Germany unless they should be con
fscated as a reprisal for the destruc-
tion of vessels by Germany.
:. The mobilization of the merchant
marine by the government for national
uses, including the conveyance of car
goes to the allied nations.
3. The passage by congress of legis-
and military establishments of the gov
eminent for any purposes that it may
find necessary in protecting its inter
csts against German aggression.
9. The mobilization of the railways,
industrial and all other forces that may
be taken over by the government or
operated under its direction to supply
unlimited facilities for both the naval
eminent.
10. The mobilization of the financial
resources of the country so as to insure
an adequate supply of money necessary
to finance the war operations of the
government.
Officials of the government, members
of congress, the leading diplomats of all
foreign powers, and in the opinions of
the President and his advisers, the peO-
pie of the country are now completely
recOncied to the determination of the
United States to take the step that it
has long sought to avoid, but that has
been forced upon it by the contemptu-
Gus disregard Of its rights by the Ger
man government.
There is sufficient authority for the
statement that the President, in what
promises to be the most important adj
dress ever delivered or sent by an
American president to congress, will
make it perfectly clear that he dses
not seek war with the German peWle,
but that it il the determination of this
country to punish the military autoc-
racy in control of the German govern
ment for the crimes committed by that
autocracy against the people of the
United States.
Inc government on TUESDAY tOOR
definite action for clearing the trans
atlantic steamship lanes of German
submarines and to protect the coast.
Sixty submarine chasers, 110-foot craft,
have been ordered from the New YORK
navy yard, and 200 more will be or
dered from private concerns. The
senior and Junior classes of the naval
academy will be graduated at once. to
make 374 officers Immediately available
for service. The President has au-
thoried the expenditure of the $115,-
100000 emergency fund provided by
congress to speed up the construction
of warships, and has suspended the
eighthour law in plants doing govern
ment work. 1t is believed that with
the privately owned motor boats offered
by their owners to the government