Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1917-03-21
VIRTUALLY 4 STATE:
Of WAR BETWEEN
J.. S. AND GERMANY
PRESIDENT is CONTEMPLATING
CALL FOR IMMEDIATE SEES
SION OF CONGRESS.
NATION IS FACE TO FACE
WITH DEFINITE WAR POLICY
All the Conditions as AutIined By
President in His Message Announc-
ing Break With Germany as Lead
ing to State of Armed Neutrality
Have Now Been Fulfilled.

ing to State Of Armed Neutrality
Have Now Been Fulfilled.
Washington.-With the announce.
ment of the ruthless destruction of
three unarmed American merchant
ships by submarines, it was unofficial
ly admitted here that virtually a state
OF war exists between the United
States and Germany.
Technically the United States re-
mains in a position of armed neutral
ity. Whether this shall be changed
before April 16, 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 agrees
sive measures against the submarine
menace
Already American ships are being
armed to defend themselves. The next
love must be to send warships with
orders to seek out submarines and
clear the transatlantic lanes.
Some of the highest officials If the
Government hold that the Executive
has the power to declare that a state
of war exists and to proceed with ag-
gressive protective steps pending the
assembling Of Congress. There is no
indication, however, that the Presi-
dent will follow that curse.
Of the three ships destroyed. two
We're unloaded and homeward bound,
and all were Am~erican-built. Ameri-
can-owned and Differed. and manned
largely by American citizens. Meager
dispatches indicate that all were sunk
with complete disregard for the safety
of those on board. and that many of
the crew may have been lost.
Nation Face to Face With Definite
War Policy.
New developments brought the Gov
eminent fact to face with the problem
of formulating a definite policy for the
Nation in case the United State; act
ually enters the war. This possibility
was mentioned by the President in his
inaugural address March 5.
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 actual
ly come if in fact it had not been COM
mitted when the President went be-
fore Congress. Since then he has
established a state of armed neutrality
without the specific authority of Con
gress.
President Wilson was out automob-
ling when the first Associated Press
dispatches telling OF the disasters
came in quick succession. Through
Secretary Tumulty he was given all
available facts Immediately on his re-
turn.
Several hours later official reports
came from Consul Frost at Queens.
town and Consul General Skinner at
London, telling OF the sinking of the
City of Memphis. the V~igilancia and
the %Illionis. These dispatches o Il
frmed press reports but added few
details.
International lawyers and constitu-
tional experts here showed no hest
fancy in saying that President Wilson
has full authority to interpret as an
act of war, an that the coun-
try considers that an actual state of
war exists by reason of Germany's
fragrant assault on American ship
ping.
Such action would be subject to the
approval of Congress.
Despite the unwarned sinking of big
passenger liners like the California
and the Laconia, the jeopardizing of
Americans on nearly a score of other
vessels, and the sinking of three 9th
err American ships, the Housatanic. the
LYMAN NJ. Law and the Algonquin
since the unrestricted warfare began,
some officials, inspired by the Presi-
dents announced reluctance to believe
that Germany would carry through
her threat, have chung desperately to
the hope that some slight respect for
international law might still be shown.
German sea warfare may fairly be
stated, however. to have surpassed
even the most pessimistic forecasts
here. That she actually means to
send every vessel to the botoom that
dares to venture within her forbidden
zones is now accepted as a fact. Neu-
trail, passenger Belgian relief. appear
to be all in the same category.
Practically Certain to Become Involved
With the practical certainty that
this country will become involved in
hostilities with Germany. officials are
scanning the wal news with the clos
est scrunity.
The Kaleidoscope developments of
the last few weeks history have been
followed most keenly. The apparent
crumbling of Turkish power in Meso-
potamia and Persia as shown in the
capture of Van Sunday by the Russ
slams following the fall of Bagdad tn
the British. the unexpected sweeping
forth of both British and French in a
wide swath on the west front. the pro-
war revolution in Russia. threats of in
ternal trouble in Germany and China's
severance of relations have served to
convince many observers that the be-
ginning of the end is near.