The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1917-03-23

LOuuON, maTCn d. ACCORDING 10
private kilograms from Berlin to the
Amsterdam Bourse, it is expected
that a state of war with the United
States will be an accomplished fact
within 4S hours" says a dispatch to
the Exchange Telegraph company
from Amsterdam.
American journalists in Berlin"
the dispatch adds, have been warned
to this effect by the foreign Office"
Washington, March 21.-President
Wilson today met the constantly in
creasing probability of war with Ger
many by summoning congress to as
semble in extraordinary session April
2, two weeks earlier than the date he
had chosen before the latest assaults
on American rights on the seas.
When the president addresses con-
gress he is expected to show how a
state of war actually has existed for
some time because of the unlawful ag-
gresions of German submarines.
Congress is expected formally to de-
large sum, probably half a billion dol
lars, for national defense and clothe
the president with authority to use the
armed forces of the United States as
it empowered President Mckinley to
deal with the menace of Spain in 1898.
Such action would not be declara-
ton Of war except in technical sense
and whether the United States and
Germany actually go to war in the
FULLEST acceptance of the term will de-
pend on what the imperial government
does before congress Is assembled or
utter It acts.
Dispatches from abroad tonight de-
claring that the German government
expected a state of war within the
next 48 hours placed an ominous as
eect on the situation.
The presidents proclamation fol-
lows:
whereas, public interest requires
that the congress of the United States
should be convened in extra session
ct IL o'clock, noon, on the 2nd day
Of April, 1917, to receive communi-
cation by the executive on grave qucs-
tions of national policy:
"Now, therefore,, I, Woodrow VII
son, president Of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim and de-
clare that an extraordinary occasion
requires the congress of the United
States to convene in extra session in
the capitol at the city of Washington
on the End day of April, 1917, at IL
o'clock, noon, of which all persons
who shall at that time be entitled to
act as members thereof are hereby re-
quired to take notice.
"Given under my hand and the seal
Of the United States of America the
21st day Of March, in the year Of Our
Lord 1917, and of the independence
sf the United States the 141st."
May be Changes.
Much to change the presidents in
tcntions or the course of the govern
Aent in the crisis may develop he
fore April 2. The first Amer arm
ed ships will by that time have reach
ed the war zone. The ruthless de-
struction Of one Of them unquestion-
ably would be an act Of war.
On the other hand, sinking Of 2
submarine by one Of the armed
merchantmen probably would be met
as an act of war by Germany. Even
the arming Of American ships with
the avowed purpose of defending them
against u-boats may be declared such
an act.
In any Of these events practically
nothing would remain except for con-
gress to acknowledge a state of war
existing from certain specified date
probably last Sunday, when three
American ships were sunk with loss
of life.
The next 10 days, until congress
meets, will be fraught with possibil-
ties of tremendous consequences to
the United States.
President Wilson and his advisers
in the cabinet and in congress have
no intent that war shall be declared
by the United States. BY the hostile
acts Of German submarines they be-
lieve the imperial German government
is actually making war on the United
States and that it shall be recognized
as such state. To meet such a con-
dition the armed forces of the coun-
try and all the national resources are
to be put in a state of readiness.
A Defensive War.
In every sense, war, if it actually
comes, will be defensive, free from