Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-03-20
President Considers Aggressive
Steps as Result of Sink
ing of Thre Ameri-
can Ships.
REGARDED AS OVERT ACT
Calling Extra Session of Con-
gress at Once Under Consid-
Grafton at White House.
WAR PRACTICALLY EXISTS

ton Immediately at the New York
navy yard of sixty submarine chasers
deliveries to begin in nom sixty to
eighty days, was ordered late today
by Secretary Daniels. The boats will
cost $4,000 each. Forty can be laid
down at once.
Graduation of the first and second
classes at the naval academy has been
ordered. The first class will be grad
uated March %, the second class in
September, the date not having been
definitely fixed The order means that
374 additional naval officers will be
made. available to meet the existing
shortage in naval personnel. The
first class comprises l72 men and the
second 202.
Orders Building Speeded Up.
President Wilson late today author
lied the Navy department to spend
$ll5,0O0,000 to speed up naval con-
struction and to buy small auxiliary
craft.
Congress in its last session author
lied the president to sanction the eX-
penditure and authorized an issue of
bonds to raise the money. The presi-
dents decision is one of the steps
considered to meet the submarine
menace.
The presidents act was the first
official recognition OF a national
emergency" He also will authorize
the suspension OF eight-hour laws OF
naval construction and authorize pay
ment of time and half for overtime
as provided by act Of congress.
White House officials, however,
when asked. declared they had told
inquirers they had no knowledge of
what the presidents decision would
be.
Part OF the Navy.
Asked what, if any, further steps
the navy had in contemplation for the
protection of American life and ships
on the high seas, Secretary Daniels
said:
Whatever the navy can do, it will.
~. .: -
Say az t.ila .,ne. ~, A., :,.
Secretary Daniels summoned Ad-
miral Benson, chief of operations, and
Captain Oliver, chief of intelligence.
There appeared TO be ground for the
bono ,he ,suI p t,ts I stens t - ~ nrn,oct
Aner;c.r sh h;n,;un "
w N,sL;nattrpp pp Mach 10 p.os;dor,
VII .,a 49, 49, ,na.,a. o..a.ai .i;.;t
to he state w,r and r,vv hm;ld;ras
tb;s afternoon and there rere out.
ward indications that some new de6n-
ite action was ;mnend;ng az tbe result
of the latest destruction of American
ships bv German submarines.
Aggressive Action Likely
New and aggressive action 70 pro-
tect American shipping against Ger
man submarines appears certain as a
result of yesterdays sinking, of three
unarmcd american merchantmen with
possi1,ie ,, loss Oh american ives.
Caliihg OF congress III extra session
before hprii 10 loomed as the strong
est S proDaDlllly' allhough PRESIDENT
wilson was UNDERSTOOD 10 nave othet
courses uiiuet conSiaeratioh'
WIN hllericail ships aiready Deing
arh'eo' 'he most prooaole step "ouid
De an active campaign TO clear sub
mi MARINES out OF me shipPlng lanes
mere appeared to be no plan to have
the Onited states enter the war IN the
sense that the European nations nave
1t.
lhe tact that some American ships
are on the other side OF the ocean un-
armed Is factor IN the situation, and,
as large warships are ineffective
against submarines, the problem for
the government is to get small sub
marine chasers. Most of the Amer
ican fleet is needed at home to guard
against operation of German subma-
rines in American waters.
No Comment Made
Tbero seer,od - ha 40 do,,h,e .,,,.
.,aan a'.e ~ S'e,I. .eni.u ~ DC lIo uou9's tna'
;.ap' ~ supp,e.i"t a..II ID a' nl,s % VI N'iI .t
lea.i ., snips wouiu pG .aker anu the
Jn,y Jy queail1', q,n % was ' wne''ler 'he pfesi-