The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-03-19

w dSuluSlODf MdiCu IL ne Siilh
ing of the American steamers City OF
Memphis, Illinois and Vigilancia was
announced at London yesterday
Fourteen men from the Vigilancia are
missing, as are some of the men from
the City of Memphis. The crew of
the Illinois was landed safely. The
Vigilancia was torpedoed without
warning The submarine did not ap-
pear The captain, first and second
mates, first. second and third engi-
neers and % men OF the crew ha, e
been landed at the Scilly islands. The
fourth engineer and 10 men are miss
ine.
Consul Frost at Queenstown report
ed to the state department in Wash
ington last night the sinking by Il Ger
man submarine OF the American
steamer City Of Memphis, saying 40
survivors had been picked UP and that
an admiralty vessel was searching for
eight missing The consuFs dispatch
follows:
American steamer City Of Mem
phis Cardiff TO New York, reported
sunk by German submarine, p, m.
March II, SO miles south OF Fastnet
Fifteen survivors landed Schulz z p
m today. Thirty-four survivors, on ad
miralty vessel, which continues
search for eight missing. VIII land
Baltimore Con Irish COAST probably
today"
With the announcement of the ruth
less destruction Of three unarmed
American merchant ships by subma-
rines, it was unoficially admitted at
Washington last night that virtually
a state Of war exists between the
United States and Germany. Tech
nically the United States remains in
a position of armed neutrality. Whet
her this shall be changed before April
16, the date isxed for special ses-
sion of Congress, the war-making
branch of the government, President
Wilson has not decided
One step the president is contem-
plating Is call for an immediate se5-
sion of Congress to hear an address
asking for authority 90 adopt aggres-
sive measures against the submarine
menace Already American ships are
being armed to defend themselves;
the next move must be to send War
ships with orders TO seek out sLhma-
rines and clear the transatlantic.
lines. Some of the highest officials
OF the government hold that the exc
cutiye has the power to declare that
state OF war exists and to proceed
with aggressive protective steps
pending the assembling of Congress.
There is no indication, however, that
the president will follow that course,
International lawyers and oonstitu-
tional experts here showed no hesi-
fancy tonight in saying that President
Wilson has full authority to inter
pret this as an act of war, and an
nounce that this country considers
that an actual state of war exists by
reason of Germany's fragrant assault
on American shipping.
Such action would be subject to the
approval of congress.
With tho practical certainty that
this country will become involved in
hostilities with Germany, even if only
for the keeping open Of the sea lanes
to Europe, officials are scanning the
news from the various war fronts
with the closest scrutiny. A direct,
intimate interest has succeeded the
rather academic attention of days
when America seemed far distant and
isolated.
In the sinking Of the three Ameri-
can ships reported today, official
Washington saw the doom of the last
faint hope that Germany might so
modify its submarine warfare as to
render an actual clash between the
countries unnecessary. The destruc-
ton of the City of Memphis, Vigilan-
ca and Illinois was accepted as final
proof that American shipping and
American citizens must take the
same chances in the war zone that
all other neutral and belligerent ship
ping takes.
President Wilson was out automo-
billing when the first Associated Press
dispatches telling of the three disas-
ters came in quick succession.