The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-02-27
ASSOCIATED Press)

T.
Washington, Feb. 27.-Ofhcial dis.
patches today confirming reports or
the death Of Americans on the La
coma, torpedoed without warning. es-
tablished the case as the overt" act.
While details of the deaths Of ten
Americans in the unwarned destruc-
ton of the ,I.aconia began coming In
today, the opposition in congress to
giving President Wilson the broad au-
thority to deal with the submarine
menace began taking definite form
and showed considerable strength.
" Congress Aroused. n~a n-.
At the White House 1t was made
known authoritatively that the do
struction OF the Laconia was q clear
cut and ruthless violation Of Ameri-
can rights and life. a demonstration
Of what might be expected in the fl-
ture, of sufficient force to hurry con-
gress into clothing the president with
full authority to meet the peril.
Nevertheless, the house foreign A.
fairs committee. after debating the
Flood bill, which has the backing OF
the president, decided that the broad
powers to be conferred by the use Of
the phrase, "other instrumentalities,"
should he modified and that the presi-
dent should be limited to using the
naval forces of the United States,
including the naval militia"
No Blanket Authority.
In the senate foreign relations COM
mittee Republicans voted solidly
against giving the president blanket
authority and it was reported they
drew support from three Democrats.
Senators Stone, Hitchcock and O'Gor-
man. The senate committee decided
to redraft the whole bill to make it
more explicit.
The rights to arm ships, it was said,
would take the form of authorizing
owners of all American ships to arm
and defend them and authorizing the
government to supply guns and gun.
ners for this purpose.
Chairman Flood took to the White
House, proposed amendments includ.
ing one to prohibit arming of ships
carrying munitions or contraband.
and one to limit the presidents au.
thority. H.
Administration officials considered
the attitude of congress in the face of
the Laconia case of sufficient import.
ance to discuss sending an official re-
port on the killing of the Americans
to congress
The situation, however, was un.
changed from where the president left
it yesterday, when he asked congress
for authority to deal with the submar.
inc peril.
President Wilson and state depart
ment officials took the position that
no further step would be taken until
congress has had an opportunity to
act on the presidents request.
The view prevailed that the sinking
of the Laconia should hasten action
by congress.
Furnish Guns.
The first step of the government; It
was indicated, will be to furnish Am.
erican ships with guns and gunnsrS
for defensive purposes, and insure
them in the government war risk bu.
reau.
On the basis of the official report.
the sinking of the Laconia is regard.
ed as another Lusitania case In psin.
ciple, even though fewer lives wre
lost
President Wilson, it was said today.
is opposed to calling an extra session
of congress. unless it Is absolutely
necessary. Word has been conveyed
to him that the Republicans may 6li-
buster in an effort to force an extra
session, but he is hopeful that this IN
tention will not be carried out.
Clear Cut Violation.
The sinking of the Laconia. Win
the loss OF American lives. ID looked
upon by the American government -
a clear cut violation Of Americas
rights, according to an authoritative
expression of opinion obtained afeer
a conference between President WI
Continued On FAge 6ix.