Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-04-05

Washington, April 3-Presldent
Wilson in his message to congress last
night demands that the United States
accept the gage Of war thrown down
by Germany; that the navy be put in
a state of defense, particularly against
submarines; that the army be in
creased by 100000, making the total
army over 100000 fighting men that
100000 be raised in a universal train
ing law and that the resources and
finances Of the nation be employed to
further the common cause of this cOun-
try with the entente allies to defeat
Germany as soon as possible and end
the war.
President Wilson spoke as follows:
/ have called the congress into ex-
traordinary session because there are
serious, very serious, choices Of policy
to be made, and made Immediately,
which it was neither right nor consul
tutionally permissible that | should as
sumo the responsibility of making.
On the Sd of February last, l Off
cially laid before you the extraOrdi-
nary announcement of the imperial
German government that on and after
the first day of February it was it's
purpose to put aside all restraints of
law or Of humanity and use its sub
marines to sink every vessel that
sought to approach either the ports
Of Great Britain and Ireland or the
western coast of Europe or any other
port controlled by the enemies of Ger
many within the Mediterranean.
That had seemed to be the object
of the genuine submarine warfare ear
lier in the war, but since April Of last
year the imperial government had
somewhat restrained the commanders
of its undersea crafts In conformity
with its promise then given to US that
passenger boats should not be sunk,
and that due warning would be given
to all other vessels which its Subma-
rines might seek to destroy, when no
resistance was offered or escape at
tempted and care taken that their
crews were given at least q fair chance
to save their lives in their open boats.
Meager Precautions Taken.
The precautions taken were meager
and haphaZard enough, as was proved
in distressing instance after instance
in the progress of the cruel and I'M
manly business. but a certain degree
of restraint was observed.
The new policy has swept every re-
stricti0n aside Vessels of every kind,
whatever thei" flag their character,
their cargo. Their destination their en-
rand. have been ruthlessly sent to the
bottom without warning and without
thought of help or mercy for those on
board, the vessel of friendly nutrals
along with those of heliigerents. Even
hospital ships and ships carrying re-
lief 10 the Sorely hereaved and strick-
en- people of Belgium, though the lat
ter were provided with Safe-cOnduct
through the prescribed areas by the
German government itself, and were
distinguished by unmistakable marks
of identity. have been sunk with the
same reckless lack of compassion or
principle.
| was for little while unable to
he done by any government that had
hitherto subscribed to the humane
practices of civilized nations. Interna-
tional law had its origin in the at
tempt to set up some law, which
would be respected and observed upon
the seas, where no nation had right Of
dominion and where lay the free high
ways of the world.
By painful stage after stage has that
law been built up with meager enough
results, indeed, after all was accom-
plished that could be accomplished,
but always with clear view, at least,
Of what the heart and conscience of
mankind demanded.
Scruples Thrown to Wind.
This minimum of right the German
government has swept aside under the
plea of retaliation and necessity, and
because it had no weapons Which 1t
could use at sea, except these, which
it is impossible to employ as it is EN-
plOying them without throwing to the
winds all scrupIes of humanity or of
respect for the understandings that
We're supposed to underlie the inter
course Of the world.
I am not thinking of the loss of
property involved, immense and seri-
Gus as that is. but only of the wanton
and Wholesale destruction of the lives
Of noncomhatants. men. women and
children. engaged in pursuits which
have always. even in the darkest pc