Askov American., 1917-04-05
REClTES WRONGS BY GERMANY
AGAINST THE UNITED STATES
AND ASKS STATE OF WAR
DECLARATION.
ASKS ARMY OF 100000
AND UNIVERSAL SERVICE
Makes It Clear That Proposed Action
10 Not Directed at Austria, Bull
0aria or Turkey-UrQes Ade-
quate Credits to Allied
BeIiigerents.

0eUi9erentS.
The full text of President Wilson's
war message to congress follows:
"Gentlemen of the Congress:
II have called the congress into
extraordinary session because there
are serious, very serious choices OF
policy to be made. and made immed
lately, which 1t was neither right no1
constitutionally permissible that
should assume the responsibility OF
making.
"On the third OF February last,
offlcially laid before you the extra
ordinary announcement Of the impe.
rial German government that on and
after the first day Of February 1t was
its purpose to put aside all restraints
of law or of humanity and use its
submarines to sink every vessel that
sought to approach either the ports
of Great Britain and Ireland or the
western coasts of Europe or any of
the ports controlled by the enemies
of Germany within the Mediterrane.
IN.
THAT had seemed to be the object
of the German warfare earlier In the
war, but since April OF last year the
imperial German government had
somewhat restrained the commanders
Of its undersea craft in conformity
with promises then given to us that
passenger boats should not be sunk
and that due warning would be given
to all other vessels which its sub.
marines might seek to destroy, when
no resistance was offered or escape
attempted, and care taken that their
crews were given at least a fair
chance to save their lives in their
open boats.
"The precautions taken were meag-
Or and haphazard enough, as was
proved in distressing instance after in
stance insthe progress of the cruel
and unmanly business. but a certain
degree Of restraint was observed The
new policy has swept every restriction
aside.
Vessels RuthlessIy Sunk.
"Vessels Of every kind. whatever
their flag. their character, their car.
90. their destination. their errand,
have been ruthlessly sent to the bot
tom without warning and without
thought Of help or mercy for those
on board, the vessels Of friendly neu.
trails along with those of belligerents
Even hospital ships and ships car
rying relief to the sorely bereaved and
stricken people of Belgium. though
the latter were provided with safe con-
duct through the prescribed areas by
the German government itself and
were distinguished by unmistakable
marks Of identity. have been sunk
with the same Teckless lack of com
passion or OF pr<ociple.
II was for little while unable to
believe that such things would in fact
be done. by any government that had
hitherto subscribed to the humane
practices Of civilized nations. In
ternational law had It's origin in the
attempt to set up some law which
would be respected and observed up
on the seas where no nation had
right of dominion and where lay the
free highways Of the world. BY pain.
ful stage after stage has that law
been built up with meager enough re
suits. indeed after all was accomplish
ed that could be accomplished. but
always with clear view. at least, OF
what the heart and conscience OF
mankind demanded
Right 10 Swept Aside.
This minimum OF right the Ger.
man government has swept aside un.
der the plea of retaliation and neces
sity and because it had no weapons
which 1t could use at sea except
those which 1t is impossible to EN-
ploy as 1t is employing them without
throwing to the winds all scruples OF
humanity or of respect for the under.
standings that were supposed to un
derlie the intercourse OF the world.
Lives Cannot Be Paid For.
81 am not now thinking OF tho loss
Of property involved. immense and
serious as that is, but only OF the wan
ton and wholesale destruction OF the
lives of non-combatants. men. women
and children, engaged In pursuits
which have always, even In the dark
est periods Of modern history. beer
deemed innocent and legitimate Prop
erty can be paid for; the lives o.
peaceful and innocent people cannot
be.
"The present German submarin.
warfare against commerce is war
fare against mankind.
''lt is a war against all nations.
American ships have been sunk
American lives taken In ways which