Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1917-03-01
AUTHORITY TO PLACE UNITED
states IN STATE or ARMED
NEUTRALITY TO RESIST
SUBMARINE MENACE
REQUESTED.
CONVEYING OR ARMING OF
MERCHANTMEN is SOUGHT
President Asserts covert Act" 10 Lack
Ing but Continued invasion Of
Rights and Blockade Of Com
mcrce Have Forced Step
Toward Actual War.

Toward Actual War.
Washington, Feb. 27~.-~President
Wilson has appeared before Congress
and asked for authority to place the
United States in q state of armed
neutrality" to resist the German sub.
marine menace
Devoutly expressing the hope that
It would not become necessary to put
armed forces into action, the Presi.
dent specifically asked for authority
10 supply American merchant ships
with defensive arms with the means
OF using them" and ito employ any
other instrumentalities" as well as q
sufficient credit" to enable him to
provide adequate means Of protec.
ton"
This without being specific In terms
was 4 request for the use OF the army
and navy and the necessary money to
make them effective.
The Presidents Message.
The President spoke as Follows:
Gentlemen Of the Congress:
have again asked the privilege
OF addressing you because we are NOV.
Ing through critical times during which
Il seems 10 me to be my duty to keep
IN close touch with houses OF Con.
gress SO that neither counsel nor &C.
ton shall run at cross. purposes DO,
tween us.
Reviews Former Talk.
"On the third OF February l off,
CHILLY informed you Of the sudden and
unexpected action OF the imperial Ger,
man government In declaring Its inten.
tion to disregard the promises II had
made TO this government In April last
and undertake immediate submarine
operations against oil commerce wheth.
or OF helligerents Of neutrals, that
should seek to approach Great Britain
and Ireland. the Atlantic coasts Of
Europe or the harbors OF the eastern
Mediterranean and to conduct those
operations without regard to the estab.
iished restrictions of International
practice. without regard to any con.
alderation OF humanity whatever which
might interfere with their object. That
policy a forthwith put into Practice.
II has now been In active execution for
nearly four weeks.
Cooperation Asked OF Neutraia.
Its practical results are not fully
disclosed, The commerce of other u
trial nations, liz suffering severely but
not, perhaps very much severely
than ~ MA aleuaAr a.fra~tpp haPA.a
the first OF February, when the new
policy OF the imperial government was
put into operation, We have asked the
cooperation Of the other neutral gov.
ernments to prevent these depreda.
tions, but | fear meme of them has
thought II wise to join us In any com.
non course OF action, Our own com
merce has suffered. Ia suffering. rath,
or In apprehension than In fact. rather
because 40 many Of u ships are
timidly keeping to their home ports
than because American ships have
been sunk. :
Two U. 8. Ships Lost.
1.-Two American vessels have been
sunk, the Houstonic. and the Lyman
Ws law iHV 4Shnf VI lHG ItuundlQHlC
which was carrying foedstuhs eonsign.
cd to "A London firm. was essentially
like the use of the Frye, In which. Ii
will be recalled. the German govern
smens admitted It's liability for dam.
ages, and the lives OF the crew, as in
the case OF the Frye. were safeguard
cd with reasonable care.
THE case Of the Law which was
carrying lemon.box slaves to Palermo
disclosed "a rnthlessness of method
which deserves grave condemnation,
but WAS accompanied by no circum.
stances which might o have been
expected at any time IN connection with
the use of the submarine against mer.
chantmen as the German government
has used II.
Situation Grows Worse.
In sun. therefore. the situation We
find ourselves In with regard to the
actual conduct OF the German sub,
marine warfare against N
and its effects upon our own ships
and people Is substantially the same