Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-04-07
President Signs Resolution
and Issues Proclamation
Announcing That Nation Is
BeIIigerent,
NEW PROBLEMS NOW
CONFRONT REPUBLIC
Energetic Measures Are Taken
to Prepare for Aggressive
Struggle With Behtn'S War
Lord,

lsT MORNING JouRHAL sPEcIAL LvLsEp wTRHI
Washington, April 6.-The United
s. .'ns today accepted Germany's chal-
..... to war and formally abandon
'E olaco as the greatest neutral of
Eat. IN arms.
t'u lent Wilson at 1:1S (official
tim o'clock this afternoon signed the
resolution of congress declaring
state of war and authorizing and di-
rCCting the chief executive to employ
all the resources of the nation to
prosecute hostilities against the Ger
man government to a successful term
ination.
The act was done without ceremony
and only in the presence of members
of the presidents family. Word was
Flashed Immediately to all army and
navy stations and to vessels at sea and
orders for further precautionary steps
We're dispatched.
Proclaimed by President
! by proclamation the president an
nounced the state Of war called on ill
citizens to manifest their loyalty, and
assured Germans in this country that
they would be unmolested as long as
they behaved themselves Orders
were issued soon afterward for the
arrest of sixty ring leaders in German
plots and intrigues.
Complete mobilization of the navy
calling all reserves and militia to the
colOrs, was ordered by Secretary Dan
iels as soon as the war resolution was
signed. The war department, already
having taken every step contemplated
before the raising of real army is
authorized, waited on congress, Sec
retary Baker conferred with Chair
man Dent of house military commit
tee and arranged to appear before the
committee tomorrow to discuss the
general staff army plans and consider
the war budget of more than three
billions
Preparations Discussed.
The president went over the great
preparatory measures with the cabi
net discussing what has been accom-
phshed and dwelling upon arrange
ments for cooperation with the en-
tente allies. Plans for cooperation are
said to have taken definite shape,
though there were no announcements
on the subject for the present. The
seizure of German ships laid up in
American harbors was the subject of
interested comment and legal officers
of the government began considera-
ton of the question of whether the
United States can take the ships out
right or must pay for them after the
war. In any event as soon as they
can be made seaworthy the fine mer-
chant fleet thus acquired will give
America a merchant marine that
could not be duplicated in several
years and add more than 100000 to
the tonnage available for the trans.
portation of supplies and munitions
to the allies.
Congratulations Dispatched.
Both houses of congress have ad-
journed over until Monday so that
their members may be free tomorrow
for preliminary work on war legtsla-
ton. Word that King George and
President Poincare had dispatched
messages of congratulations to the
president was received unofficially.
only unofficial information also came
concerning the action of President
MenoCal of Cuba. in recommending a
declaration of war against Germany
by Cuba and the growing sentiment
for war in Brazil.
Foreign relations of tho United
States today underwent the greatest
change in the country's history.
away practically all the IN
ternationai questions of the last two
years and substituting entirely new
problems. As Il result the state de-
partment is being entirely reorganized
and the great mass of routine which
h ,4 uverwhelmed even the highest Of
fio'a.s is to be redistrbuted along new
ii1ra
AU 5uormous amount of work is
rTun,ie3 in the near future with va
u"'s commissions, military economic
am diplomatic. going back and forth
between this country and the allies
The first act by the department
when war became a fact was to pre-
pare copies of the war resolution and
proclamation for all the foreign mis-
sions here for immediate transmission
to their governments. Cables were
sent to American missions abroad and
fun mail dispatches prepared to go
forward at once. SO much of this
work had been foreseen that 1t mere
ly awaited release on word that the
president had signed the proclama
ton.
Instructions prepared several days
ago were sent by the treasury depart
ment to cease transmitting details of
the armament and armed guards on
entering American har-