The state herald., 1917-03-02
PRESIDENT ASKS
FULL AUTHORITY
Wilson requests Full Power
From Congress to Rspsl Sub
marine Menace.
TO USE ARMY and NAVY
Arming Of Ships and Conveying
Of War Vessels Among Meas
urss Sought.
Western Newspaper Union News Service.

Hos oOu80t.
Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Washington, Feb. 2S.-Presidsnt
Wilson appeared before Congress at /
o'clock Monday afternoon and asked
for authority to place the United
States In state Of armed neutrality
to resist the German submarine men.
ace. He spoke as follows:
Gentlemen Of the Congress:
l have again asked the privilege OF
addressing you because we are NOV
Ing through critical times, during
which, 1t seems to me to be my duty
to keep In close touch with the houses
OF Congress 30 that neither counsel
nor action shall run at cross purposes
between Us.
On the third Of February, officially
informed you Of the sudden and unex-
pected action of the German govern
ment In declaring its intention to dis.
regard the promises It had made to
this government In April last and un-
dertake immediate submarine opera
tons against all commerce whether Of
seek to approach Great Britain and
Ireland. the Atlantic coasts Of Europe
or the harbors Of the eastern Msditer.
ranean and to conduct those opera
tions without regard to the estab-
lished restrictions Of international
practice. without regard to any consid-
sratons Of humanity which might In.
terfere with their object. That policy
was forthwith put into practice. 1t
has now been In active execution for
nearly four weeks.
Its practical results are not fully dis.
closed. The commerce OF other neu.
tral nations is suffering severely, but
not, perhaps, very much more severel-
ly than II already was suffering before
the first OF February. when the new
policy OF the German government was
put into operation.
We have asked the cooperation OF
the other neutral governments to pre-.
vent these depredations, but fear
none OF them thought II wise to Join
Us In any common course OF action.
Our own commerce has suffered, Ia
suffering. rather more in apprehen.
sion than In fact, rather because 30
many OF our ships are timidly keeping
to their home ports than because
American ships have been sunk.
Two American vessels have been
sunk. the Housatonic and the Lyman
N. Law. The case OF the Housstonic
which was carrying foodstuffs con-
signed to London. was essentially
like the case Of the Frye. In which.
1t will be recalled, the German govern.
ment admitted It's liability for dam.
ages and the lives OF the crew, as In
the case Of the Frye. were safe
guarded with reasonable care.
The case Of the Law. which was
carrying lemon box slaves to Paler.
mo, disclosed a ruthlessness OF method
which deserves grave condemnation,
but was accompanied by no circum.
stances which might not have been
expected Mt any time In connection
With the use OF the submarine against
merchantmen AZ the German govern
ment has used IT,
In sum. therefore. the situation we
find ourselves In with regard to the
actual conduct OF the German sub.
marine warfare against commerce and
It's effects upon our own ships and
people is substantially the same as It
was when addressed you on the
third OF February except for the ty.
Ing up OF our shipping In our own
ports because Of the unwilllngness OF
our ship owners to risk their vessels
ut sea without insurance or adequate
protection and the very serious con.
gestion OF our commerce which has
resulted. a congestion which Is grow.
ing. rapidly more and more serious
every day.
This In itself might presently nc.
complish. In effect, what the new
German submarine orders were
meant to accomplish. SO far rs we
are concerned. We can only say
therefore. that the overt act which I
have vcntured 10 hope the German
commanders would In fact avoid has
not occurred.
But while this Ia happily true, Il
must be admitted that there has
been certain other additional indica-
tions and expressions OF purpose on
the part OF the German press and tho
German authorities which have In.
creased rather than lesscncd the I'm.
preston that, II our ships and our
people arc spared II will be because
Of tho fortunate circumstances or be.
cause the commanders OF tho Ger.
man submarines which they may hap
pen to encounter exercise an unox.
pcctcd discretion and restraint rath.
or than because Of tho Instructions
under which those commanders aro
acting
II would bo foolish to dcny that
the situation Ia fraught with tho
Eravcst possibilities and dangers. No
thoughtful man can fall to SEQ tho
kut.El.Amara. 10 Rseaptured.
London. El.Amara has boon 70.