Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-19

WaSh1ngfOn, March l6.-W1th the announcement of the ruthless deStruc- ton Of tn rec unarmed merchant ships by submarines, it was unofhcially ad- mittsd here tonight that virtually a state of war exists between the United
 Technically he United States re- mains in a position of armed neutral ity. Whether this shall be changed be- fore April 16, the date fixed for a specia lsessfon of congress, the war making branch of the government, President Wilson has not decided.
 May Gall for Immediate Session of
 Congress.
 One step the president is contem- plating is call for an immediate ses- sion of congress to hear an address asking for authority to adopt az gressive measures against the sub smarfne menace. Already American ships are being armed to defend themselves; the next move must be to send warships with orders to seel out submarines and clear the trans Atlantic lanes.
 Some of the highest officials of the goyerDpaeat hold that the executive ilsss the power to declare that a state of war exists and to proceed with az gresstve protective steps pending the indication, however, that the president will follow that course.
 or the three ships destroyed; two of them were unloaded and homeward . bound. ana all were AIn6T1Can- Amer1can-owned and officers and man ned largely by American citizens. Meagre despatches indicate that all were sunk with complete disregard ] that some of the members of the crews may have been lost
 Definite Policy Now Ready.
 Today's developments brought the government face to face with the problem of formulating definite pol icy for the nation in case the 01rted States actually enters the war. This possibility was mentioned by the pres tdent in his inaugural address March president in his message announcing the diplomatic break with Germany as leading to 8, state of armed neutrality have now been fulfilled The Covert act" described by him then has actual ly come; if in fact it had not been committed when the president went be- fore congress again. Since then he has established state of armed neutral ity without the specific authority of congress.
 President Wilson Informed.
 President Wilson was out automo- bling when the first Associated Press despatches telling of the three disast- CTS came in quick succession. Through Secretary Tumulty he was given all available facts immediately on his re- turn. Tn the meanIlme secretary Ian l sing and other state department of hciaIs, as well as cabinet members, were given the information.
 Several hours later officials reports | came from Consul Frost at Queens town and Consul General Skinner at ] London, telling of the sinking of the 1 City of Memphis, the Vigilancia and | the Illinois. These despatches con firmed press reports, but few added | details.
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 International lawyers and constitu. 1 dona1 expeNts here showed no hesi- tancy tonight in saying that Presi- | dent Wilson has full authority to in- | terpret this as an act of war and an- noIlnce that this country considers that | an actual state of war exists by. reason of Germanyes fragrant assault on | American shipping. Such action l would be subject to the approval of l
 Despite the unwarned sinking of big | passenger liners like the California | and the Laconia, the jeopardizing of | Americans on nearly score of other ships, the Housatonic, the Lyman M. | Law and the Algonquin, since the un- restricted warfare began, some off, | cials, inspired by the presidents an nounceed reluctance to believe that | Germany would carry through her | threat have clung desperately to the hope that some slight respect for inter |
 
 German sea warfare may be fairly | stated, however, to have surpassed | even the most pessimistic forecasts | here. That she actually means to send every vessel to the bottom that dares E venture within her forbidden zones is now accepted as a. fact. Neutral, | passenger. Belgian relief, appear to be all the same category.
 Scanning News From War Fronts.
 With the practical certainty that this country will become involved in hostil- fties with Germany ,even if only for the keeping open of the sea lanes to Europe, officials are scanning the news from the various war fronts with interest has succeeded the rather aca- den1fc attention of days when America seemed far distant and isolated An advance on the west front or in Meso- Rota1nla aa noM studied with the keen