Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-10
ORDER is ISSUED
FROM HIS SICK BED
IN White HOUSE
Also Calls Congress to Meet
in Extra Session on
April 16.
DETAILS OF GOVERNMENT
PLANS ARE WITHHELD
Necessary Preparations for De-
Tending Merchant Marine Com
pleted at Navy Department.
IsSEE OF WAR UPON GERMANY
DeciSion Regarded as Natural and
Unavoidable Next Step i'm Sub.
marine Campaign Policy.
DETAILS OF GOVERNMENT
PLANS ARE WITHHELD
IsSEE OF WAR UPON GERMANY
Decision Regarded as Natural and
Unavoidable Next Step i'm Sub.
marine Campaign Policy.
fRy Associated Press, !

RS Associated Press.I
" ASHlNGTON. March 9.-President
wilson from sick bed to-day orderea
the arming OF American merchant sbins
! against Germany's ruthless submarine
warfare. aud at the same lime isouoa
procla,na ton calling an extra ses-
Sou OF Congress to meet on April 1s
me Presidents decision came sud.
denly late this afternoon. following ,,ha
action OF the Senate YESTERDAY IN -
VisinG It's rules to permit PROMPT ac.
'ioh on important questions and the
submission OF formal opinions by Sec.
| rc'arS Lansing and Acknowledgement
gregory that he has the power To arn,
herchantmen without action by Con.
Gress.
Details of the governments armed
neutrality plans for defending the NOR.
| chaht marine were Withheld to avo,d
ehdangering Americans and their shina
oS permitting the Informal ton to reach
Germany The only statement at the
/" hite House and the Navy Department
was .nat the President had determined
TO fufiv protect American rights.
me decision. coming Mt the end of
period OF tense waiting, was ren-
orally hniled as the natural and nm
"vuidabie next step In the pol,cv
adopted by the President when ba
broke on diplomatic relations with Ger.
many aud gave warning that the JInitcd
, states could not tolerate attacks on
.>'hcricnn ships and citizens in viola.
ton "i International law
FRAuGiiT WITH GRAVE
POSSIBILITY OF WAR
, war with Germany, the action was
taken by President Wilson onlv after
ne was convinced that Germany act
ua was proceeding with her cam
ph'Sn or rnthlcssness and had made
efforts to plot with Mexico and Jaran
| AGAINST the territorial integrity of tbe
United Staios
Long before the order was given
from the White House all necessarv
prepa ations for the arming of mer-
chantmen had been completed at the
Navy Department. Secretary Daniels
however. issued an appeal to the press
OF the nation to refrain from discuss
sion OF these preparations
ihe Presidents action sent a thrill
through the Senate. meeting In spe-
''at session and through the govern.
men. departments Still hoping that
war win Germany will be avoided.
otiicials and Sepators declared that tfe
issue rests entirely with Germany.
FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT
OF GOVERNMENTS POLICY
Formal announcement OF the govern
ments policy was given in the follow
ing announcement issued from the
White House:
Whereas public interests require
=.
should be convened in extra session at
!. O'clock noon on the sixteenth day Of
Aprli' l?ls. to receive such communi-
cations as may be made by the execu
tive:
Now, therefore, 7, Woodrow Wilson.
president OF the United states Of Amer
ica' DO hereby proclaim and declare that
an extraordinary occasion REQUIRES
the Congress OF the United States to
convene in extra session at the Cam
itoi IN the city of Washington on the
sixteenth day of April 1917, at IL
O'Clock noon OF which all persons who
shaiI At that time he entitled to act as
members thereof are hereby requested
to take notice.
Given under my hand and the seai
Or the United States of America the
ninth day OF March. in the year OF our
Lord nineteen hundred ana seyenteen.
ana of the independence OF the United
Statcssthc one hundred and forty-tirstn
rRocI.AMArlON ISSUED
FROM HIS SICK BED
The President signed the proclama-
ton calling the extra session OF Con-
srcss and authorized the publication
or the explanatory statement with Sec
retary Tumulty standing ut his bed
side. severe cold has kept him from
seeing callers for three days. and he
was put to bed by his physician yes.
terday.
In deciding that he has power to arm
merchantmen. the President took tho
position that an old statute. passed in
1919. cited In the Senate debate as
prohibiting such step without con-
gressional action. has no application
to the present situation. lie Is satis-
fed that the nation stands behind him. =
and accepts the overwhelming vote In
the House on the armed neutrality bill
and the known opinion OF large ma
jority Of the Senate as proof OF tho at.
titude OF Congress. S
The bill which failed OF passags Id