The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-05
PRESIDENT SAYS
AMERICA MUST
FIGHT AUSTRIA
Senate to Meet Friday to Grant
Request U. S. Draw Sword
on Vienna.
HOUSE TAKES UP QUESTION
Chief Executive Tells Congress That
Hostiiities With Bulgaria and Tur-
key Though Probable, Are Not
Necessary at This Time.

Washington, Dec. Booth branches
Of congress responded with instant ac-
ton to the presidents recommendation
In his message for a declaration of war
against Austria. Within a few hours
Senator Martin, majority leader in the
senate, declared that body would be
ready to consider a war resolution
against Austria Friday, when the SEN
ate reconvenes, and Chairman Flood
Of the house foreign affairs committee
announced he would introduce a SIM
ilar resolution which could probably
be got through his committee ready
for consideration by Thursday after
noon. Although the senate will not
be in session Thursday, a meeting will
be held Thursday morning to pave the
way for instantaneous action Friday.
President Wilson had no sooner fin
ished his address than Senator Key
Pittman of Nevada, acting for Senator
William III. King of Utah, introduced
in the senate joint resolution asking
that congress declare the existence of
state of war with Austria, Turkey
and Bulgaria.
Washington, Dec. s. President
Wilson called upon congress to de-
clare state Of war against Austria
Hungary. Pledging America to war to
victory, and declaring nothing shall
turn us aside, he asked that Austria
Hungary be formally listed among
Americas enemies to remove this "em-
hoy. oc,c,in ohcr nj r, r
way"
Any peace that America makes must
include delivery of the peoples Of Aus
tria-Hungary, Turkey and the Balkans
as well as northern France and Bel
GUM from Prussian domination.
The president suggested remedial
legislation to meet the railroad and
food situation. The latter, he said,
was based on "selfishness" at present
rather than on the law of supply and
demand.
He urged legislation for full use Of
natural resources and water power of
the country, more drastic laws to pun
1sh alien enemies and an amendment
to include women as well as men I'M
uer the AMEN enemy act.
The president suggested that instead
Of combining enemy aliens in comfort
able fnternment camps they De put in
penitentiaries, where they can be made
| to work "as other criminals do"
| Immediate war with Turkey and Bull
garia, Germany's other allies, the pres
ident told congress, he did not believe
necessary at this time, because they
| do not yet stand in the direct path of
necessary action.
Immediate war against Austria, even
| though she be only Germany's vassal
| and not her own mistress, the presi-
| dent declared, was necessary because
the central powers must be considered
as one and because the war can be
| conducted successfully in no other
| way.
Giving plain warning, however,
that he would not hesitate to ask for
declaration of war on Turkey and Bull
garia when he considered it necessary,
the president said:
eve shall go wherever the necessi-
ties of this war carry us, but it seems
to be that we should go only where i'm.
mediate and practical considerations
lead us and not heed any Others
Peace to Come With Autocracy Defeat.
Peace, the president told congress,
can come only when the Prussian mill
tary autOcracy is beaten down; when
the German people make peace with
the world through rulers the world
can trust; when they make reparation
for the wrongs their present rulers
have done, and when the enslaved
people of Belgium, northern France
and the Balkans have been set free.
Germany's declaration that she is
fighting a war of self-defense against
deliberate aggression, the president, in
ringing words, declared "wantonly
false" and he reiterated anew that no
one is threatening the existence of the
independence of the peaceful enter
prise of Germany.
OF those who speak of peace without
the overthrow Of German military au-
tocracy, the president declared:
81 hear men debate peace who un-
derstand neither it's nature nor the
way in which we may obtain it with
uplifted eyes and unbroken spirits. But
know that none of these speaks for
the nation. They do not touch the