Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-03-20
STEP MAY
Be TAKEN To BREAK
SUBMARINE MENACE
After Conference With Lam
sing, President Visits Navy
and War Secretaries and
Definite Move is Expected

WASHINGTON, March 19.-New and
aggressive action to protect American
shipping against German submarines APP
pears certain as d result of yesterdays
sinking of three unarmed American
merchantmen with possible loss of
American lives.
Technically an armed neutrality still
existed, butt officially il was admitted
Germany has committed the covert act''
which precpitated virtual state of
war.
Secretary Lansing was called to the
White House by President Wilson early
today and they discussed the policy of
the government.
President Wilson made another per
sonal visit 10 the state, war and navy
building this afternoon and there were
outward indications that some new
definite action was impending as the
result of the latest destruction of
American ships by German submarines
President Wilson conferred with Sec
rotary Daniels, 1T was understood, about
the issue of $150,00O,0 900 in bonds for
hurrying NAVAL construction because of
national emergency
There was no official announcement,
however, 10 fonfirm this
Calling of congress in extra session
before Aprni16, doomed as the strong
est proba bihfy, although President Will
son was understood to have other
courses under consideration.
With Angefican ships already being
armed. the 4most probable step would
be an acffte campaign to clear sub
marines our of the shipping lanes.
There sappeared to be no plan to have
the United States enter the war in the
sense tfat the European nations have
| entered il
The fact that some American ships
are on the other side of the ocean un-
armed is a factor in the situation and
as large warships are ineffective
against submarines the problem for the
government is to get smaller submarine
chaserss
Most of the American fleet is needed
at homeN to guard against operations
of German submarines in American wa
tiers.
There seemed to be no doubt that
steps to supplement arming of Ameri-
can ships would be taken and the only
question was whether the president
would take such steps on his own re-
sponsibility or wait for congress tC
grant specific authority.
No comment was made at the White
House today beyond the statement that
the president was getting reports and
considering the question thoroughly.
The latest developments brought the
government face to face with the prob
lem of formulating a definite policy
for the nation in case the United States
actually enters the war. This pos
sibility was mentioned by the president
in his inaugural address March 5.
All of the conditions outlined byl
the president in his message announc-
ing the diplomatic break with Ger,
many as leading to a state OF armed
neutrality have now been fulfilled. The
covert act" described by him then has
actually come; if in fact, it had mott
been committed when the president
went before congress. Since then heI
established a state of armed neutrality
without the specific authority of con-
gress.
President Wilson was out autOmofIl-
ing when the first Associated dispatch
eS telling of the three disasters camel
in quick succession. Through Secre-
tary Tumulty he was given all availa-
BILE facts Immediately on his return
In the meantime Secretary Lansing and
other state department officials. as
well cabinet members, were given the
information.
Several hours later official reports
came from Consul Frost at Queens
town and Consul General Skinner att
i London. telling of the sinking of the|
City of Memphis, the VigIIancIa and the
Illinois. These dispatches confirmed
press reports, but added few details.
international lawyers and constitu-
tional experts here showed no hesitancy
tonight in saying that President Wilson
! has full authority to interpret this as
an act of war, and announce that this
| country considers that an actual state
! of war exists by reason of Germany's
! fragrant assault on American shipping
Despite the sinking of the big pas
senger liners like the California and the
| Laconia. the jeopardizing of Americans
on nearly a score of other vessels, and
the sinking of three other American
ships. the Housatonic. the Lyman NJ
| Law and the Algoquin, since the unre-
/ stricted warfare began. some officials,
| inspired by the presidents announced
| reluctance to believe that Germany
/ would carry through her threat, have
| chung desperately to the hope that some
| slight respect for International law
| might still be shown.
| German sea warfare may fairly be
! stated. however, to have surpassed even
] the most pessimistic forecasts here.
! That she actually means to send every
vessel to the bottom that dares to ver-
! ture within her forbidden zones is now
accepted as a fact. Neutral. passenger
and Belgian and relief ships appear to
/ be all in the same category.
! With the virtul certainty that this
! country will become involved in hostil-
! tiles with Germany, even if only for
the keeping open of the sea lanes 20
| Europe, officials are closely scanning
| the news from the various war fronts
! An advance on the west front or in
/ Mesopotamia is now studied with the
| keen eagerness born Of a realization
| that it may have a direct effect on
! Americas future history.
The kaleidoscope Developments OF the
last few weeks history have been fol-
| lowed most keenly. The apparent
crumbling OF Turkish power i'm Mesopo-
| tamia and Persia shown in the cap
revolution in Russia. threats of internal
/ ture of Van by the Russians, follow
! ing the fall of Bagdad to the British,
the unexpected sweeping in a wide
| swain on the west front, the pro-war