The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1917-03-22
NATION IS FACE To FAcF
WITH DEFINITE WAR POuI
Ail the Conditions as AutIir..
President in His Message Anna
Ing Break With Germany as ~
ing to State Of Armed Nau..."
Have Now Been Fulfilled ~

ment or the ruthless destructiou =,
three unarmed American moros.
ships by submarines, it was unoAfa~a
ly admitted here that virtually ss%
of war exists between the TrD'.'
States and Germany.
Technically the United States
mains in position of armed nout,.'
ity. Whether this shall be chanas'
before April 16, the date fixed for
SPECIAL session of Congress, the wn
making branch of the Governmo,,
President Wilson has not decided
One step the President is conton
plating is call for an immediate 90,
sion of Congress to hear an addr,
asking for authority to adopt agra
sive measures against the submarps
menace.
Already American ships are bev
armed to defend themselves. The uer
move must be to send warships with
orders to seek out submarines and
clear the transatlantic lanes.
Some Of the highest officials Of tn
Government hold that the Executive
has the power to declare that Stsh
of war exists and to proceed with a.
gressfve protective steps pending The
assembling of Congress. There is no
Indication, however, that the Pre&
dent will follow that course.
Of the three ships destroyed, two
were unlOaded and hOmeward bound
and all were American-built, Amer
can-owned and Differed, and manned
largely by American citizens. Mage.
dispatches indicate that all were sunk
with complete disregard for the safety
of those on board, and that many Of
the crew may have been lost.
Nation Face to Face With Definite
War Policy.
New developments brought the Co..
eminent fact to face with the problem
of formulating a definite policy for the
Nation in case the United States act
ually enters the war. This possibility
was mentioned by the President in bis
inaugural address March 5.
All of the conditions outlined by the
President in his message announcing
the diplomatic break with Germany as
leading to 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 COM
mitted when the President went be
fore Congress. Since then he has
established a state of armed neutrality
without the specific authority of Con-
gress.
President Wilson was out automOb
fling when the first Associated Press
dispatches telling of the disasters
came in quick succession. Througn
Secretary Tumulty he was given all
available facts Immediately on his re-
turn.
Several hours later official reports
came from Consul Frost at Queens
town and Consul General Skinner az
London, telling of the sinking OF 'nS
City of Memphis, the Vigilancia anu
the Illionis. These dispatches con-
firmed press reports but added r'
details.
International lawyers and consul"
:ional experts here showed no nc"
fancy in saying that President WIZ
has full authority to interpret as
act of war, an announce that the r." .
try considers that an actual sta'e
war exists by reason OF Germd,
fragrant assault on American u"
ping
Such action would be subject u
approval of Congress. =,
Despite the unwarned sinking u =,
passenger liners like the Caill0iD Il
and the Laconia, the jeOpardlZHs
Americans on nearly a score O. ~. ~.
vessels, and the sinking OF three W. ~.
er American ships, the HousataHll, ..in
Lyman M. Law and the Algonqa,
since the unrestricted warfare pos o.i.
some officials, inspired by the r!o
dents announced reluctance to Dei. IN
that Germany would carry IniU' N
her threat, have chung desperale!! for
the hope that some slight reSPeLI orn,
international law might still be SnO% 10
German sea warfare may 1allN .sed
stated, however, to have surp% aosts
even the most pessimistic 1ole'' IA
here. That, She actually me"n' hat
send every vessel to the botoom .dder
dares to venture within her IolOiH Non.
zones is now accepted as a <acl . r
trail, passenger, Belgian relief app''
to be all in the same category lived
Practically Certain to 5ecom': ' u, that
With the practical certainly od ID
this country will become lrVolro are
',ostilities with Germany, oincla' clos
canning the war news VIII tn'
It sciunity.