Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-04-13
President Signs War Resolution
Opening Hostilities and
Warning Aliens,
ISSUED
Naval Reserves and Militia Called
to the Colors and Secret Or
ders Rushed to Ships
Of Navy.
western Newspaper Union News Service.

nations at 1913 O'CLOCK yesterday. AT
that hour President Wilson attached
his signature to the Flood-Martin res
olution declaring that a state of war
EXISTS between this nation and the
German government, and pledging all
the vast a and material resources
Of the country to bringing that war to
a successful close.
The resolution had been signed at
the capitol by Vice President Marshall
just ffty-nine minutes before. Five
minutes after the President had signed
the resolution he addressed a procla-
nation to the American people and is
sued a call for volunteers.
The Navy Department Immediately
w%irelessed or telegraphed all its sta
tons, navy yards and ships as fol.
lows:
THE President has signed an act
of Congress which declares that a
state of war exists between the United
States and Germany"
Secret orders ~disposing the United
States navy at various stations had
already been sent to the commanders
of divisions.
All the naval militia and naval re-
serves were called to the colors with
the Presidents signing of the war res
Clution.
By the signing of the resolution the
war which Germany actually has been
making on the United States for
many months is recognized in official
form and the United States thus an
nounces to the world its determine
ton to take up what President Wilson
characterized in his address to Con-
gress as Germany's challenge to all
the world, her war against humanity.
Speaker Clark had signed the reso-
luton soon after it passed the house in
the early hours of Friday morning and
Vice President Marshall had signed
1t soon after the Senate convened at
noon. The engrossed copy was sent
at once to the White House. 1t was
waiting for the President when he re-
turned from a short walk with Mrs.
Wilson.
The President signed the resolu-
ton with a pen handed to him by Mrs.
Wilson and which he will preserve.
The war proclamation follows:
Whereas, the Congress of the
United States in the exercise of the
constitutional authority vested in
them, have resolved by joint resolu-
ton of the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives bearing date this day
that a state of war between the United
States and the German government,
which has been thrust upon the United
States, is hereby formally declared;
Whereas, it is provided by section
4067 Of the revised statutes as fol
lows:
Whenever there is declared a war
between the United States and any
foreign nation or government, or any
invasion or predatory incursion is per
petrated, attempted or threatened
against the territory of the United
States by any foreign nation or gov
eminent, and the President makes
public proclamation Of the event, all
natives, citizens, denizens or subjects
of a hostile nation or government be-
ing male of the age of IA years and up
wards who shall be within the United
States and not actually naturalized
shall be liable to be apprehended, re-
strained, secured and removed as
alien enemies.
Can Direct Conduct Of Alien Enemies.
The President is authorized in any
such event by his proclamation there
of or other public acts, to direct the
conduct to be observed on the part of
the United States toward the aliens
who become so liable; the manner and
degree of the restraint to which they
shall be subject and in what cases and
upon what security their residence
shall be permitted and to provide for
the removal of those who, not being
permitted to reside within the United
States, refuse or neglect to depart
therefrom; and to establish any such
regulations which are found necessary
in the premises and for the public
safety;
Whereas, by sections 4O68, 1869
and 1910 of the revised statutes, fur
Their provision is made relative. to
alien enemies;
Now, therefore, /, Woodrow VII
son, President of the United States Of
America, do hereby proclaim, to all
whom II may concern, that a state OF
war exists between the United States
and the German government, and
do specially direct all officers, civil
or military, of the United States, that
they exercise vigilance and zeal in the
discharge of the duties incident to
such a state OF wal and / do, more
over, earnestly appeal to all American
citizens that they in loyal devotion to
their country, dedicated from its foun-
dalton to the principles of liberty and
justice, uphold the laws of the land
and give undivided and willing sup
port to those measures which may be
adopted by the constitutional authori-
ties in prosecuting the war to a sue
cessful issue and in obtaining a Sc
cure and just peace.
And, acting under and by virtue Of
the authority vested In me by the con.
stitution Of the United States and the
said sections Of the revised statutes: