The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1917-03-22

Washington, March 21.-President
Wilson, recognizing that Germany
practically is making war on the Unit
ed States on the seas, has called con-
gress to assemble in extraordinary
session on April 2 to deal with the
situation.
The purpose Of the session, now
called two weeks earlier than the
date first set, as announced in the
presidents proclamation, is to receive
a communication from the chief ex-
ecutive on grave questions Of nation
al policy"
The president in his address to con-
sress will detail how Germany practi-
cally has been making war on the
United States by the ruthless destruc-
ton of American lives and ships on
the high seas, in contravention of all
the laws of nations and humanity.
Congress then is expected to pass
resolution declaring that state OF
war has existed between the United
States and Germany for some time.
Such a resolution in itself will not
be a declaration of war in technical
sense, although practically 1t will
amount to the same.
AS consequence the United States
will take further steps to protect its
interests on the high seas and else
where against the warlike acts OF Ger
many, and whether an actual state OF
war will come to exist in its full
sense will depend on the future acts
of the imperial German government.
Since last Sunday, when three
American ships were sunk. off the
British isles in quick succession, with
loss Of American lives-bring1ng the
total number OF Americans lost
through German submarine opera
lions to more than 2O0-the president
and his advisers have recognized that
state of war exists. From all parts
of the country have come calls for the
immediate summoning of congress IN
extra session.
The cabinet, which urged the presi-
dent TO make such a move, Is de-
scribed by it's members as having
been more thoroughly united than
ever before.
The nation now actually comes to
the point which all the history OF cen
turtles indicated must necessarily fol
low the severance of diplomatic rela-
lions with Germany Feb. 8.
When the president on that day
handed to Count Won Bernstorff his
passports and notified congress that
he had several diplomatic relations al
together with the imperial German
government. the United States was
placed In a position where all the
precedent Of centuries was pressing
It toward war.
The possibility that the United
States would soon be involved in the
war was recognized in Germany be-
fore the new submarine campaign was
announced, when Foreign Minister
Zimmerman, working through Count
Won Bernstorff and the German min
lister in Mexico, attempted to unite
japan and Mexico in an alliance to
make war on the United States.
All the resources Of the United
States, industrial as we'll as military,
are speedily being modified to place
the nation in the fullest state Of read
mess for any eventually.
For the present the responsibility
rests with the navy, which is arming
American merchant ships, placing
rush orders for submarine chasers,
spending $115,O00,000 by special au-
thority Of congress to hurry the naval
construction already under way, ad-
vancing the graduation Of classes at
Annapolis, protecting American har-
bors against invasion by German sub
marines and marshaling the indus
trial resources necessary to stand be-
hind the fleet.