The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-20
Congress May Be Called To-
gether Earlier Than April
10 to Take Suitable Steps
MANY SUBMARINE
CHASERS TO BE BUILT
News From Barred Zone Indi-
Gates That All Members of
Crews Of American Ships
May Have Escaped Death
(By T.. Il. ~ARTWELL, International
News service stan Correspondence

tB} T.. Ii. ~AKTNEJIL, International
News service stan Correspondent
Washington. March 19.--Aggrcs-
aive steps to put the navy OF the
United States in readiness to fight
submarines under any conditions were
taken tonight. as an answer to the
German defiance conveyed through
he destruction Of the American shipa
Nigilancta, City OF Memphis and
Illinois. Under the personal direction
If President Wilson. Secretary of the
Navy Daniels instituted drastic meas
tres to pat the navy in shape to meet
war conditions, which Washington to-
night was convinC ed are imminent.
Naval preparedness was given all ex-
'raordinury impetus after President
Wilson conferred for half an hour
Wita the secretary of the navy. This
conference followed close on the heels
Of a rcport to the president by Sec
rctary Of State Lansing on the latest
acts OF destruction IN the German
submarine zone.
state Of War Already Exists.
There was growing feeling in
Washington tonight that state of
war already exists between the
United States and Germany. State
department officials declined to COM
naent on this phase of the situation.
Gus for discussion It was stated
that any comment will have TO come
from the president himself n was
known. however. that some OF the
presidents advisers favor an official
declaration that Germany's acts in
the submarine zone have amounted to
q state Of war" Others in the presi-
Dents cabine' believe that congress
should nc called together at once,
rather than on April 6. and that TIM
mediate and vigorous steps to COM
bat the submarine menace should be
taken. Meanwhile the president
withheld all comment. and dealt with
the Increased gravity of the situation.
only by augmenting the military and
naval preparations for a possible
tate Of war. Ate" the president and
his naval chief had reviewed the stu
ntion the fotiuwiny steps were taken:
Makes Emergency Fund AVAILABLE.
An emergency appropriation OF
sl1 j, 900 000 made by congress to en-
able the president 10 hasten naval
construction in the event of a crisis
was made available by the president
'or immediate use This Is part OF
an authorized bond issue Of $3.50, 000.-
coo, a part Of which is to be used for
increased submarine construction.
Secretary Daniels ordered sixty
"su buartne chasers.' motor boats 100
feet long and with thirty-five knots
speed built at once at the New York
navy yard and announced that bids
would be opened from private ship
yards tomorrow for zoo more OF this
type of craft. It was stated that tho
New York yard will begin the deliv-
cry of these craft In sixty days. All
will he paid for out OF the emergency
approximation.
FSght-Hour Law Suspended.
Orders were issued by the navy de-
partment suspending the statutory
eizht-hour day on naval construction.
both in private and government yarda
Work will be shed as fast as tho
men will work. with payment OF time
and a half for overtime to be made
out OF the Ell .ergency fund.
President Wilson authorized the
speedine mp of Annapolis gradua-
tions to provide additional naval or.
tlcers The trst-year class will no
graduated on March 20. with II. CAS-
dets and the second class next Sep-
tember, with 1877.
Secretary Daniels declared that tho
question Of communicating ship yards
would not be considered so long an
the private shipbuilding plants kent
their facilities engaged on govern
ment work, in accordance with the
plans of the department.
To Confer with Steel Makers.
Arrangements were made TO secure
from all OF the steel mills OF the couneFs.
try fixed allotment of their output
for the use Of the navy in armorfnM
and fitting out warships. Secretary
d niels will confer with steel.makeras
within the next two or three days
TO work out definite plans.
All of this activity was accepted to-
night in Washington as making cek~
tain. definite and aggressive steps 49,
combat German submarines.
Naval operations to clear the North
Atlantic Shipping lanes OF GcrTD0N
submarines were among the possible
moves considered But II was b.
lived that the president would adhere
10 HIS original determination tsaaa&-s
low armed American merchant ships
TO take care of the barred xpnG On
their own account, and would con-
fine any aggressive naval action ~
waters nearer the United Gsate1s
That actual naval operations are thu
n,incnt no one doubted. E4ccefn3a
49,. - -