The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1917-03-13
PRESIDENT DECIDES
TO ARM ALL SHIPS
DRASTIC ORDER ISSUED
AT WHITE HOUSE.
From Sick Bed, President Wilson
Ordered That Merchant
Ships BE Armed.

chant ships against Germany's ruth
less submarine warfare and at the
same time issued a proclamation call
ing an extra session of congress to
meet April 16.
The presidents decision came sud
denly late this afternoon, following
the action Of the senate yesterday in
revising its rules to permit prompt
action on important questions and
the submission Of formal opinions by
Secretary Lansing and Attorney Gen.
eral Gregory that he has the power
to arm merchantmen without action
by congress. Details of the govern
ment's armed neutrality plans for de-
fending the merchant marine were
withheld to avoid endangering Amer
leans and their ships by permitting
the information to reach Germany.
The only statement at the White
House and the navy department was
that the president had determined
fully to protect American rights.
Only the Next Step.
The decision, coming at the end of
a period OF tense waiting, was gen
orally hailed as the natural and un-
avoidable next step in the policy
adopted by the president when he
broke off diplomatic relations with
Germany, and gave warning that the
United States could not tolerate at
tacks on American ships and citizens
In violation of international law.
Fraught with the grave possibility
o: war with Germany. the action wos
taken by President Wilson only after
he was convinced that GERMANY ac-
tually was proceeding with her cam
paign OF ruthlessness and had made
efforts to plot with Mexico and Japar
against the territorial integrity Of the
United States
Long before the order was given
from the White House. all necessary
preparations for the arming of mer.
chantmen had been completed AT the
navy department.
Thrill i'm Senate.
The presidents decision sent n
thrill through the senate, meeting in
special session, and in government
departments. Still hoping that war
with Germany will be avoided Off
cials declared that the issue rests en-.
tirely with Germany.
Formal announcement Of the gov
ernment's policy was given I'm The for.
lowing announcement issued from
the White House.
Secretary Tumulty stated in con.
nection with the presidents call for
an extra session of congress that the
president is convinced that he has
the power to arm American mer,
chant ships and he is free to exercise
IL at once. But so much necessary
legislation Is pressing for considera,
tion that he is convinced that II IA
for the best interests of the country
to have an early session of the Sixty
NTH congress, whose support he will
also need in all matters collateral to
the defense of our merchant marine -
The proclamation calling the extra
session read:
The presidents proclamation call
Ing the extra session OF congress fol-
lows:
Whereas public interests REQUIRE
that the congress OF the United States
should be convened in extra session
at IL o'clock, noon, on the 18th day
OF April, 1917, to receive such COM
munications as may be made by the
executive;
Now. therefore, I, Woodrow Will
son, president OF the United States
Of America. do hereby proclaim and
declare that an extraordinary occas-
ION requires the congress OF the
United States to convene in extra
session at the capitol in the city of
Washington. on the 18th day of
April, 1917. at IL o'clock. noon. of
which all persons who shall at that
time be entitled to act as members
thereof are hereby requested to take
notice.
"Given under my hand and the
seal of the United States OF America
the 9th day of March in the year of