Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-20
WILSON. TO AVOW WAR
EXISTS WITH GERMANY
CONTINUED From FIRST Pagel
and French fleets to clean submarines
out of the shipping lanes.
Mind Not Made I'm

out of the shipping lanes.
Mind Not Made Up
1t was learned definitely before the
cabinet meeting that the President.
while considering deliberately all
phases of the situation, had not final
ly made up his mind on any forward
step beyond the active preparation of
the navy for any eventuality.
For the present, President Wilson
is taking the position that at all events
the nation must be placed in better
state of preparedness because he be-
lieves that from a practical stand
point Germany is making war on this
country.
Members of the cabinet before the
meeting apparently were agreed that
every possible step to safeguard Amer
lean rights should be taken but were
not sure whether anything would be
gained by advancing the date of the
extra session of Congress.
While the situation now facing the
nation has been anticipated by the
President ever since the submarine
question between the United States
and Germany became acute, he is con-
sldering 1T again now from all angles
because of the far-reaching questions
involved in an active entrance of the
United States into the war. The Presi-
dent is known to believe that the OBJ
JSSSo iiO ildS IIllHu-lnG cSldDllSn-
ment of a league to preserve future
peace-has been set far forward by
the revolution in Russia. The mur-
muringsNagains autocracy in Germany
are also being considered.
To Address Congress
No doubt now remains in the minds
of most officials that unless there is
some unlooked-for change before
Congress meets, the President will
open the extra session with an ad-
dress making clear the new position
INTO which he feels the United States
has been forced by Germanys ruth
less disregard of American rights.
He may discuss universal military
training.
The indications before the cabinet
assembled were that there would be
no change in the situation before to-
morrow, although it was possible. that
discussion at the meeting might lead
the President to act at once.
Administration officials believe the
nation is already virtually in a state
of war with Germany and the only
question undecided is whether there
shall be any immediate announce
ment OF that statute through a new
call for Congress or otherwise.
Without waiting for the proclama-
tion President Wilson is expected to
issue to-day or tomorrow that state
of war exists between the United
states and Germany. the government
is preparing definitely for forceful ac-
ton to clear transatlantic steamship
lanes. or German submarines and to
protect the coast. sixty submarine
chasers, 110-foot speedy craft, were or
dered from the New York navy yard.
TO be completed in about two months,
and bids for 200 more will be opened
by the Navy Department tomorrow.
The Naval Academy was ordered to
graduate the senior class March 20 and
the Junior class in September, so that
SI4 more junior officers may be avail
able speedily.
The President authorized expenditure
of the 100000 emergency fund pro-
vided by Congress to speed up con-
struction of warships and suspended
the law limiting labor in plants doing
government work to eight hours a
day.
Navy officers prepared plans for call
ing out privately owned motor boats
offered by their owners for patrol work
and for manning the two thousand
submarine chasers or patrol boats
which it is estimated will be ready for
action within four months.
Plan Scores of Chascrs
The New Orleans navy yard to-day
was ordered to build at once four
submarine, chasers. The New York
yard yesterday. was ordered to build
sixty.
The department has called upon all
navy yards fitted to undertake small
boat construction to submit estimates
as to the number of submarine chasers
they can turn out quickly
1t is possible that the construction
of $50 or 200 chasers may be provided
for in this way in addition to 200 or
more to be ordered tomorrow from
private builders.
The chasers are designed to do
thirty-five knots an hour and will be
equipped with triple propellers and a
fuel capacity for long cruising radius.