Mount Vernon signal. (Mt. Vernon, Ky.) 18??-current, 1917-02-09

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Washington.-Presid Wilson has
broken off diplomatic relations with
Germany and warned the Kaiser that
ruthless sacrifice of American lives
and rights means war.
Similar action is waiting for Austria
when she notifies this Government
that she joins in the campaign OF un-
restricted submarine warfare. The
President made formal announcement
of his action to the country and to the
world at a joint session of Congress.
Breaking off diplomatic relations
brings the United States to the verge
of war Never in the history OF the
world have two first-class powers sew
cred their diplomatic relations with
out hostilities following:
Carefully Considers Step.
President Wilson, in taking the mo-
mentous step, has counted the conse-
quences carefully, as have all his ad-
visors. Germany, all her officials have
openly said, had counted the cost OF
a break with the United States and
was prepared to pay it in the hope OF
shortening the war.
Passports have been handed to
Count Won Bernstorff; Ambassador Ger
ard, with all his staff and all Ameri'
can Consuls have been ordered out
of Germany. All German Consuls in
the United States are expected to
x,,fthdrou, fhot tho cavarauaa of rpla
lions may be complete. American dip
lomatic interests in Berlin have been
turned over to Spain; German diplo
matte interests in the United States
have been taken over by Switzerland
Foreign diplomatic interests which the
United States had in charge in Ger
many have been turned over to vari
Gus neutrals.
Two years of diplomatic negotiation
marked with frequent crises, and at
tended with the loss of more than 2O'
| American lives on the high seas. have
eliminated with an act which in al
the history of all the world has always
led to war.
To Watch German Adherents.
Every agency of the American Gov
eminent has been set in motion to pro
tect the country against acts of Ger
man sympathizers. These moves arr
of necessity being kept secret.
With the notice of severance of dip
lomatic relations the United State!
sent to Berlin a demand for the imme
date release of "A Americans takel
from ships captured by German raid
ers in the South Atlantic.
At the request of the President Con
gress immeditely after hearing hi
address began work on new law
framed by the Department of Justic,
to check conspiracies and plots agains
the United States which can not nov
be reached under existing statutes.
The question of conveying American
merchant ships through the submarin
blockade has been taken up and /
being considered as one of the mex
moves by this Government.
Neutral Governments have been ne
titled of the action Of the Unite
States and have openly been invited t
follow its action if the new submarin
campaign violates their rights.
The breaking off of relations cam
with a crash, despite the fact that
had been discounted and PRACTICAL
determined upon the previous nigh
The President returned from his nigh
conference with the Senators detul
mined that a break in relations wa
the only act consistent with the dil
nifty and the honor OF the Unite
States"
1t became known that Ambassado
Gerard had been ordered home, an
that passports had been sent to Cour
Won Bernstorff four hours before tn
President formally announced it hin
self to Congress, the knowledg
spread rapidly. Count Won Bernstor
heard it unofficially while talking wit
correspondent. While apparent
deeply moved he was not surprise,
His first act was to ask DR.. Paul Ri
ter, the Swiss Minister, to come to tn
German Embassy and prepare to TAX
over its affairs. Then he informed h
wife. an American-born woman, of tn
development and likewise told the en-
bassy staff.
President Wilson kept himself in 8
clusion. except for a brief conferenC
with Secretary Lansing, until he lie
the White House for the Capitol shor
ly before meeting with Congress.
President Wilson's address befol
Congress follows:
Gentlemen of the Congress.
THE The Imperial German Cover
ment on the thirty-frst Of January a