Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1917-04-05
REcITEs WRONGS az GERMANY
AGAINST THE UNITED STATES
AND ASKS STATE OF WAR
DECLARATION.
ASKS ARMY OF 100000
AND UNIVERSAL SERVICE
Makes II Clear That Proposed Action
10 Not Directed at Austria, Bull
oarla or Turkey-Uroes Ade-
quate Credits to Allied
Belligerents.

quate Credits to Allied
Beliigerents.
The full text of President Wilson's
war message to congress follows:
Gentlemen of the Congress:
II have called the congress into
extraordinary session because there
are serious, very serious choices OF
policy to be made, and made immed
lately, which It was neither right nor
constitutionally permissible that
should assume the responsibility of
making.
"On the third Of February last.
ofIicially laid before you the extra.
ordinary announcement Of the impe.
rial German government that on and
after the first day of February 1t was
its purpose to put aside all restraints
of law or of humanity and use its
submarines to sink every vessel that
sought to approach either the ports
of Great Britain and Ireland or the
western coasts Of Europe or any of
the ports controlled by the enemies
of Germany within the Mediterrane-
IN.
THAT had seemed to be the object
Of the German warfare earlier in the
war. but since April of last year the
imperial German government had
somewhat restrained the commanders
Of its undersea craft in conformity
with promises then given to us that
passenge. boats should not be sunk
and that due warning would be given
to all other vessels which its sub
marines might seek to destroy, when
no resistance was offered or escape
crews were given at least fair
chance to save their lives in their
open boats.
1.-The precautions taken were meag-
Or and haphazard enough. AZ was
proved in distressing instance after in
stance insthe progress Of the cruel
and unmanly business. but a certain
degree Of restraint was observed The
new policy has swept every restriction
aside.
Vessels RuthIessiy Sunk.
Vessels OF every kind, whatever
their flag. their character. their car.
60. their destination. their errand.
have been ruthlessly sent to the bot
tom without warning and without
thought of help or mercy for those
on board. the vessels of friendly neu.
trails along with those OF belligerents,
Even hospital ships and ships car.
rying relief to the sorely bereaved and
stricken people of Belgium, though
the latter were provided with safe con.
duct through the prescribed areas by
the German government itself and
we're distinguished by unmistakable
marks of identity. have been sunk
with the same seckless lack OF com
passion or OF pr<ociple.
II was for a little while unable to
believe that such things would in fact
be done, by any government that had
hitherto subscribed to the humane
practices OF civilized nations. In
ternational law had It's origin in the
attempt to set up some law which
would be respected and observed up.
right OF dominion and where lay the
free highways of the world. BY pain.
full stage after stage has that law
been built up with meager enough re
suits, indeed after all was accomplish
ed that could be accomplished, but
always with clear view. at least, OF
what the heart and conscience OF
mankind demanded.
Right 10 Swept Aside.
This minimum of right the Ger
man government has swept aside un
der the plea Of retaliation and neces
sity and because it had no weapons
which II could use at sea except
those which 1t Is impossible to EN-
pl0y as It is employing them without
throwing to the winds all scruples OF
humanity or Of respect for the under
standings that were supposed to un
derlie the intercourse OF the world.
Lives Cannot Be Paid For.
IL am not now thinking of tho loss
Of property involved, immense and
serious as that is, but only OF the wan
ton and wholesale destruction OF the
lives Of non -coMbatants, men, women
and children. engaged In pursuits
which have always, even In the dark
est periods OF modern history. beer
deemed innocent and legitimate. Prop
erty can be paid for: the lives o.
peaceful and innocent people canno
be.
1.-THE present German submarine
warfare against commerce is war
fare against mankind.
1T is a war against all nations.
American ships have been sunk
American lives taken in ways which