Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-03-15

Formal announcement Of the govern
ment's policy was given in the following
announcement issued from the White
House:
Whereas public interests require that
the Congress Of the United States should
be convened in extra session at twelve
o'clock noon on the 18th day Of April
1917, to receive such communications as
may be made by the executive;
Now. therefore, I, Woodrow Wilson,
President of the United States OF America.
do hereby proclaim and declare that an
extraordinary occasion requires the Con-
gress 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 twelve o'clock noon Of which all
titled to act as members thereof are
hereby required to take notice.
"Given under my hand and the seal
Of the United States Of America. the
ninth day Of March in the year Of Our
Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and
Seventeen. and Of the independence Of
the United States. the one hundred and
forty-first'
SIGNS PROCLAMATION IN BED.
The President signed the proclamation
calling the extra session of Congress and
authorized the publication of the explana-
tory statement with Secretary Tumulty
standing at his bedside. severe cold
has kept him from seeing callers for
three days and he was put to bed by his
physician yesterday
In deciding that he has power to arm
merchantmen. the President took the
position that an old statute passed ir
1919. cited in the Senate debate on pro-
, hibiting such step without congressional
action. has no application to the present
situation. He Is satisfied that the natior
stands behind him. and accepts the over
whelming vote in the House on the armed
neutrality bill. and the known opinion
OF q large ma jority of the Senate as proc
of the attitude of Congress.
MONEY AVAILABLE NOW.
Although the bill which failed of passag
in the Senate provided for a bond issu
of $100. 900. 900 to pay the expenses of arme
neutrality. the government has suff1cien
money available for it's immediate pur
poses. Congress will be asked to provid
more when the extra session convenes.
Under bill passed during the last day
Of the last Congress the funds at tn
disposal of the federal war risk burea
to insure American ships was increase
10 $l5.0Oo.00o.
UNMARRIED ATTACK. ACT OF WAT
Armed neutrality is expected to remoy
the practical blockade of American port
and place the issue of eventual wa
squarely upon Germany. An attack upo
an armed American vessel will precip
tate fight II the ship gets sight of tt
submarine. and an unwarned attack wou
be regarded by the United states as a
act of war
Germany and Austria both have d
ciared armed merchantmen war vessel
These declarations. were based largel
however, upon the charge that Britis
merchant ships used their armament o
fensively and 1t remains to be se'
whether Germany will SO class and tire
American craft with defensive arms.
The whole of German press CONNIE
and unofficial utterances since the que
,,cn was raised In this country has
uicated the conviction that any arm
vessel should be considered hostile Al
sunk In the same way as belligere
war vessel. There has been no oftic
expression on the subject
Germany's exact policy towards Anne
can vessels sailins through the war 20
since its proclamation February ] h
not been quite clear owing to the IA
that less than dozen such voyages ha
been made and 1t Is possible that all
vessels that escaped succeeded In avo
ing the submarines entirely. II has be
suggested that Germany probably issu
instructions to her commanders not
sink American ships without eve
precaution for those on board. as II
hope OF keeping America out OF the "
q The ruthless destruction Of passenI
liners like the California and the Lacon
however. is felt here to render this bel
? improbable.