The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1917-03-22
VOL. XLVIII
CONGRESS CALLED TO MEET APRIL End.
Expected Declare State of War Existing Vote Large
Sums For National Defense and Clothe President With
Authority to Use Armed Force of the Country
Washington Dispatch, March 21.

Washington Dispatch, March 21.
President Wilson today met the
constantly increasing probability of
war with Germany by summoning
Congress to assemble in extraordin-
ary session Monday, April 2-two
weeks earlier than the date he had
chosen before the latest assaults up
on American rights on the seas.
When the President addresses Con-
yress he is expected to show how
State of war actually has existed for
some time because of the unlawful
aggressions of German submarines.
Congress is expected formally to
declare a state of war existir. vote
a large sum, probably half million
dollars. for national defense and
clothe the President with authority
to use the armed forces of the Unit
ed States, as it empowered President
Mckinley to deal with the menace OF
Spain in 1898.
Such action would not be a decla-
ration of war except in a technical
sense, and whether the United States
and Germany actually 60 to war in
the fullest acceptation of the term
will depend on what the imperial
government does before Congress is
assembled or after it acts.
Much to change the Presidents
present intention or the course of the
government in the crisis may develop
before April 2. The first American
armed ships will be that time have
reached the war zone. The ruthless
destruction of one of them undoubt-
edly would be an act of war. On the
other hand, sinking of a submarine
by one of the armed merchantmen
probably would be met as an act OF
war by Germany. Even the armine
of American ships with the avowee
purpose of defending them against
U-boats may be declared such an act
In any of these events, practically
nothing would remain except for Con
gress to acknowledge a state of wa
existing from certain specified dat
probably last Sunday, when thre
American ships were sunk with los
of life.
Days of Tense Anxiety
The next ten days, until Congress
meets, will be days of tense anxiety
of eager waiting arai watching
fraught with possibilities of tremend
Gus consequences to the Unite
States.
President Wilson and his advisor
in the cabinet and in Congress hav
no intention that war shall be de
clared by the United States. By tn
hostile acts of German submarine
they believe the imperial Germa,
government is actually making wa
on the United States and that it sha
be recognized as state of war. I
meet such condition the armed re
sources are to be put in state c
readiness. Then whether the ma
ton shall enter the war in it's flu
sense will depend upon how muc
further Germany carries her acts {
aggression.
Would be Defensive War
In every sense, war, if it actual
comes, will be defensive war, fire
from ambitions of spoils or territor
in which the United States, the Pre-
ident has publicly declared, sha
want nothing for itself and shall see
only to preserve the rights of ci
ilization and humanity.
In such a situation the Unite
States may even become an actu
partisan in the hostilities on the E
ropean continent without becomir
political ally of any of the Enten
powers, simply casting it's weight
men, money and moral influence in
the battle against common enem