Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-04-10

Washington, April 3.-President
Wilson IL his message to congress last
might demands that the United States
accept the gage of war thrown down
by Germany; that the navy be put In
q state of defense, particularly against
submarines; that the army be in
creased by 100000, making the total
army over 100000 fighting men; that
100000 be raised in universal train
ing law and that the resources and
ainances of the nation be employed to
further the common cause of this cOun-
try with the entente allies to defeat
Germany as soon as possible and end
ahe war.
President Wilson spoke as follows:
have called the congress into ex-
Hraordinary session because there are
serious, very serious, choices of policy
to be made, and made Immediately,
which 1t was neither right nor cOnsti-
tutionally permissible that should as
sumo the responsibility Of making.
On the Sd of February last, Off
Eially laid before you the extraordi-
mary announcement of the imperial
German government that on and after
the first day of February it was its
purpose to put aside all restraints OF
law or of humanity and use its sub
marines to sink every vessel that
sought to approach either the ports
of Great Britain and Ireland or the
western coast of Europe, or any other
port controlled by the enemies of Ger
pmany within the Mediterranean.
That had seemed to be the object
of the genuine submarine warfare ear
Tier in the war, but since April of last
year the imperial government had
somewhat restrained the commanders
of its undersea crafts in conformity
with its promise then given to us that
passenger boats should not be sunk,
and that due warning would be given
TO all other vessels which it's subma-
eines might seek to destroy, when no
resistance was offered or escape at
tempted, and care taken that their
crews were given at least fair chance
to save their lives in their open boats.
Meaaer Precautions Taken.
The precautions taken were meager
and haphazard enough, as was proved
In distressing instance after instance
In the progress of the cruel and I'M
manly business, but a certain degree
of restraint was observed.
The new policy has swept every re-
Striction aside. Vessels of every kind,
whatever. their flag, their character,
their cargo. their destination, their err
rand, have been ruthlessly sent to the
bottom without warning and without
thought of help or mercy for those on
board, the vessel of friendly neutrals
along with those of belligerents. Even
hospital ships and ships carrying re-
lief to the sorely bereaved and strick-
en- people of Belgium, though the lat
ter were provided with safe-cOnduct
through the prescribed areas by the
German government itself, and were
distinguished by unmistakable marks
of identity. have been sunk with the
same reckless lack of compassion or
principle.
I was for 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. Interna-
tional law had its origin in the at
tempt to set up some law, which
would be respected and observed upon
the seas, where no nation had right of
dominion and where lay the free high
ways of the world.
BY painful stage after stage has that
law been built up with meager enough
results, indeed, after all was accom-
pliShed that could be accomplished,
but always with a clear view. at least.
of what the heart and conscience of
mankind demanded.
ScrupIes Thrown to Wind
This minimum of right the German
government has swept aside under the
plea of retaliation and necessity, and
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