Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1917-03-22

Washington, March 21.-Pres-
ident Wilson, recognizing that
Germany practically is making
war on the United States on the
seas, today called congress to as
semble in extraordinary session
on April 2 to deal with the situa-
tion. The purpose of the session
now called two weeks earlier
than the date first set-as an
nounced in the presidents proc
lamation, is to receive commun-
ication from the executive con-
Icerning grave matters of nation
al policy which should be taken
Immediately under considera-
tion.
The president in his address to
congress will detail how Germany
practically has been making war on
the United, States by the, ruthless
destruction of American lives and:
ships on the high seas in contraven-
ton of all laws of nations and hu-
manity.
Congress then is expected to pass a
resolution declaring that state of
war has existed between the United
States and Germany for some time.
Such a resolution in itself will not be
a declaration of war in technical
sense, although practically it will
amount to the same thing.
AS consequence, the United
States will take further steps to pro-
tect it's interests on the high seas and
elsewhere against the warlike acts Of
Germany, and whether an actual state
of war will come to exist in it's full
sense will depend on the future acts
of the imperial German government.
The presidents proclamation follows:
Whereas, public interests require
that the congress of the United States
should be convened in extra session
at IL o'clock noon on the second day
of April, 1917, to receive communi-
cation by the executive on grave
questions of national policy;
Now, therefore, l, Woodrow Will
son, president of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim and de-
clare that an extraordinary occasion
requires the congress of the United
States to convene in extra session
at the capitol in the city of Wash
ington on the second day of April,
1917, at twelve o'clock noon, Of
| which all persons who shall at the
time be entitled to act as members
therefore are hereby requested to
take notice.
Given under my hand and seal of
the United States of America the 21st
day of March, in the year of our Lord
Zone thousand nine hundred and sew
enteen and of the independence of the
United States the one hundred forty
first.
Since last Sunday, when three
American ships were sunk off the
British Isles in quick succession with
loss of American lives-bringing the
total number of Americans lost
through German submarine opera
tions to more than 2OO-the presi-
dent and all his advisors have recog-
nized that state of war existed.
From all parts of the country have
come calls for the immediate sum-
moning of congress in extra session.
! Although the president, by the pro-
visions of the constitution, must
leave it to congress to make the prac-
tical declaration of war, such ad
vices that have come to the White
House from members of congress,
governors of states, public officials
and many hundreds Of citizens have
contained statements of support OF
such a policy in its fullest sense.
The cabinet, which urged the move
upon the president at yesterday's
session is described by . member 10
having been more thoroly united