Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-03-19
URGE PRERIDENT TO
ANNOUNCE STATE or
WAR EXISTS
CONTINUED from Page H.

submarine proclamation was issued.
To order aggressive steps taken
by the navy to protect American YES
sells on the high seas pending the con-
yening of congress. To continue war
preparations in progress since the first
Of the year and fere further action I'M
til congress actually meets as original
ly called on April l6
All hope OF peaceful conditions con.
tinuing had vanished in official quar-
tiers today. Already there are evi-
dences Of great wave of popular re
sentiment of Germany's action sweep.
I ing over the country Men who have
hoped to the last that Germany would
realize that patience had ceased and
have been advocating the utmost toll
erance today have changed their tone.
There is not the slightest shadow of
doubt that ii congress now were in
session, a declaration of war. with
responsibility squarely placed on Ger.
many would be forthcoming
The United States today remained
I in the position Of maintaining a sta
tus OF armed neutrality. On the deci.
/ sion OF tho President hinged whether
this position was to be changed be-
I fore congress acts
4 The fact that all three Of the yes
sells destroyed were plainly marked
with the stars and stripes On their
sides and that two of them were home
ward bound in ballast, has added to
/ the bitterness OF the feeling here. OF.
4 licials declare that this IL the best
proof that no effort has been made by
Germany to discriminate in favor of
American ships.
There is no longer any doubt in of.
fetal circles that the German an
nouncement ut that all vessels cncnun-
tered in the barred zone will be sent
to the bottom without warning is to
/ be carried out to the very letter.
Statements of Senators.
Only few senators are left in
/ Washington but those who are here
and who would discuss the situation
are inclined to be warlikc in their Ut
toranccs.
war has been thrust upon us, said
+ Senator Miles Poindexter of Washing
ton, "and there is but one way to deal
with war and that is to make war,
aggressively and with grim determine
ton from the, very outset
Congress should be called in extra
session next week, said Senator
William e. Borah, of Idaho
This means war, nothing else, !
have no doubt what the American
response will be; it will be a united
response said Senator w G. Hard,
ing Of Ohio.
The situation hardly could be
more SERIOUS" said Senator Hoke
Smith, of Georgia.
IF the sinking of these three
American vessels is not an overt act
/ do not know what you would call
it, said Senator John w. Weeks, of
Massasschusetts
This is a very serious matter and
not one for free discussion now" said
Senator Pomerene, Of Ohio, member of
the Senate foreign relations commit
tee
II there can be an overt act this is
certainly one" said Senator Duncan
U, Fletcher, of Florida.
"rhe sinking of these American yes.
sells with their attendant loss of
American lives is an act of war and
as such we must deal with it." said
Senator Porter j. McCumber, of North
Dakota.
Three ships Sunk.
London, March 10 Destruction by
German submarines Of three more
United States steamships one Of
them without warning, it is reported
has brought German American rela.
lions to the mos acute stage reached
since the beginning Of the Kalser's I'M
restricted submarine warfare, accord.
ing to opinions expressed in official
circles here today.
The victims ships were
City of Memphis, 5,252 tons, Of Sa-
vannah, Ga.
Illinois, 5,225 tons, of New York.
Vigilancia, 4i15 tons, of Perth
Amhoy, N. j
1t was reported without confirma.
ton that twenty-five men, fourteen
from the Vigiiancia and eight from
the city of Memphis, were missing
A dispatch from Queenstown stated
that the boat in which Captain Borum
and eight men from the crew Of the
City Of Memphis took refuge was pick
ed up empty on Sunday. This indi
Gated that the men had been saved b,
a patrol steamer and that their life
boat had then been turned adrift.
Between thirty and forty refugees
, about Is of them American, were
, landed here and in this neighborhood
, None Of them had been wounded b,
the Germans, but many of them wer'
| suffering from shock and exposure.
Wesley Frost. the United States con
J sal at Queenstown is caring for tn
stranded Americans and is investgat
ing the sinking of the three ships.
The City Of Memphis was boun