The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-03-10
President Wilson, From
Sick Bed, Dictates Sum
mons for Congress and
Issues Order for Aiming
Of Ships Against Ger
many's Undersea Warfare

A4AAASASS
Plans for Defense and
Movement of Ships Be
Withheld War Step Is
Put Squarely UP to leu
tons By Action of Ma
ton Executive.
Washington, March 10-President
Wilson decided yesterday to arm
American ships immediately against
unlawful attacks from Prussian sub
marines He issued statement an
nouncing that he is convinced that he
has full authority to act without sane
ton of Congress.
At the same time the President is
sued proclamation calling an ex-
traordinary session of Congress to
meet on April 16. Congress will be
asked to take up other questions in
volved in the defence of the Aneri-
can merchant marine.
Here is the statement issued from
the White House yesterday afternoon
at the direction of tn President:
Secretary Tumulty stated in con-
nection with the Presidents call for
an extraordinary session of Congress
that the President is convinced that
he has the power to arm American
merchant ships and is free to exercise
it at once But so much necessary
legislation is pressing for considera-
ton that he is convinced that it is
the best interests OF the country to
have an early session of the Sixty
fifth Congress, whose support he will
also need in all matters collateral to
the defence of our merchant ma
rine.'
AS a precautionary measure, the
President requested the newspapers to
refrain from publishing information
with reference to when the ships
would be armed, what ships would be
armed and in what ports the action
would take place. Mr.. Daniels, Sec
rotary OF the Navy, made a similar re.
quest in a formal statement Mr..
Wilson'S request was made orally
through Joseph p. Tumulty, Secretary
to the President.
Orders will be issued Immediately
for the placing Sf guns fore and aft
aboard American merchant ships.
They win 'be carried ont by the Navy
Department, cooperating with the
Treasury Department, which is in
charge of customs affairs, and conse-
quently, the clearance of vessels for
foreign ports. The guns will be suf-
fciently large to be effective.
The Presidents decision to arm the
ships without additional authority
from Congress came as a result Of
opinions submitted to him by Mr..
Lansing. Secretary Of State, and Mr..
Gregory, Attorney General. They
removed what doubt there was in the
Presidents mind regarding his power
to act, in connection with the statute
OF 1919 forbidding the arming of
American ships against the attacks of
q country in "amity'' with the United
States.
Speculation shifted to the probable
!. attitude Of Germany as a consequence
of arming the ships. In certain quar-
!, ters it was firmly believed that Ger
many might regard the step as an
: act OF war and that a statement an
/ nouncing. that. such is ) the Berlin
/ governments opinion would be forth
coming within the next few days.
Generally, in administration circles
It is believed that the United States
never has been SO near war with
Germany as now. Developments are
expected to follow rapidly.
Mr.. Wilson about 2 o'clock yester-
day summoned Mr.. Tumulty from the
executive offices to his room. at the
White House, where he is. in bed suf-
ferfng from . severe cold. He die
tated. to Mr.. Tumulty the text Of the
proclamation.
Then, when 1t was written, he affix-
ed his signature, sending it to the
State Department for the signature OF
Mr.. Lansing. This is the text Of the
proclamation:
"whereas public interests require
that the Congress Of the United States
SHOULD be convened in extra session
at ~ o'clock, noon, on the sixteenth
day of April, 1917, to receive such
Communication as may be made by
the Executive;
Now, therefore, I. 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 Washington,
on the sixteenth day Of April, 1917, at
IL o'clock. noon, Of which all persons
who shall at that time be entitled 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
inth 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.
(Signed) WOODROW WILSON,"
Guns and gunners for the merchant
ships are ready. Beyond that broad
statement regarding the preparedness
OF the navy to afford protection for
= rperican, ships and lives whenever
the President gives the word the Sec
rotary OF the Navy would not go.
It is known definitely that no or
ders for the arming Of merchant ships
have been issued. When they are to
be sent, It Is said. will rot be regard
ed as proper matter for pub1ica-
ton.
It already has been made known
and published. however. that the
mounting OF gums on board merchan
ships In the vast majority of cases
could be carried out within few