Grand Forks herald., 1917-03-24
EVENTS OF A WEEK.

EVENTS OF A WEEK.
The week has been marked by STIR
ring Incidents. and yet these are so
closely related to those which have
gone before. and natural sequels Of
them that 1t can scarcely be said that
there u anything new In the great the
aters Of world activity. OF most i'm
mediate interest is the progress Of the
United States toward war. That a
state Of actual war exists between the
United States and Germany will be
denied only by those who desire to
split hairs In matters Of legal defini-
ton. Germany Is continuing her de-
clared policy Of sinking on sight all
ships that venture into the waters to
which she has forbidden access, and
several additional American vessels
have been sunk. with loss Of Ameri-
can lives. President Wilson. who had
already summoned congress to meet
April 1s. has issued a new call for
April 3. and has formally announced
that the reason for this call is that
he may lay before congress grave
matters Of international concern.
Il Il y 4 4
The purpose of the call is that con-
gress may recognize In some Official
manner the conditions which exist.
This may be done by a formal dec
! laration Of war, or by the declaration
that . state Of war exists because Of
the acts Of Germany. It is expected
that this latter course will be urged
| by the president. and that 1t will be
followed by congress. Throughout the
entire controversy tho American gov
! ernment has been careful-over-care-
full. . good many people believe-to
perform no act which could in any
way be Interpreted as an act Of war
or as provocative Of war. I'M the pur-
,suanoe Of this policy numerous acts
committed by Germany and which
would ordinarily have been considered
ample cause for instant war have been
passed over in silence, but these acts
have now become 80 many, and the
intent Of Germany to continue Is so
| plain that there seems to be a general
realization that the time for neutrality
has passed, and that the time for Wig
-erous acton has arrived.
> \ X X +
= During tho interim the arming Of
smerciaant vessels has gone steadily
f>ferward. The exact instructions issued
70 the commanders Of these vessels
have not been published, but it is
| quite clearly understood that when
ever any Of these ships sail they will
do so with full authority from their
| government to attack on sight every
| German submarine that comes within
! range Of their guns. The Germans
have orders to attack them; they are
| making these attacks whenever and
: wherever opportunity offers, and the
only possible safety for an American
/ ship now is for her to be prepared to
: make the drst attack and to make it
! effectively.
= II X Il \
No definite orders for army mob
/ ilisatton have yet been issued But it
! is understood that everything is being
, put In readiness for such orders. In
! naval circles there has been great ac-
ttvdty. Men along the Atlantic sea-
hoard have been notified to prepare
for action; contracts are in process
OF being let for large number Of
small craft suitable for service against
submarines; many xmal1 boats owned
by private individuals have been ten
dered to the government and accept
ed. Railroad companies are arrane-
ing their affairs in order that they
may bs able to handle the vast
amount OF tramc that state of war
VIII entail. Arrangements are being
made TO take over manufacturing
plants. The use Of the Ford plants
and the Bethlehem steel plant, among
others, has been rendered to the rov-
ernmeut and accepted.
4 i i X X
While an Of thes activities arc in
progress In preparation for the en-
trance Of tho United States actively
Into the war AZ soon - congress gives
the word. members Of congress are
themselves laying plans for the facili-
ta2ton Of work. Tho question Of the
political control Of the house has no,
besn sstt1sd. and the present prospects
aEs that there Will be a contest over
thda But -paxtisans on both ndes have
declared that this contest will not be
psssuifted to consume time or to in.
tssfsFs In any way With ths real work
: g the session. Tho president and