Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1917-02-27
Fall Introduces Resolution
Authorizing Use Of
Armed Forces.
SURPRISE TO DEMOCRATS
Bill Would Give Complete
Authority to Protect Lives
and Property.

Washington, Feb. ga resolu-
ton authorizing the President to use
armed forces of the United States to
protect commerce, property and lives
of the citizens of the United States
was introduced Saturday in the SEN
ate by Senator Fall, Republican.
Senator Falls resolution was offer
/, ed by unanimous consent after a bit
ter two.hour debate on the interna-
tional situation, in which Republic
cans disclaimed any desire to with
hold support from the President in
handling the situation.
Senator Fall asked that the bill 90
to the Foreign Relations Committee,
aud Chairman Stone consented after
he had objected to the way in which
the measure had beenintroduced.
POINTS TO DEPREDATIONS.
81 greatly regret that such bill as
this has been introduced at this time"
said Senator Stone. Nevertheless |
see no way of disposing OF it except
by letting it go to the committee"
The bill would give the President
wide authority to protect lives and
property Of Americans or to author
ize American merchant ships to pro-
| tect themselves against searchers and
seizures or captures
Senator Falls resolution points to
the depredations on the commerce
of the United States by submarines of
the Central Powers, and authorizes
the President TO 'inS'r Ict and direct
the commanders of the armed vessels
belonging to the United States" TO
protect American ships and property
and 'to take, seize, or bring into port
or Destroy" if unable to seize, any
armed vessels of either of the Central
Powers, and particularly of the I'm
perial German Government which
have committed or are threatening to
commit depredations against ships
conveying Americans or American
property. "
1t would make it legal also for the
commander and crew of any merch-
ant American vessel to oppose and
defend against any search, restraint,
seizure or attack, which shall be at
tempted on such vessel" by any arm
ed ship of the Central Powers and to
"repel by force any assault or HOSTILE
ty" so committed and to 'subdue and
capture or destroy" such vessel.
CALL FOR MEN PROVIDED.
On the army side the President
would be authorized Gin the event of
a declaration of war against the Unit
ed States or OF invasion or of immi-
nent danger of invasion discovered
in his opinion to exist" before the
next session of Congress to call into
service in addition TO regular army
and the National Guard 5000 men
to serve not more than three years or
during the continuance of the "eXist-
ing differences" with the Central
Powers. The President also would
be given authority to accept volun-
teers and to organize the 500 1000 men
called into the proper service branch
es and to officer them when the SEN
ale is not in session by his commits
sion alone.
The resolution says that when Ger
many and her allies 'shall disavow"
and cause their commanders TO re-
frain from the lawless depredations
and outrages hitherto encouraged and
authorized" and shall cause ''the
laws of nations to be observed" then
the commanders of merchant ships
may be directed ito submit to any
regular search" by Central Power
war vessels and to refrain from "any
force or capture"
The act would continue in force for
six months 'and until the end OF the
naxf session OF CONGRESS- theraaf<x<<<l