Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-03-07

United States Citizens.
Washington. Feb. 27.-President VIII
son delivered an address before joint
session of congress yesterday. He de
clared that diplomatic means had
failed to safeguard American interests
and that all that is left now is to
adopt an attitude of armed neutrality.
He specifically asked that he be given
authority TO arm American merchant
vessels.
The presidents address was as fol-
lows:
Gentlemen of the Congress:
have again asked the privilege OF
addressing you because we are moving
through critical times during which it
seems 10 me to be my duty 20 keep in
close touch with the houses of con
gress. so that neither counsel nor ac-
ZION shall run al cross purposes be-
tween us.
"On the third of February I officially
informed you Of the sudden and unex-
pected action Of the imperial German
government in declaring It's intention
to disregard the promises il had made
10 this government in April last and
undertake immediate submarine opera
tions against all commerce, whether
beiligerents or neutrals, that should
seek 10 approach Great Britain and Ire
land. the Atlantic coasts Of Europe, or
the harbOrs of the eastern Nediterra-
mean. and TO conduct those operations
without regard to the established re-
slrictions Of international practice,
without regard TO any considerations
Of humanity even which might inter
fere with their object That policy was
forthwith put into practice. It has
low been in active execution for near
ly four weeks,
All Commerce Suffering.
cts practical results are not vet
fuuv disclosed. The commerce OF other
neutral nations is suffering severely,
hut not perhaps, very much more SEE
vereiy than il was already suffering be-
for the first Of February. when the new
policy of the imperial government was
put INTO operation. We have asked the
cooperation Of other neutral govern
ments 10 prevent these depredations
hut 50 far none Of them has thought It
wise TO join W. in any common course
OF action.
"Our own commerce has suffered. is
suffering rather in apprehension than
IN faet. rather because SO many Of our
hire .., rsr,,l,Ft,, t.....,,s,,, 80 rhaf- F.r,,.
ports than because American ships
have sunk.
Two American vessels have been
sunk. the Housatonic and the Lyman
ST. Law.
The case Of the HousatoniC, which
was carrying foodstufs to London
firm, was essentially Ike the case Of
the Frye, IN which IL will be recalled
the German government admitted its
liability for damages. and the lives Of
the crew. as in The case Of the Frye
were safe-uarded with reasonable care.
The case Of the Law. which was
carrying leIuon-box slaves to Palermo
disclosed a ruthiessness Of method
which deserves grave condemnation.
but was accompanied by 30 circum-
stances which might not have been ex-
pected at any time in connection with
the use Of The submarine against mer.
chuntmen as the German government
has used is,
Ia summing up therefore. the stu
alton We lind ourselves in with regard
10 fhe actual conduct of the German
submarine warfare against commerce
and its effects upon our own ships and
people is substantially the same that
l. WAS wien I addressed you On the
tlir5i OF February, except for The tying
up of our shipping 10 Tur own ports
beca,.ce If the unwilllnc8,~s Of our
shipowuers 10 risk their vessels at sea
without insurance or adequate p-otec-
ton, and the very serious congestion
% our commerce which has resulted,
a congestion which is growing rapidly
more and mor- serious every day.
This in itself Qlgh, presently ac-
compIish in effect, 1.hal she new Ger
man submarine orders were meant 70
accomplish. So far as W. are con
cerued
we can only Say. thy r4. that
the overt act which have yentured 10
hope the German commanders would
in fact avoid has NOT ocgt--.l.
Some Alarming Signs.
But while this is happily true 1t
MS; he admitted that there hays seen
certain additional Indications and ex-
pressjons Of purpose on the part Of
tiie German press and the German au-
;hurites which have increased rather
than leSSened the impression that, if
our ships and our people are spared
Il win he because of for innate cir
cumstanceS or because the com
manders Of the German submarines
which they may happen 20 encounter
exercise an unexpected discretion and
restraint rather than because 90 the
instructions under which those com
manders are scting.
1T world be foolish to deny that The
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