New Britain herald., 1917-04-02
n of GemS Allies Funds
Presidents Address

Washington, April 2.-President Wilson tonight asked congress to de- clare state of war existing between the United States and Germany. While the news of the submarin- : ing of the steamer Aztec was being told from mouth to mouth in the capitol the president, appearing be- fore house and senate in joint ses- sion, asked congress to recognize and deal with Germany's warfare on America.
 The president said MI Kfth Ger many would involve practieal co -oper- ation with the governments now at war with Germany, including liberal financial credits. He urged the rais- ing of 500,O0O men by universal mili- tary service.
 The president makes it clear that no action was being taken against the Austrian government and the other nations allied with Germany.
 The Address.
 President Wilson spoke as follows:
 T have called the congress into. cx- traordinary session because there are serious. very serious choices of policy to be made, and made immediately, | additionally permissible that I should assume the responsibility of making.
 '.On the third of February last. Fl ofllcially laid before you the extra ordinary announcement of the Imperial German government that on and after the drst day of February it was It's purpose to put aside all restraints of law or of humanity and use it's sub- oSp1va $N o1v 1vnIr sought to approach either the ports of Great Britain and Ireland or the western coasts of Europe or any of the ports controlled by the enemies of Germany within the Mediterranean. That had seemed to be the object of the German submarine warfare ear- Her in the war, but since April of last year the imperial government had somewhat restrained the commanders If it's under sea craft in conformity with it's promise then given to us that passenger boats should not be sunk, and that due warning would be given to all other vessels which it's subma- rines might seek to destroy, when no resistance was offered or escape, at tempted and care taken that their crews were given at least fair chance
 
 The precautions taken were meagre and haphaxard enough, as was proved in distressing instance after instance in the progress of the cruel and un- manly business, but . certain degree of restraint was observed. sy
 The new policy has swebtN every kind, whatever their flag, their cl1ar- os 1a0i1s hn4~ their errand, have been ruthlessly sent to the bottom without warming, and without thought of help or mercy for those on board, the vessels of friendly neutrals along with those of belligerents.
 Even hospital ships and ships car- rying relief to the sorely bereaved and stricken people of Belgium, though the latter were provided with safe conduct through the prescribed areas by the German government it. self, and were distinguished by unmis- takable marks of identity, have been sunk with the same reckless lack of compassion or principle. I was un- able for a little while to believe that such things would In fact be done by any government that had hitherto subscribed to the humane practices of civilized nations Inter national law had it's origin Tn the att tempt to set Up some law, (which would be respected and observed upon the seas, where no nation had right of dominion and where lay the free highways of the world. By painful stage after stage has that law been built up with meagre enough results, indeed. after all was accomplished that could be accomplished, but al- ways with clear view, at least. of what the heart and conscience of man. kind demanded.
 This minum of right the German government has swept aside under the plea of retaliation and necessity and because 1t had no weapons which it could use at sea except these, which it is impossible to employ as it is employing them without throwing to the winds all scruples of hu- manity or of respect for the under standings that were supposed to un- derlie the intercourse of the world. 1T am not now thinking of the loss of property involved. immense and serious as that is. but only of the wanton and wholesale destruc-