The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-03-19
United States Has Had Just About Enough
Now and is Ready TO Open up Actual
Hostilities Against Teutons.
NEARER CALL TO ARMS THAN EVER
Men Missing From Two of the
Ships, Including Number of American
Citizens Thought Dead.

IBy Robert j. Bender. United Press
| Staff Correspondent
| WASHINGTON, March 19.-The
United States and Germany are on the
verge OF open hostilities, with virtual
state of war existing as a result OF the
ruthless sinking by German subma-
rines of three American freighters. II
is now believed inevitable that the
first meeting between an armed Am
erican merchant vessel and U boat
will mark the opening OF actual hos
| tilities.
Semi-official opinion In the United
States is that Germany's destruction OF
three American vessels with possible
loss of twenty American lives leave no
question that the kaiser has forced this
government into a state OF war. II
probably will have been found to have
/ existed since the American steamer
/ Algonquin was sunk last Wednesday
The state of, armed neutrality In
! which this government was placed by
the president continues. although 1t ap-
parently has failed OF its object to pre-
vent sinking of such ships as the La
coma, Algonquin, the City OF Memphis,
the Illinois and the Vigilancia. The
president as the next step Will cail
congress in extra session even berore
it's scheduled meeting date of April
|16. was deemed likely by some,
though the preponderant view was
that he would have them assemble the
sixteenth, then inform them that a
state Of war had existed since March
1s and ask real war measures.
1t was expected President wilson
would consult his premier and other
he. 10
ing broad war power already accoru-
ing to legal experts, it is regarded
probable that he may take even strong
er protective means than merely arma-
ment of American merchantmen.
The navy may be called upon to
take a vigorous hand. searching out
and destroying submarines. ANY call
for any army undoubtedly will await
full authorization of congress under a
declaration Of war. The president stud
led dispatches from abroad up to an
early hour this morning and was up
early to receive any further reports on
the three latest sinkings from Consul
Frost, Queenstown, and Consul Gener-
al Skinner, at London.
The messages thus far at hand LETT
but little hope that no American nVes
had been sacrificed. The report OF
"men missing" seemed to carry the
doleful conviction that they had per-
fshed when the German L boats car
ried out their orders.
Sinking Of the three vessels, was
attended by circumstances that justl-
fed the government to think that Ger
MANY is going the limit and this gov
ernment can hope for no favorable ex,
ceptions. But despite the fact that
the United States is nearer call to
arms today, there Is unruffled calm in
Washington not only among officials,
but among the people Of the capital.
Apparently Washington, through the
experience with inter
national shocks, is no longer suScept-
fble to emotion. There is no war
spirit in evidence.
Immediate Announcement.
WASHINGTON, March 19.-Immed-
late announcement by President Will
son of the course of action he intends
TO take in reply to Germany's latest
afYront on the high seas, was forecast
by officials today.
Some believed he would call con-
sress into session at once in order to
have that body On hand for consulta-
ton.
Others believed he might issue pro
cIamation empowering Secretary OF
the Navy Daniels to use the emergency
fund appropriated in pursuit of a
policy more aggresfvely to protect
American Shipping.
At 11:o5 Secretary Lansing went to
the white house to confer with Presi-
dent Wilson. He carried with him all
reports that have reached the depart
ment on the sinking of the three Am
erican vessels.
"The situation is too serious to dis
cuss," was the only official word from
the state department previous to Lam
sings departure for the white house.
Mobilizing It's forces today. the
naYY department appealed to Amer