Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-07

Washington. April 6.-The United States today accepted Germanys s doned it's place as the greatest neutral of world in arms.
 President Wilson at HIS (oficial time) this afternoon signed the reso- lution of congress declaring the exis- tence of a state of war and authoriz- ing and directing the chief executive to employ all the resources of the na- ton to prosecute hostilities against the German government to a success ful termination
 Resolution Signed Without Ceremony
 The act was done without ceremony and only in the presence of members of the presidents family. Word was flashed immediately to all army and navy stations and to vessels at sea and orders for further precautionary steps withheld until the last moment were dispatched.
 ~ E- proclamation She president au- nounced -he state of war. called upon all citizens to manifest their loyalty and assured Germans in this country that they would be unmolested as long as they behaved themselves. Or ders were Issued soon afterward for the arrest of sixty ring leaders in Ger man plots and intrigues.
 Preparatory Measures Discussed.
 The president went over all of the great preparatory measures with the cabinet, discussing what has been ac- complished and dwelling. it is under stood, upon arrangements for co-opera- tion with the entente allies against the common enemy. Plans for CO., operation are said to have taken very definite shape. though there will be no announcement on the subject for the present.
 The seizure of German ships laid up in American harbors was the subject of interested comment and legal off1- cers of the government began consid- eration of the question of whether the United States can conflscate the ships outright or must pay for them after the war. In any event. as soon as they can be made Seaworthy the fine mer- chant fleet thus acquired will give America merchant marine that could not be duplicated in several years and add more than 60o. .0oo to the tonnage available for the transportation of supplies and munitions to the allies.
 Both houses of congress have ad- joCrned over until Monday so that their committees may be free tomor- row for preliminary work on war leg islation.
 Word thet King George and Presi- dent Poincare had dispatched mes sages of reorganization to the pres fdent was information received unof- f1cially. Only unofficial information also. came concerning the action of President Afenocal of Cuba in recom- mending a declaration of war against Germany by Cuba and the growing sentiment for war in Brazil.
 Change in Foreign Relations.
 Foreign relationship of the United States today underwent the greatest sweeping away virtually all the intert national questions of the past two years and substituting entirely new problems. As a result. the state de- ed and the great mass of routine which has overwhelmed even the highest of idc4aIs Is to be redfstributed along new lines Enormous Amount of Work Expected
 An enormous amount of work Is ex- pected fin the near future. with various commissions. military. economic and tween this country and the allies. There will be endless communications on matters of common interest.
 Free Admission of Allied Ships.
 The first act by the department when war became fact was to pre- proclamation for all the foreign mis- siorfs here for immediate transmits sion to their governments Cables were sent to American missions pared to go forward at once. So mech of this work had been foreseen that it merely awaited release on word that the president had signed the proclama- ton.
 Instructions prepared several days ago were sent to the treasury depart ment to cease transmitting details of the armament and armed guards on merchantmen entering American har- bods on the ground that henceforth no restrictions will be placed on such ves- sels Announcement will be made soon that allied war vessels have been given free admission to ATneri- can harbors. It is probable. however. that with the seizure of German ship ping here and the enlistment of the American navy in the patrol servics, the entente win withdraw virtually all war craft from this side of the Atlan- tic.
 Negotiations are now virtually all completed for the admittance of Amer acan armed ships into neutral Europ-