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Newspaper Page Text
It probably will have been found to !iue 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 it apparently has failed of its object to prevent sinking of such ships as the Laconia, Algonquin; the City of Memphis, the Illinois and the Vigi lancia. That the president, as his next step, would call congress in extra session even before its scheduled meeting date, April 16, was doomed likely by some, though the prepond erant view was. that he would have them assemble th 16th, then inform them that a state of war had existed since March IS and ask real war measures. It was expected Wilson would con sult his premier and oflier authori ties during the day. And having broad war power already, according to legal experts, it is regarded prob able that he may take even stronger 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 an army undoubtedly will await full authorization from congress under a declaration of war. The messages thus far at hand left but little hope that no American lives aad been sacrificed. Despite the fact thatthe United States is nearer a call to arms to day, there is unruffled calm in Wash ington, not only among officials but among the people of the capital. Apparently Washington, through ever-recurring experience with inter-; national shocks, is no longer suscept ible to emotion. There is no war spirit in evidence. London, March 19. Shortly before noon today United States consular reports to American embassy here declared the captain's boat of torpe American steamer City of Mem phis was still unaccounted1 for. There were tight men in this boat. In all twenty-two' men of the crews of two of the three American ships sunk by German submarines were missing today. The three ships were the American steamers Vigilancia, City of Memphis and Illinois. All of the crew of the last named were safely landed. The Vigilancia was struck by a torpedo without warning. Lookouts did not even see the periscope of the submarine, nor did the U-boat em erge from the sea after the ship had been struck her death blow. The City of Memphis was first struck by shell fire from the subma rine and then sunk by a torpedo. o o OTHERS MAY DIE FROM FIRE AT OLD PEOPLE'S HOME . Several more deaths may be added to the list of four who perished in the fire that swept the Scottish Old Peo ple's Home at Riverside yesterday. ATailv nf thfi survivors ar ill frnm py. posure and on account of the ad-' vanced age "of most fatalities may be expected. Those who were killed in the flames were Mrs. Janet Greenock, 70 ; Wm. McPherson, 92; Thos. Loutitt, 76, and Wm. Robertson, 80. The more seriously of the survivors are Andrew Minto, 84; John Harrison, 88; Andrew Greenock, 76"; Mrs. Ida Bell, 71; Mrs. Isabel Hope, 82, and Jessie Campbell, 65. The inmates were aroused by the barking of a small dog, wso discover ed the flames. The cause of the fire is unknown. o o GO AFTER FOOD HOGS Robert W. Childs, special ass't U. S. att'y, is' rounding up his evidence against Chicago food hogs and he will soon present it to the- federal grand jury. Six special investigators have been sent from Washington to work out of the Chicago office in or der to get at the bottom of the food situation.