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THE WEATHER FORECAST. ' Fair and colder to-day to-morrow, strong northwest winds, diminishing. Highest temperature yesterday, 54; lowest, 31. Detailed wenther, mall ami marl no reports on page 12. IT SHINES FOP ALL VOL. LXXXIV. NO. 180. NEW YORK, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1917. Copyright, 1917, by the Sun Printing and 1'uWshlng Assuc'.allon, ONE CENT In lirrriler New tU. I i;Uenher Jer-.e tin nml Nruiirk. I TWO t'KMTS. WILSON ASKS MEMBERS CONGRESS FOR A UTHORITY TO ARM SHIPS; HOSTILE TO GIVING HIM BLANKET POWERS; LACONIA SUNK, AMERICAN AND HER DAUGHTER DROWNED WILSON'SWORD 'TIMID' SHOCKS SHIPPING MEN President's Reference to Blockade of American Torts Is Resented. UNABLE TO BUY GUNS TO PROTECT LINERS Representatives Declare the Situation Has Been Misrepresented. Since the German submarine decree which tied up American shipping went Into effect Amerclan ship owners, and especially officials of the American Line that have been the particular victims or Gocriiment Inaction, fancied they had run out of pood, old fashioned Yankee I eusswords. They were mistaken. Yesterday they culled from the Presi dent's speech to Congress a sentence -hlch automatically revived the best traditions of oral condemnation In the American merchant marine: 'Our own commerce has suffered, is I luffering, rather in apprehension than In fact, rather because so many of our ihlps are timidly keeping to their home ports than because American ships have been sunk," It Is not permitted to quote V. A. S. i Franklin, president of the International Mercantile Marine Company, which, as U well known, operates the now block aded iMnn'afc If1? m-rlcar) Line. It were scarcely fitting- perhaps to repro duce the comments (accurately) of a Aryf nifpnl fnr American steamshit) lines after they read that sentence and J the full significance of the word timidly" sank In. Tho fact Is, Ameri can steamship men were first burnlngly and vociferously angry and then silenced by a kind of shame that the situation, u they see It, could have been so mis represented. Mile Couldn't II uy Any Cans. representatives of tho American Line who spoke with the perfect knowledge of j Mr Franklin's mind called attention to these facts : , First, there was no timidity among American Line officials when they ccmbed the country trying to buy naval runs so as to arm their -ships and send tl.em out at their own expense. If they could have been able to buy guns at any in ! the ships would have gone out. Thai' . i-.i,l,ln'. n.mu mn ntif fintnrfwl or I" niucesH of manufacture are contracted fr by the Allies up to the last pound, i One American munitions concern, it Is i t'tif. offered to supply guns, but quail ! the offer to the point of nullification ! t.ating that the permission of the, 1 led States Government had best be teuured. Si-viuid. the American Line and other linn under the Stars and Stripes have "l 'uliied no "timidity" where mere raises and not the lives of American c t zvtis entrusted to them were con- i iiied. The American Line dared the ' nnun threat by bringing the Phlla iMphla and Finland safely out of the t'lbinarlnc stone, and is sending out or las sent out two big freighters, the M.inchurinn and the Mongolia. The for mer finn feet long and of 13.G3S gross '"'t . in the London-New York service. It expected to sail this week ofllcered id manned by American citizens. The l.it.er, of the same bulk, laden with a huge cat go. Is seven days out from this port Later, a third vessel, the Minne sota, bigger than cither Manchuria or Mongolia, will load with foodstuffs and tal.H a chance without armament In breaking through the war zone. kee Out) for U. S. Government. Third, tho American Line has found It necessary to tie up five big steamships i' N'ew York harbor (the Finland will make the sixth when she arrives to-mor-ro ) not because they nre afraid to risk fargocs or ships, but because they be I't'e It the duty of the United States Government and not of a private cor poration to safeguard the lives of United Mates citizens. These steal vessels are Ttw Idle because they aro passenger car ricis, not because they lire freight car ters'. Mr. Franklin's representatives pointed out. The American Line simply could not take the responsibility of send ing out from 100 to 600 American citi zens on every vessel to possible death unless the United States Government of ficii some form of protection. ''mirth Unless the United States Gov rmient decides that American citizens fin lue the right to travel on Ameri ca ships wherever they please the American Line will dismantle. Its passen K." vessels Kroonl.ind and Finland, lond thein with cargoes and send thorn out to tWt destruction. In view of that de cision they ask if tho Imputation of timidity fairly belongs to them. American Crew ItUkeil Dentil. Fifth It was pointed out by American tteitiikhlp concerns ycsteiday that the hiental Navigation Company and Kerr S'umshlp Company's freight curriers, " well as severul ships scheduled to sail, did not lack pluck even though they for l""e to ask tho United States Govern " nt for protection. The officers and ie of tho Orleans, now safo at Bor ' iix. and the ofllcers and crew of the " licFtcr. still unheard from, risked d' "1 in the carrying out of their ordl ' affairs. The Vlgllancla, formerly "'e Ward Line, and tho Viiglnla, of Globe Line, lire scheduled to sail i "vuly for Havre and Genoa within 1 text few days laden with contra il' 'I nml they will have nothing but the miiiui'iiii Hag und their own pluck to notcct them. LORD NORTHCL1FFE UNDER GERMAN FIRE English Editor Remains in Bed During Destroyer Raid on East Coast. Special Cable, Despatch to Tuk Sex. IjONIhin. Feb. 26. The, German de stroyer raid on the unfortified towns of Mroadstalrs mid Margate, on the cast coast, was not lacking In grim humor. The estato of Lord Northcllffe, prnprlo ti.v of tile 7'iinr and the Dally Mall, was well vvWiln the tiro zone und the famous editor happened to be staying there. At about half past eleven more than a dozen star shells lit. up the locality, and then for six minutes shrapnel burst all over tho place, knocking his library wall about and kilting a woman and a baby only fifty yards away. The shells appeared to have been filed from about three miles out nt sea. Lord Northcllffe eald later that he wag not greatly disturbed by the bombard ment and that not until his secretary roused him did lie become .aware of the laid. Then he decided to remain In bed. "I nm used to being bombarded," ho said. "After all, this Is nothing to what happens all day to our soldiers and the civilian population in France and Bet Blum." This Is not the first time Lord North cllffe has been under fire literally In this war, while visiting most of the fronts, to say nothing of his activities as a target for all dilatory officialdom. It Is recalled also that the German press denounced htm a while ago In strident choius as the most hated Englishman; that Is, of course, the most hated by the Gerninns. BRITISH GAIN ON 11 MILE FRONT Occupy Fifth Village as Ocr inniisContimie Big Ancre Retirement. London, Feb. 2S. The Germans are still falling back on the Ancre. Their retreat has spread over a front of eleven miles and to a depth of two miles, at least, giving up to the British nearly twenty-five square tulles of intrenched and fortified ground. Upsides the villages already announced Waiicncourt-Eaucourt has been occu pied, the fifth fortress village to be yielded up without a struggle In the last two days. The British are at tho outskirts of Le Barque, only two miles from Bapaume, the goal of their Somme offensive.' It Is believed possible that the Germans may even relinquish Ba paume. Whether this big German retirement Is the beginning of bigger things, per haps the ictrcat to a line many miles back that the British and French hoped to force by tho Somme offensive, Is the great question now. Chr L'p Much Ground. In any case, the Germans have yielded up In their withdrawal at least half as much territory as the Allies were able to wrest from them by terrific exertion and at heavy cost in the fighting of last summer and autumn. Already tho German retirement is eas ily the most Important backward move ment on the western front elnce Joffre hurled back Von Kluck at the Marue two and a half years ago. The Germans have evacuated partly Wahka of British nressure. but partly of their own volition, positions on the Ancre that defied British assault ever since the first of July. Such strong points as Serre and Mlraumont have been given up in tni manner. Airplane, on Watch. With the clearing of the weather to day the British airplanes have gone out to "find Just how far the Germans arc to retreat and how closely It Is safe for the British to press them. Berlin still preserves absolute silence about the most important German move in tho west slnco the Verdun offensive. Not a word has appeared In the official statements thus far to indicate that any thing unwonted was happening on the Ancre. ' ....... The bulletin from Berlin to-night men tions the failure of a British attack east of Arras, undoubtedly a raid In force, and says lighting became more active toward evening near Sallly-Sallllsel, .on the Somme front, southeast of the pivot point of the German retirement. The German statement of tho day mentions more British advances, evidently under taken north of the Ancre front to as certain If the Germans there were about to withdraw. The Official neporta. The official statements report little of Importance elsewhere on the western front. They nro as follows: British The movements referred to In tho communications Saturday and Sunday were maintained during the day on both banks of the Ancre. Our advance extends over a front of about eleven miles, from east of Gueude court to south of Gommecourt, and has attained a depth of two miles. In addition to the village of Serre, reported yesterday, we now occupy the strong point known iih Butte de War loncourt and the villages of Warlen-court-Kaucourt, Pys and Mlraumont. We have reached the outskirts of Lo Barque, Irles und Pulsieiixau-Mont. A hostile attack made early this morning on ono of our posts bouHi of the Somme was driven Off with loss. Make llald Near Arras. We carried out n successful raid this morning north of Arnu and ruptured twenty-four prisoners. We also en tered tho enemy's trenchei during tho night west of Monchy-aitx-llols and west of Lens and brought back a few prisoners. The hostile artillery was more active than usual during the day south of the Somme and also south of Continued on Second Fag. FIVE BILLIONS BRITISH LOAN, New War Fund, Greatest in History, Exceeds Ex pectations. 8,000,000 SUBSCKIVTIOXS More Than 8,000,000 Tcrsons Gave Savings in Sums of 25 Cents to $3.00. Special Cable Despatch to Tub Srv. London. Feb. 2fi. The announcement 1 by Bonar Law, Chancellor of the Ex- ' chequer, to-day that the new war loan i Is $G,000,000,000 comes us a big and a welcome surprise to Great Britain. The additional announcement that eight mil lions of British subjects subscribed, some of them only a few shillings, shows the nation's purpose to win the war at any sacrifice. Tho most optimistic official forecasts ' had not even hinted that the amount of the loan would be more than J 1,000,000, 000. Bonar Law had caiefully con coaled his expectations, so the announce- , ment of the llgurcs In the House of Com mons came as a dramatic and trlum- I pliant climax and caused great cnthu- ' slasni. Greatest Loan In History, This result of Great Britnln's third war loan, so often called Lloyd George's victory loan. Is by far the greatest voltin- ' tary contribution to the nation's defence by the people of any nation ever at war. That It Is truly the contribution of the tiriusn people IS Known uy uir tremen dous number of subscribers and by the fact that the floating of the loan at 5 per cent, rather thnn at 6 per cent, was undertaken against the advice of many bankers. By his diplomatic manner of handling the war loan campaign Ppriar Law forced Germany Into admitting Khg land's huge financial triumph, while keeping his own people from expecting too much. After he had first announced some days ago tliat the total probably would lie $3,500,000,000, the German pa pers all declared It would be a failure unless It reached $1,000,000,000. The loan has resulted in a striking vic tory for the Government over tho profes sional financiers. When banking experts advised the Treasury Department that It could not be floated at less than fi per cent. Mr. Law declared that he preferred to risk failure in an attempt at a o per of tho lifeboats when the big steamship tack: and that he be and Is hereby 1111 cent. loan rather than to place 6 per was fUn ,mw.iirnf(j .flt ght by a Ger- ' thorlzcd and empowered to employ sueh J cent, as the standard of the nation's ,.,.,,.,- ,h ,rUh ., other instrumentalities and methods as , credit. The Chancellor's highest expec-, lnan submarine off the Irish coast. mav n hs Ju,,Kment an(, ...retion seem tatlons had been for $3,000.on0,000 or It Is stated that the "Mrs. Foy" and j ngry iin,i miequate to protect such new money. daughter referied to are Mrs. .Mary K. ships and the citizens of the United. Treasury IHIU .w Monr.t. Tho total of new money Includes the . 1 nA..i.. nnft nnn simrt term Treasury bills, and there is a dlf- ferencc of opinion whether they snoutu be regarded as "new mXi','lr?mdfl th clcrs taking the negatlvo ground that n....nl mrtnv- WHICH II1P LiOVem- ment already has spent The Chancellor of the Kxchequer gave the following analysis of tho new load!' The new money subscribed to the war loan Is $5,000,000,000. The number of subscribers is fi.289,000. It subscribers of twenty-five cents und upward but of less than $3.90 In war savings cer tificates should be added the total num ber of subscribers would exceed 8,000,000. The total new money. $3,000,000,000, Includes $630,000,000, subscribed In the form of Treasury bills. There were no special subscriptions from banks. whereas In the war loan or isu iw v,.Mni .nharrlntlons from banks came , I to $1,000,000,000, out of the total of $3,- When the Laconla sailed from New 090,000,000 .then subscribed. The pub-' Yuri; February 10 for Liverpool she had llo subscriptions In 1913 were thereforo I aboard 291 passengers and crew. Of $2,080,000,000 from about 1,100,000 sub- these 33 were saloon passengers, 2 sec scrlbers, ns compared with public sub- ond cabin and 216 of the crew, Including scrlptlons of $.1,000,000,000 from, at the 1 twenty Americans. Besides tho Hoys lowest, G. 289, 000 subscribers. there wcro several other women. Another complication for tho United AnalyaU of Rrnnnn Loan. ; States may arise from the fact that tho The largest German war loan was Laconla had almnrd a large amount of the third which at the rate of 20 'flal mall which she had taken after marks to the pound amounted to 13.- American liner .St. Louis cancelled 010.000.000. but as the soveiclgn even ' Her sailing for fear of l-ta i, The at that time was worth 2t marks a State Department, having had Its mall truer basis of comparison would be to I held on the St. Louis for three weeks, take that total as $2,540,000,000. The I tinnsfcrred It to tho Laconla, The Ccn total raised by the live German war Ural News savs this mall Is thought to loans Is 47,000,000,0(rO marks, which on j have been lost In all some 5,000 bags the conversion' basis of 20 marks to of mall were on the ship, the pound Is $11,750,000,000, but nt 2S ' It Is stated authentically that there marks to the pound, which Is the prevent ! can be no doubt that tho Laconla wns inliio of the mark, is only J8.39U.iMUi.oiui The total raised In Great Britain by means of war loans slnco the war began, exclusive of all short term borrowing, Is $10,010,000,000. If Kxchequer bonds, of which the average currency Is about three and a half years, are Included this total becomes $11,659,000,000. The population of Germany Is 65,000,000, the population of the United Kingdom Is 15,- I 000.000. Tho total number of subscribers rrom 25 cents upward to tho last German war loan was 3,810,000. The total num ber of subsurlbers, from 25 cents up ward to tho new British war loan Is over 8.000,000. No figures are available ns to the conversion of the 4'i per cent, war loan Into the new war loan. Tho amount of tho G and 6 per cent. Kxchequer bonds converted Is not completely known, but It Is at least $1,170,000,000 out of a total outstanding of $2,545,000,000. The total bonds converted, namely, $1,170, 000,000 5 per cent", are of course In addition to tho figure of $5,000,000,000 of new money, GERARD AT SPANISH PORT. Itearhea Corannn, Where float for II. S. Will He noariled. Mapiiid, Feb, 26. lames W. Gerald, former Ambassador to Germany, and party have urrlvcd nt Curunna, accord ing to a message received here from the Governor of Corunnn to. night. The Atribassndor left Madrid yester day afternoon nnd will taka tenmer from Oirunna for the United States,, CHICAGO WOMEN ARE DROWNED Mrs. Hoy and Daughter Lose Lives "When Life Boat Swamps. XAMK ItKL'OKTEl) AS '"FOY" Torpedoed Cunnrder Had 201 Souls Aboard and Much Official U. S. Mail. Losses of Shipping Since February 1 Losses of shipping of the Al lies and of neutrals since Febru aty i, when the German unre stricted submarine warfare com menced, are as follows: Ships reported sunk yes terday 6 Total tonnage reported sunk yesterday 24.533 Total known tonnage pre viously sunk 35J,35i Excess of total loss to February 19 announced by Sir Edward Carson over total loss to that date,, according to re ports available in the United States 70,304 Total loss to .date indi cated 447.177 Ships sunk since February 1: American 3 Other neutrals 49 British ; 107 Other belligerents 18 Total ships sunk 176 Excess of total loss to Feb ruary 1 g announced by Sir Edward Carson over total loss to that date according to reports available in the United States ao Total loss to date indicated. .196 Io.vdo.v, Feb. 26. A Central News despatch from Queenstown says that ".Mrs. Foy" und her daughter, pas sengers aboard theCunard liner Iironla, were drowned by the swamping of one Hoy and Miss Kllzabeth Hov of Chi- cago. They were first cabin passengers aboard the Laconla. There were six Americans among the Laconla's passen- j Rers " haH Wv" 'llllely ascertained that -'-,, v.. ,i- i vn kuv iwiwmi. I according to the Daily Chronicle's ! Queenstown correspondent , urapaicn Hiueo mat .n. survivors I ." """.'u ",'-''lu c"1 01 ,n0 iconin s lifeboats. Some survivors were landed near Bantry head, and their names are not known. According to survivors the Laconla was torpedoed twice, first near the stem nnd later on the starboard Ride. The sea was calm and the passengers and crew got olT In lifeboats without much trouble. Had -ftl SoiiIk tlionrd. 1 tnrneiioeu witnuui warning. wunui Frost's message to the Amerlcnn Km- bassy follows : Cunarder Laconla torpedoed 10:50 Sunday night. Two hundred nnd seventy-eight survivors landed. Details lacking, but known some missing ; one dead. An afternoon despatch from Queens town said that fifteen survivors of the Laconla were being landed. AGENTS HERE STARTLED. Confident l.nconla Wonld Pas Zone mi American on Board. The local office of the Cunard Line was startled by the confirmation of the pi ess despatches telling of the sinking of the Laconla. The company had unlimited confl dince In Capt. W. It. P. Irvine, an ofll cer of tho Hnyal Naval lleserve, and also put f.illh In tbe ability of the Royal Naval Heecrvo gunner In charge of the 4,7 Inch rapid tiler mounted aft to hit any undersell boat within range. But the attack wan made at night, when the Laconla, with all lights out or veiled, was' to the commander of the submarine 11 mere silhouette rushing through tho sea, Under such circumstances, It was said by nn official of the Cunard Line, It was Impossible for the Laconla's gunner to ullllio his talent. A night nttack Implied an titter absence of warning, and It was suspected that the torpedo did not strike Continued on Third Page, HOUSE DEMURS TO THE REQUEST Canvass Shows Unwilling ness to Grant Wilson the Power He Asks. FLOOD OFFERS MEASURE It Follows White House Su ir. I gestions. but Will Prob ably Be Changed. Washington, Feb. 26. After a day of conferences had developed the utter Im possibility of reconciling the various factions In the House to the demand of President Wilson for practically unlim ited authority to use the armed forces of ' the United States In support of Amerl can rights. Chairman Flood of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Introduced a bill to-night embodying almost verbatim the suggestions of the Wlilte House as set forth in a measure previously drawn ' and presented to Mr. Flood and Senator Stone, chairman of the Foreign Hcla tlons Committee. A careful canvass of the House falls to disclose more than the faintest possl- ! blllty that this bill will be enacted as , Introduced. It probably will be changed by the Foreign Affairs Committee to morrow to limit the authority speciil- cally to the arming of merchantmen and I the further use of the naval forces of ' the United States for the protection of Amerlcnn lives and shipping. There Is every reason to believe that necessary concessions will lie made to prevent an extra session of Congress, ' provided Republicans can be Induced to I accept such concessions and forego an . extra session. Tet of the BIIL 1 The Flood bill in full follow : "Bo It enacted by the Senate and 1 House of Representatives of the United I States of America In Conuress assem bled that the President of the United States lie and hereby. Is authorized and I empowered to supply .merchant ships. I the pioperty of citizens of the United States and bearing American registry, ! with defensive arms should it in his 1 Judgment become necessary for him to I do so. and also with the necessary am nlinltlftii :in1 inoiitl. nf m:ikllli; 110 of lcm iu (lefencP against unlawful at- 1 I States In their lawful ana peaceiui pur- M1 ? u. ....... e t.nnnnnnn.1 r'l.lJlliJ. id,- rutu ... , ' is hereby appropriated out of any moneys . i-i the Treasury not otherwise appropri-' nted to be expended by the President of 1 the United States for the purpose herein stated, the said sum to be ' aviillabb- until the first day of Jan-' nary, 191S, and tne rresiucni i authorized to traiwfcr so much thereof as ho may deem necessary to the Bureau of War ltlk Insurance, cieated by act of Congress, approved September 2, 1914, for the purpose of insuring vessel", their freight, passage tnonct and cargoes against loss or damage by the piesent 1 risks of war t "Section 3 For the purpoe of meet- 1 Ing the expenditures herein authorized the Secretary of the Treasury, under the 1 direction of tin- Piesiilent. li hereby au thorized to borrow on the credit of the 1 United Siater and to isvue tlieiefor bond i f the United States not exceeding ill the j ngregate $liUi,it00.i'OO, said bonds to be In ! such form and subject to such tenns and conditions as the Swrctai of the Treas ury may prescribe, and to bear Interest at the rate not exceeding 3 per cent, per annum : Bonds i:rmpl Krnin Taxation. I 1 "Provided, th.it such bonds shall bo sold at not Iei than pur. shall not carry the circulating ptlvllegc. and that all citizens or the United States shall bo given an equal opirtiinity to subscribe therefor, but no commission shall be al lowed or paid thereon : that both princi pal nnd Interest shall be payable lu United States gold coin nf the present standard of value nnd be exempt from all taxation and duties of the United States ns well as from taxation in any fnim of nil State, municipal or local authorities: that any bonds Issued heieunder may under such conditions a the Scietaiv of the Treusurv 11115 piesciibc be con vertible Into bonds bearing a higher late of Inter-rat than 3 per cent per annum If any bonds shall be liued by the United States at n higher rate than 3 per cent, per annum by virtue of any act passed 011 or before December 31, 1918. "Section 4 In order to pay the ueces. sary expenses connected with the said Issue of bondM or any conversion thereof 11 sum not exceeding one. fifth of 1 per cent, of the amount of bonds herein au thorized to he Issued, or which may be converted. Is hereby appropriated out of any money In the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to be expended ns the Sec retary of the Treasury may direct." Snmmary of the Mltantlon. Following conferences participated in by Speaker Clark, Majority Leader Kltchln, '.'hnlrman Fitzgerald of tho Ap propriation Committee, Chairman Flood of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Hep lesentatlvo Harrison of the Foreign Affairs and Utiles committees, and Uep lesentatlvo Lenroot, who Is recognized ,is tho lender of the strongest Itepub llcan faction In the House, tho situation In tho House was summarized as fol lows by 0110 of tho conferees : 1, President Wilson has asked the House for practically unlimited power to uso the armed forces of the United States, In his nddicss this request took tho following form: "v.nd to employ any other Instru mentalities or methods that may bo necessary nnd ndeiiunte to protect our Continued an Fourth Page, Text of President's Address. PRESIDENT WILSON in an address before Congress yesterday requested authority to arm American merchant ships and em ploy any other instrumentalities or methods that may be necessary to protect American lives and property on the seas, together with adequate credit to carry out the policy of armed neutrality. The President's message follows: Gentlemen op tuk CoNanEss 1 have again asked the prlvllego of ad dressing you because we are moving through critical times during which It seems to me to bo my duty to keep ' In close touch with the houses of Con- gress, so that neither counsel nor 1 action shall run at cross purposes between us. On the 3d of February I officially la- formed you of the sudden and unex pected action of the Imperial German Government In declaring Its Intention to disregurd the promises it had made to this Government In April last and undertake Immediate submarine opera tions agaliwt all commerce, whether J of belligerents or of neutrals, that should seek to approach Great Britain and Ireland, the Atlantic coiUts of Kurope or the harbors of the eastern Mediterranean, and to conduct those operations without regard to the estab lished restriction! of international practice, without regard to any consid erations of humanity, even, which might interfere with their object. That policy was forthwith put Into practice. It has now been In active execution for nearly four weeks. 1 Its practical results are not yet fully j know how to maintain and for which disclosed. The commerce of other there s abundant American precedent, neutral nations 1 suffering severely, It Is devoutly to bo hoped that It but not, perhaps, very much more will not be necessary to put armed severely than It was already suffering force tinywhere Into action. TheAtner before the 1st of Februnry, when the lean people do not desire It and our new policy of the Imperial Govern- desire Is not different from theirs. I ment was put Into operation. We am sure that they will understand have asked the cooperation of the other I tbe spirit In which I am now acting, neutral Governments to prevent these depredations, but so far none of them 1 has thought It wise to Join us In any ' common course of action. Our own ' commerce has suffered, Is suffering, rather In apprehension than In fact, rather because so many of our ships 1 nre timidly keeping to their home ports than because American ships 1 nave been sunk. , Ilrvertea Great Condemnation, Two American vessels have been sunk. the Housatonlc and the Lyman M. Law. The case of the Housatonlc. which wa carrying foodstuffs con- signed to a Londo,, flr,n. wn -Trmny like the case of the Frve. In which. It will be recalled, the German mi ' Government admitted Its liability for damages, and the Hvch of the crew, as In the case of the Frye, were safe- 1 guarded with reasonable care. The case of the Law, which was carrying lemon box staves to Palermo, disclosed , a ruthleswness of method which de- , serves grave condemnation, but was j accompanied by no circumstances 1 which might not have been expected 1 at any time in connection with the use of the submarlno against mer chantmen as the German Government . has used It. I In sum. therefor,, tin sttti.itlnn w find ourselvcw In with recent to tho actual conduct of the German subma- action may become necessary cannot rlne warfare against commerce and its ' J'ot 1,0 foreseen. 1 believe that the effects upon our own ships and people I People will be willing to trust me to i" substantially the same that It was I lct ,vl"' restraint, with prudence, and when I addressed you on the 3d of ' "10 true spirit of amity and good February, except for the tvlng up of . fl,llh that they have themselves dis our shipping In our own ports because idayed throughout these trying of the unwllllngnesH of our shipowners months; and It Is In that belief that 1 to risk their vessels at sea without request tli.it you will authorize mo to Insurance or adequate protection, and 1 M'PPly our merchant ships with de the very serious congestion of our 1 Tensive arms, should that become commerce which has riili.ri u n,n. necessar , nnd with the means of gestlon which l growing rapidly more and morn serious every day. This in Itself might presently accomplish, iu effect, what the new German subma rine orders were meant to accomplish, so far as ue are concerned, We can only say, therefore, that the overt act which 1 have ventured to hope the German comniandciw would in fact avoid has not occurred, Imprudent lo He I iiprrpHrrd. But while this is happily true. It must be admitted that there have been certain additional indications and ex pressions of purpose on the part of German pi ess nnd the German au thorities which have increased rather than lessened the Impression that If I our slilps und our people are spaied It will be because of fnttunate clr- I ciinistunces or because the commanders I of the German submarines' which they may happen to encounter exeiclse an I unexpected discretion and restraint rather than because of the Instructions , under which those commanders are ' acting. It would be foolish to deny I that the situation Is fraught with the ' gravest possibilities and dangers. No ' thoughtful man can fall to sec that 1 me urcesii ior uenniie action may come at any time If we are In fact anu not in word merely to defend our eiemeniary iigms as a neutral nation. It would bo mimt lmpriiiV;iit to be un prepared, 1 cannot in such circumstances be unmindful of tho fact that the e pirallon of the term of the present Congress Is Immediately nt hand by constitutional limitation, and that it would in all likelihood ri quire an 1111 usual length of time to assemble and organize xne uongress which Is to sue. ceed It. I feel that 1 ought, In view of the fact, to obtain from vou full and Immediate assurance (,f the au thority which 1 may need nt nn mo ment to exeic sc. No doubt 1 already 3 FAITHS TO GUARD ESTATE. Protestant Pastor, embolic I'rlest and Jetrlah llnhbi to Act, Iloi.i.iDATsnt'Rii, Pa Feb ii5 Th .r, , . will of nandolph Mc.Mullen, a wealthy fanner of Tyrone township, probated j here to-day, directs that his estate be divided under the supervision of three j trustees to be appointed bv the court, consisting of a Protestant clergyman, a Catholic priest and a Jewish rabbi, The icason expressed In the will for this te quest Is that ench trustee will watch the other and that every cent g.lvcu 10 chatltj will be tightly applied, The estate, estimated to be woith $100,000, will be divided among the poor of Blair, Huntingdon and Cam. Inia counties. TIIF. linKr.NnRlr.K-While Kulphtir Hprlni. Went H, Ideal time for tha cur, Only nn nlsbt from Nsw York.. -Aio. possess that authority without special warrant of law by the plain Implica tion of my constitutional duties and powers, but I prefer In tho present clrcumntanccs not to net upon general Implication, I wish to feel that the authority nnd the power of tho Con- gress nre behind me In whatever It may become necessary for me to do. u' ,aro Jointly the servants of the people and must act together and In their spirit, so far as we can divine and Interpret It. Armed Neutrality .errMir. No one doubts what It Is our dut.v to do. We must defend our commerce and the lives of our people In the midst of the present trying circum stances with discretion but with clear and steadfast purpose. Only the method and the extent remain to be chosen upon tho occasion, If occasion should Indeed arise, Slnco It has un happily proved Impossible to safeguard our neutral right by diplomatic means against the unwarranted Infringements they are suffering nt the hands of Ger many, there may be no recourse but u iirnieu ncuiraiuy, which we snail the purpose I hold nearest my heait and would wish to exhibit ill every thing I do. I am anxious that the people of thf nations at war also should understand and not mistrust tis. I hope that I need give no fur ther proofs and assurances than I have already given throughout nearly three cars of anxious patience that I 1 am the friend of peace nnd mean to preserve it for America fo long as I "am able. , 1 ,,ot now ,r0",,!l"sl; con: , f '7 """S wilr "!, ' l,, Tl I to 1 mfrel re(lUC8t that you vl ?.cco;d ,mo l,,y our own vot ""d t,efl.nl, bestowal the means and the uV,orl7 lo ""wartl in practice the - .,-,r. . - peace and who are desirous of exer- elslng none but the rights of peace to follow the pursuits of peace In quiet ness and good will rights recognized time out of mind by all tho civilized nations nf tho world. No course of my choosing or of theirs will lead to war. War can come only by the wilful acts and aggressions of others. Kciiiett Intlmrlty to Ann. You will understand why I ian make no definite proposals or fore casts of action now and must ask for your supporting authority In the nio't ' general terms. The form in which using iiiem, aim 10 employ any oiner instrumentalities or methods that may be necessary and adequate to protect our ships and our people In their legitimate and peaceful pursuits on the sea", I icquest also that you will grant me nt the same time, along with the powers I nsk, a sufficient credit to enable me to provide ade quate means of protection where they aro lacking, including adequate In surance against the present war risks. I have spoken of our commerce anil of the legitimate errands of our peo ple on the seas, but you will not tie misled as to my main thought, the thought that lies beneath these phrases and gives them dignity and weight. It Is not of material Interests metelv that we are thinking. It Is rather of fundamental human right", chief of nil the right of life Itself. 1 am think ing not only of the rights of Ameri cans to go and come about their proper business by way of the sea, I mi also of something much deeper, much more fundamental than that. I am thinking of those rights of hu manity without which there is no civilization. My theme Is of great principle, of compassion anil or protection which mankind has sought to throw about human live; tile lives of non-com- Infants, the lives of men who nic peacefully nt work keeping the in ilustrial processes of the world quick and vital, the lives of women ami liilldren nnd of those who siipplv the labor which ministers to their suste nance. We nic speaking of no selfish material rights, but of rights winch our heaits support and whose founda tion Is that righteous passion for Jus. 1 tlee imon which all law. nil structures alike of f.im lv. of state and of man kind must test, as upon the ultimate base of our existence nnd our liberty. 1 cannot imagine any man with Amei. lean principles ,a his heart hesitating to defend these tilings. 1 PENNSYLVANIA FAST TRAIN TELESCOPED 7-.., cj 1 .1 Sleeping Cars Wrecked , by Freight Near Altoona Fear Many Killed. Pllll.ADKl.lillA. Fob. Two sleep ing cars of the .Mercantile Kxprcs.s were telescoped by a freight train on the Peiinsjlvanla Uallinad at Mount Union station, near Altoona, early to-day, ac cording to Informall in received at the gineral offices of the company In this 1 it Itullrnad officials expressed fe.u- thai .1 number of passenge-j had been killed. Tie two sleeping cars wcio so tightly Jammed together tint little he.idwa.v had been made In extricating the occu pants half an hour after the accident. Unless Democrats Modify President's Plans Special Session Seems Certain. PACIFISTS HEJ01CK OVER THE SITUATION Republicans Disposed to In sist on Use of Naval Forces. NAVY 31 EX OPPOSED TO ANY CONVOYING (ici'iimny Expected to Re gard Executive's Request as "War Step. Washington, Feb. 26. Proclaiming himself still tho friend of peace and humanity nnd disavowing nny Inten tion of precipitating war with Ger many President Wilson took hla lonf awaited next step to meet the German submarlno menace to-day by going to Congress and requesting that he iccclve mentis and authority to protect the rlghta of American on the high seas. While carefully refraining from ad mitting that the necessity had yet arisen, or that Germany hud yet com mitted nn overt act, the President nev ertheless asked that lie bo clothed with the power to meet the necessity should It nrlse. He nsked that specific authority b given to him to supply Amerlcnn mer chantmen with "guns and the meant of uslnEUiera.'.' which Is equivalent to putting navy guns and trained navy gunners aboard these ships. He asked authority to employ "any other Instrumentalities or methods" which he might deem necessary to safeguard American ships and Ameri can lives. He asked Congress to place In hie hands n sufficient credit to Insure this protection. He characterized his present plan as "armed neutrality." llo expressed the hope that It would ' not be necessary to put armed forces , anywhere Into action. 1 He declared that war can only come by the wilful acta and aggressions of Cierrnany. ! Ilramntlc Touch I.aeklna;. I Tho President's appearance before Congress lacked the dramatic touch and his remarks tho Intensity of his former ' appearance when he severed diplomatic relations with Germany. Disappoint ment was evidenced by many. It was : evident too that by his delay the Presl j dent had allowed a situation to arise In I Congress which Is now likely to cause I him much embarrassment. Congress took Ills remarks Iu a very businesslike way, without any show of I ei.thuslasm or patriotic fervor. The pae- lilsts were Jubilant, believing tho Presi dent had laid himself open to attack, anil I that they had at least forced him to seek l b.v Indirection that winch he did not feel strong enough to ask openly They , believe that Congress s to curtail him I gieatly in the exercise of his powers and , that in this sense they have been vic ! ti rlous. , Advocates of strong, decisive action did not conceal their disappointment at , tho failure of the President to go much 1 further and to ask speiillenllv for the 1 right to employ the naval forces- to pro , tcct the American slilps. Tho Demo crats were exceedingly icstralned in ; ti.iir expressions of approval As a icsult of the Informal discussion of the President's proposals predictions iweic definitely made to-night that while I authority would be given to the Presi dent lo arm the ships the general au thority which he asked for would not bo ai'eonle.l him. If the Democrats refuse, to consent to a 1110d1tle.it, on of the President's plan tho ItepublUans will do everything In their power to force an extra session They take the position that the Piesident has virtually appealed I for auio.'ratie power und that they j would be Justified in refusing their sup 1 port. It ( II i I In llnth llotmrs. The P'-eslilent's icquest for blanke' poweis to meet any situation that mlgll' arise met with openly cxpiesscd hostil it In both houses of Ccmgiess Amoivj , 'In' ItepulilKans distrust nf Ins foreign policy appeared to lie accentuated b j hi- addicss Kven among Democrats In the House there was an avowed oppo sition to the piopo-.il 10 clothe tho K , eeiitive with power- which would en , able him to wage war without the ex. pies consent of I'ongres- , With llepubllcaii leaders or the Hen , ale, wiicm d -trust of the President's J ! conduct of foiclgn affairs Is niosi ap j parent, his nilihcss found 1 1 1 tic favor lucre was ,1 iiispo-uion none the less in withhold criticism until the nicasuie formulating his icquest had been pre sented. Immedl.it ly after the Piesident left the Capitol le.uleis on both side met In haty coiifcicnco to map out a eourso f actio,,, a meting of u'e senate For- I elgn llelatlnns Committee was held at fi o cluck soun niter an adjournment war 1 taken until 10 o'clock to-morrow morn ing without action. At 11 meeting held during the after noon Hepubllcan membets of the For. elgn Itelatlous Committee dlscus-ed the advisability of drafting a substitute es. olutlon giving the President specific in stead of general powers and directing ' him to use tho naval forces to protect American slilps. The latter proposition al-u found favor among the Republicans of the House. Opposition In (iio. Secretary Daniels announced this evening that the naval cxpetts did not look with favor on nnj plan to eniploj convojs. The sentiment In the service