The day book. [volume], March 20, 1917, LAST EDITION, Image 4

About The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917

Image provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL

                
U. S. SEEKS ALLIANCE TO GUARD SEA LANES
PRESIDENT TO STATE STAND AT ONCE
Washington, March 20. Pres
Wilson is expected to outline real
status of relations between United
States and Germany within 24 hours
as his next immediate step in pre
paring people and country for possi
ble even probable hostilities.
A state of war now exists between
United States and imperial German
government, it is taken for granted.
There are few who believe president
will fail to acknowledge this in his
first utterance.
Complete proof of Germany's bold
affronts on high seas is now before
this government an imposing ar
ray of war acts against the United
States. Toll in two weeks amounts
to four American ships and more
than score of American lives sacri
ficed through utter disregard of the
rights of this country.
From "all over country telegrams
today continued to pour into White
House demanding war. Pacifists, for
first time since break in diplomatic
relations, are conspicuously silent
or are admitting that end of patience
has been reached.
Washington, March 20. United
States, Great Britain and France will
join in guarding trans-Atlantic ship
lanes against German U-boats, if
present government plans material
ize. Administration expected to begin
today the work of informally negoti
ating with these nations.
Withits proposed big fleet of pa
trol and chaser boats, plus larger
navy vessels, the United States will
be in a position to offer protection to
commerce off American coast, while
Great Britain and France will be ex
pected to reciprocate in barred zone.
Navy men believe that submarine
menace may be - brought directly
home; that feats such as the U-53
performed off Nantucket last sum
her will be repeated. The navy bears
brunt of work, but under surface the
army has shaped plans whereby it
can again call out national guard and
also provide sufficient officers for
training of half a million men.
New York navy yard began work,
today on 40 submarine chasers, hast
ily ordered, while tomorrow bids will
be opened for 200 or more 110-foot
speed boats, available for coast pa
trols and submarine chasers.
Nothing will be permitted to stand
in the way of hastening navy pre
paredness. The 8-hpur law has been
cast aside, and if commandeering is
needed it will be undertaken.
Mobilization of Atlantic fleet and
of the .naval militia has been con
sidered for two weeks or more, and
it may be necessary to accomplish
this before long.
two escaped'german SAILORS
BELIEVED DROWNED
Washington, March 20. Only two
men are missing from the interned
German ships at Philadelphia, ac
cording to the third of a series of
messages to the navy dep't today.
These men are Lieut Corth and Ma
chinist's Mate David Schroeder, who
are believed to have been drowned.
The other men, caught in the waters,
were neafly frozen to death.
That the Germans' captain con
nived in the escape was the view of
some officials, especially since the
men were well supplied with funds.
The four men who were recap
tured were found to have more than
$1,000 in bills and lists of German
residents and German sympathizers
in Philadelphia and vicinity. These
lists were confiscated.
o o :
Boston. Legislature passes emer
gency appropriation of $1,000,000 for
defense of state in event of war.
Signed at once by Gov. McCall.
New York. Through the National
Safety council, 2,800 firms have
pledged support to the president.