PRESIDENT WILSON ASKS FOR POWER TO ACT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3015, 28 February 1917, Page 5

PRESIDENT WILSON ASKS FOR POWER TO ACT

IN DEFENCE OF LIVES AND COMMERCE STATEMENT IN CONGRESS Washington, I'ebruary 26. President Wilson attended Congress and asked for general authority to act iu. defence of American lives and commerce. Ho recited the circumstances of the sinking of the Housatonio and tlis Lyman M. Law as evidence of Germany's determination to disregard the rules of humanity and international law. Ho pointed out how American commerce had suffered. "Our coninierco is suffering rather in apprehension than in fact; rather because so many of our ships are timidly Itecpmg to their homo ports than because American ships have been sunk." Tho situation at present was substantially tho same as when bo addressed Congress last, except with regard to Ibis lying up of American commevco. No overt act, however, had occurred, but expressions of purpose on the Germiaus' part have given ground for the impression that if an overt act had been avoided ib Was because the German submarine commanders

acted with unexpected discretion and restraint.. The. situation was fraught with the gravest dangers and possibilities, and the necessity for definite action might come- at any time. Therefore, as Congress was about to expire, President 'Wilson asked for full authority and power from Congress to deal with the situation in whatever way necessary with the purpose of defending the lives and commerce of American people. "If it should bo impossible to safeguard American rights by diplomatic means against unwarranted infringements, there may be no recourse but to armed neutrality, for which there is abundant American precedent. It is devoutly to ho hoped that it will not ho necessary to put our armed forces anywhere into action. The American people do not desire it, and my desire is not different from theirs. 1 am sure they will understand the spirit in which 1 am acting, the purpose 1 hold nest my heart and would wish to exhibit in everything 1. do. 1 am anxious that the peoples of the nations at war should not mistrust us. T. hope that I need give no further proofs and assurances than T have already given throughout nearly throe years of anxious patienco, that I am tho friend of peace, and mean to preserve it for America as long as T. am able. I am not now proposing or contemplating war or any stops that may lead to it. War can only tome by tho wilful acts and aggression of others." President "Wilson explained that ho wanted the general authority of Congress, believing that 'the people wore willing to trust him to act prudently and in tho true spirit of amity. He also asked for authority in particular to supply American ships with defensive armament, and for credit to provide insuranco as against the present war risks. The President concluded by emphasising the necessity for keeping the fundamental human rights before all minds in America., speaking of no selfish material rights, but of "those rights whoso foundation is that of righteous passion for justice, upon which all law, all structures of family, of State, and of mankind must rest. No man with American principles at heart can hesitate to defend these things."—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. (Ecc. February 27, 8.5 p.m.) Washington, February 2fi. 11. is proposed lo arrange for a special war bond issue of £20,000,000. A BILL IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (Rec. February 28, 0.10 a.m.) Washington, February 27. Mr. H. D. Flood has introduced a Bill in tho House of Representatives empowering the arming of merchantmen, authorising the President to take other steps to protect American citizens, and appropriating one hundred million dollars for tho purpose. The newspapers almost unanimously support the granting of the powers asW for by tho President.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. V ORGANISING PORT DEFENCE FLOTILLA. (Rcc' Fobruary 28, 0.10 a.m.) New York, February 27. The Secretary for the Navy (Mr. Daniels) is organising a volunteer reserve auxiliary fleet of 750 ships, and also small craft, and a corps of ten thousand men for a flotiria to defend the ports.—Aus.-N.Z., Cable Assn. TREMENDOUS INTEREST IN THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH FINAL STEP SHORT OF WAR. Washington, February 26. Tremendous interest was manifested here and at New York in President Wilson's address, which is interpreted to mean that the President has served notice to Congress that he intends to tako power' whether it is granted or not. Despite the studied repression of'the tone of tho President's speech, it is regarded as the final step short of war. The general opinion is that Congress will grant the powers he asks. It is serai-ofGcially believed that tho. liners will probably be armed next week.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE SUPER-FRIGHTFUL WAR CUNARD LINER SUNK WITH AMERICANS ON BOARD. New York, February 26. 'ITie Cunard liner Laconia, 18,099 tons, was torpedoed while en route from New York to England. Six Americans were on hoard. Two hundred and seventy of lier were rescued. The vessel was not warned before being attacked. (Rec. February 27, 10.50 p.m.) London, February 27. The Cunard Company states that 295 persons were on board the Laconia. Practically all were saved, including 220 of the crew and 70 passengers, of whom half were first-class passengers. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. TWO AMERICAN LIVES LOST. (Rec. February 27, 8.5 p.m.) Now York, February 26. The "New York Times" Queenstown correspondent states that _ two Americans, Mrs. and Miss Hoy, of Chicago, perished in the Laconia.—Aus.N.Z. Cablo Assn. , FATE OF AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND MAILS. (Rec. February 28, 0.10 a.m.) New York, February 27. The Laconia carried' Australian and New Zealand mails, whioh, it is feared, have been lost. —Aus.-N.Z. Cabl® Assn. London, lebruary 26. The British steamer Falcon, of Cardiff, 224'4 tons, was torpedoed and sunk. The British steamer Dorothy (3706 tons) has been sunk. The Dutch steamers Zaudjik and Eemland were towed to port.—The "Times." \ > PIRATES' REPLY TO THE BRAZILIAN DECLARATION Rio de Janeiro, February 26. Germany has replied to Brazil's declaration refusing to recognise the sub- ■ marine blockade,_ that the blockade will not be abandoned, and suggesting diplomatic negotiations in case of the loss of Brazilian ships.—Renter. i GERMANY COURTS CHINA'S FAVOUR, Peking, February 26. . The Chinese Minister at Berlin has informed his Government that, Germany has stated that she could not alter the submarine campaign, but would respect Chinese lives and property, and promised to do her utmost to secure China's participation in fie Peace Conference if relations with Germauy were maintained.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. HERR EALLIN ON THE RESULTS. I _ Amsterdam, February 26. Herr Ballin (head of the_Hamburg-Amerika Line), in an interview, declared that the German Admiralty should be_ satisfied with the results of unrestricted submarining, the chief aim of which was to interrupt England's traffic, and not sink ships. This had completely succeeded. Neutral shipping had been brought to a standstill.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. COUNTING THEIR CHICKENS! (Rec. February 27, 10.50 p.m.) Copenhagen, February 27. Several large Danish firms have been surprised to receivo letters from the German shipping companies announcing that they were making preparations ' to take cargoes for America, and requesting orders. The Danes a6ked for explanations, and the Germans replied that they expected an early termination of the war as the result of the submarine campaign, and werq accordingly preparing a large fleet for the Atlantic trade.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. DESTROYER RAID ON KENTISH COAST A TEN-MINUTE CUT-AND-RUN AFFAIR. London, February 26. The Press Bureau slates: The enemy destroyers approached tho Kentish coast at 12.15 last, night and fired shells at the unfortified townß of Broad-, stairs and Margate. The firing lastect ten minutes. The material damage done was slight, two houses, ono unoccupied, being attacked, and ten others damaged. A woman and a. child were killed, and two children seriously injured. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. STATEMENT BY THE FIRST LORD.. (Rec. February 27, 5.15 p.m.) London, February 26; In the House of Commons, Sir Edward Carson (First Lord of the Admiralty) stated: "Our destroyer patrol encountered various enemy destroyers between 11 ar.d midnight, and were engaged for some time under heavy gun and torpedo fire without receiving damage. The effect upon the enemy was not ascertainable in the growing darkness. Another force of the enemy's destroyers bombarded Margate and Breadstairs, and- our forces in tho vicinity, as soon as the firing was heard, closed in upon the enemy, who, however, escaped before ours arrived." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.