Show I to Appeal Appeal to Congress Congress' Wll M A E ANDi AND ANDr i SINKING INKING OF U i V VESSE l r LINKED TUMAN TO MEAN fIGHT 1 I BULLETIN PHILADELPHIA Feb A 3 A large portion of th the torpedo boat flotilla at League Island navy yard b here r was wu ordered to get up steam late tonight and be ready fo for fora a dash dashto to sea at a moments moment's notice All shore leaves were canceled WASHINGTON Feb 3 te rushes rustics at att th the recruiting offices all over over the country were wera reported ted here her Jt t late tonight b f following the break with Germany German Y x v. v f I NORFOLK Va F Feb b. b 3 Orders Orders Ordes were were is issued u d a at Portress Port Frt r ress Tess s Monroe t tonight ight to o man all batteries at s V t Sr 11 C OPEN I GEN AGEN deb J eb 3 3 Holland and has pr prohibited ro hl all iii l' l of military eligibility between b tween the ages oL o 19 9 a an rI d 4 45 I from leav leaving the country according to an official cial announce announcement ncr ment ent today il i r f 0 I I J f 1 I B By Robert J. J Bender v t United Press Staff Correspondent C pon I i 1 Pcb Feb cb 3 Thc 3 I The he United States States' t was Cis nearer l ar il a I WASH war var ar tonight tl than an at any any ti time 1 l lt since l peace ace c cv v was its as signed s i 6 c e it this nation nalton and Spa Spain S Sinking of the Housatonic an American ship r with an American Amer rn J- J ican crew aboard off the Scilly islands inlands by bya a Teutonic C submarine late this evening was the Hie step I that thai brought the nation lo to lowar's towar was wars s verge I Such an n act as occurred in the sinking of the Housatonic Hou according to President Wilson's Wilsons s 's own declaration to conn congre res today w would uld result in his second appearance before a joint session to ask for means with which to lo insure future safety of American lives Jives and property properly on the high seas x t The president did not use the word war U in his Ibis veiled threat today Nevertheless h he conveyed the distinct im impression 1 th that l this government will ill go lo to any extreme to defend its rights and ke keep p alive the imm immemorial mori l principles upon which it was founded Wilson May I Go Before Congress Monday While awaiting th the flit facts before c sin themselves Y expressing pr cs Si officials were nevertheless deeply I concerned at the developments ts which whirl followed so close upon President Wilson's Wilsons fra frank war warning ing toda today 1 One thing thin is certain however er if official facts bear out but the gloomy gloom ou outlook lo k carried i in l press dispatches dispatch s President Wilson un tin undoubtedly will go before congress probably Monday I hi Ill Ii that event war var seemed inevitable I Aft After r the tensest day 1 Washington ashington has experienced in nl many y years ars even including those dra drawn moments moments' when former crises in in relations with a ith Germany were in ill full blast Washington ton this afternoon afternoon after after- noon had settled down to almost startling calm News of the Housatonic sinking flashed like an exploding bomb across this surface peacefulness White hite House officials and officials of every of f every br branch of the government when told of the sinking were literally stunned for forthe forthe the t. t moment momen s sIt It lit is not true and it must be bw a a t nu mistake t. t kcf were er phrases les everywhere h heard ard A f. f i ik k J Tumult Gasps Gass When v w 2 I Asked Concerning Wilson t r I IThe t The file p president was preparing Ire ar l for dinner r when ri riV news rie V Vs was I r rushed to him by l Secretary T The Iatter latter l merely held u up upI p ps I his hands I and gasped s red when asked what president the the- president nt hats ha s said ld how lie Ile looked and what he lie did when h he was told of the sinking that I may send America into the maelstrom ma of of bloodshed and nd war ar Tumult r had planned a 1 quiet evening e at home with his hrs f family I He switched that thit pl plan n and nd said he would wait wall at the White House for or or more news It was understood the president would get into ouch shortly with Secretary Lansing lg to tb whom would go the first firsts dispatches s noting the dread facts acts r Secretary Lansing had gone to lo his Ills home honk after titter the trying day da I for or or what he had had actually hoped would be a quiet evening The he t sews news telephoned t to to his house roused him to tenseness But he ike 1 all other officials official merely begged that time be ba given for word cial t ial al I 1 I cannot grin bring myself to believe the president declared d l toda that thal they German authorities willay will pt pay ay no r regard gard to th am i nl friendship I between their people and O l our own Only some actual overt t acts In their ruthless s 11 naval v 1 pro program ram ramr f V r r t Pl i r |