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Show U. S. CONGRESS MAY BE CALLED WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DELAY II Washington Thoroughly Aroused by Ruthless Warfare and Preparations Are Going Ahead as Though War Existed President Busy. i "r WASHINGTON, March 13 New and aggressive action to protect American hipping against German submarines appears certain as a result of yesterday's yester-day's sinking of the three unarmed American merchantmen: with possible loss of American lives. Calling of congress in extra session before April 16, loomed as the strongest strong-est probability, although President Wilson was understood to have other courses under consideration W ith American ships already being armed, the most probable step would be an acthe campaign to clear submarines out of the shipping lanes. There appeared ap-peared to be no plan to have the United States enter the war in the sense that the European nations have entered it. Submarine Chasers Needed. The fact that some American ships are on hte other side of the ocean unarmed is a factor in the situation and as large warships are ineffective against submarines, the problem for jj f the government is to get small sub marine chasers. Most of the American fleet is needed at home to guard against operations of German submarines subma-rines in American waters. There seemed to be no doubt that steps to supplement arming of American Ameri-can ships would be taken and the only question was whether the president would take such Bteps on his own re sponsibility or wait for congress to grant specific authority. President Considering Question. No comment was made at the White House today beyond the statement that the president was getting reports and considering the question thoroughly. thorough-ly. Secretary Lansing was called to the White House by President Wilson early today and they discussed the; policy of the government. WASHINGTON, March 19 The United States today faced the pressing question of war with Germany over! the Immediate issue of the ruthless1 destruction of three unarmed American Ameri-can merchant ships Technically an armed neutrality still existed but unofficially un-officially it was admitted Germany has ym- committed the "overt acl ' v.hti.u precipitates pre-cipitates a virtual stale of war. The next step beyond the arming of merchantmen now going forward, is the dispatch of warships to clear the transaltantic lanes of submarines. President Considers All Courses. President Wilson was considering! carefully all courses open to him. He might continue arming merchantmen as at present, until the special session! of congress called for April 1G; he ' might summon congress to meet imme-, diately to authorize him to take ag-j gressive action against the submarine; menace, or he might declare forthwith that a state of war exists. Some officials offic-ials state be already has ample power for the last course, but that this would, be subject to approval by congress. Dispatches from the various battle fronts took on added interest today, as officials realized that the United States is practically certain to become in volved In hostilities with Germany. The war and navy departments particularly partic-ularly were confronted anew with problems prob-lems of precisely what plans they shall follow if war comes. Many senators and representatives who remained in Washington today xpressed the opinion that the German submarines' latest acts constitute a clear cause for war. |