STATE Of WAR DECLARED
FINAL RESOLUTION NATION’S FORCES
ADOPTED IN HOUSE FOR WAR MIGHTY
Lower Body Confirms Action of Germany Forced to Combat Vast
Resources and Many Men.
Senate 373 to 50.
Washington. D. C.—The resolution
declaring that a state of war exists
between the United States and Ger
many, already passed by the senate,
passed the house shortly after 3 o’clock
Friday morning by a vote of 373 to 50.
It formally accepts the state of bel
ligerency forced by Germany’s aggres
sions and authorizes and directs the
President to employ the military and
naval forces and the resources of the
nation to bring war against Germany
to a successful termination.
Without rollcalls the house rejected
all amendments, including proposals to
prohibit the sending of any troops
overseas without congressional author
ity.
Adoption of the resolution followed
17 hours of debate. There was no at
tempt to filibuster, but the pacifist
group, under the leadership of Demo
cratic Leader Kitchin, prolonged the
discussion with impassioned speeches,
Mr. Kitchin declaring conscience would
not permit him to support the Presi
dent’s recommendation that a state of
war be declared.
Miss Rankin, of Montana, the only
woman member of congress, sat
through the first rollcall with bowed
head, failing to answer to her name,
twice called by the clerk.
On second rollcall she rose and said
in a sobbing voice: “I want to stand
by-my country, but I cannot vote for
war. ' '
For a moment then she remained
standing, supporting herself against a
desk, and as cries of “vote, vote,’’
came from several parts of the house,
she sank back into her seat without
voting audibly. She was recorded in
the negative.
EXPLOSION KILLS 112
Chester, Pa. —An explosion at 10
o’clock Tuesday morning, in the plant
of the Eddystone ammunition corpora
tion, at Eddystone, Pa., near here, is
reported to have killed 50 to 150 per
sons. Several hundred are said to
have been injured.
The fire, which was confined to the
shrapnel loading building, in which it
originated, had been subdued. In this
building about 400 men, women and
boys and girls were employed as load
ers.
Latest reports place the total loss
of life at 112.
The little Ches
ter morgue is filled with bodies and
they are piled upon the sidewalk out
side the building.
It is stated the building in which
the explosion occurred was used for
making time fuses for shrapnel.
The
workers were mostly women and young
girls.
The Eddystone Ammunition com
pany is understood to be. an indepen
dent corporation, and is engaged in
manufacturing and loading shells for
the Russian government.
The com
pany has no connection with either the
Midvale Steel company or the Reming
ton Arms company.
Washintgon, D. C.—Actual and po
tential resources, which, all told, prob
ably never have been equaled by any
other nation in the history of the
world, are brought Into the great war
under the American flag.
In the balance against Germany are
thrown a navy in strength and effi
ciency among the foremost afloat; an
army, comparatively very small, but
highly efficient, backed by a citizenry
of upward of 20,000,000 capable of
military duty ; industrial resources, in
comparably the greatest in the world,
already mobilized for public service,
and the moral force of more than 100,-
000,000 Americans, awakened to their
country’s peril and united behind their
Persident with a patriotic fervor rein
carnating the spirit of *76.
Although much remains to be done,
officials believe the nation’s destinies
are secure now, no matter how stub
born or prolonged may be the pressure
of German militarism or how wide the
scope of German intrigue.
The navy, always the first line of
defense, has cleared its decks of anti
quated incumbrances, has added new
units, modernized to meet the German
tactics, and the patriotic co-operation
of ship and material makers is hurry
ing to completion other fighting craft
that will be the last word in power and
efficiency.
Authorized but 10 days ago to re
cruit to the full war strength of 87,000
men, the navy already has almost at
tained the total. To provide additional
officers a class of midshipmen has been
graduated three months ahead of its
time. A newly organized coast patrol
of submarine chasers is on duty, and
hundreds of small craft to augment it
are under construction.
Army preparations are less com
plete, because of the uncertainty over
what congress will authorize.
The
regulars, numbering nearly 120,000,
and trained and equipped in a way
which their officers believe matches,
unit for unit, the boasted efficiency of
Germany’s best, are ready to respond
over night to whatever call may come.
The national guard, 150,000 strong
and hardened by months of service at
the border, already has many units in
active service for police duty through-
out the country, and can be fully mo
bilized on short notice.
Without ad
ditional authorization by congress, the
regulars and guardsmen could be re
cruited to a combined strength of 700,-
000, and detailed plans for whatever
larger army may be authorized have
been prepared and great quantities of
equipment purchased for it.
Industrial preparations have pro
duced a great, compact scheme of na
tional resources with almost unlimited
possibilities.
AIRPLANE FIGHTING TERRIFIC
$6,750,000,000 TOTAL ASKED
BALFOUR COMING
WORLD
HAPPENINGS
Three Billions is for Loan to Allies;
U. S. Takes Over Interned Ships as
Precautionary Measure.
10 DISCUSS WAR
OE CURRENT WEEK Taxation to Be Increased.
AUSTRIA SEVERS RELATIONS
Washington, D. C. — Austria-Hun-
gary, ranging herself unreservedly
with Germany, has severed diplomatic
relations with the United States, pre
cipitating a situation which generally
is expected here to lead to war.
Baron Erich Zwiedinek, the Austrian
charge, asked the State department
Monday for passports for himself, hie
staff and the Austrian consular force
in this country, and simultaneously
American Minister Stovall reported
from Berne that Austria had announced
the break in relations to the American
embassy in Vienna.
Immediately the Treasury depart
ment ordered the seizure of all Aus
trian merchant ships in American har
bors. The Austrian crews were taken
off and sent to immigration stations
and American guards put on board.
The measure was explained as purely
one of precaution, but it is realized
that it may be interpreted by Austria
as an act of war. In a similar situa
tion, after the break with Germany,
no ships were seized until a state of
war actually had been declared.
Whether Bulgaria and Turkey are
preparing to follow suit is unknown,
but officials generally believe that
sooner or later they will do so. Bul
garian Minister Panaretoff called on
Secretary Lansing late in the day to
ask if this government had any in
formation from Sofia, but was told
none had been received.
Bulgaria, it is believed here, is
weary of the war, but German domina
tion of the Central European alliance
is expected to drive them, as it drove
Austria, to break with Germany’s new
enemy.
Richard Olney, Ex-Secretary of
State, Dies in Boston, Aged 82
Boston—Richard Olney, statesman,
once Secretary of State and always a
noted student of international affairs,
died at his home in the Fenway, in the
Back Bay district, at 8:45 o’clock Sun
day night." Word of the passing of
the great citizen was not given to the
public until Monday.
The end came after a protracted
period of intense suffering, which had
failed, however, to shake the courage
or good humor that had marked his 82
years or to divert his mind from the
interest which he had maintained in
our qurral with Germany.
Richard Olney served successfully as
attorney general and secretary of state
during the administration of Presi
dent Cleveland, and, although at the
head of the State departement for the
short period of one year and nine
months only, he won reputation as a
statesman of commanding ability and
force. His greatest triumph was his
successful insistence upon arbitration
of the boundary dispute between Great
Britain and Venezuela.
German Maps Are Seized.
New York—Government agents have
seized more than 2000 letters from the
German sailors interned at the immi
gration station on Ellis Island. They
also have come into possession of dia
grams, blueprints and blank books con
taining information important to the
military and civil authorities.
The fact that beer is not permitted
on the island is said to be causing
much discontent among the sailors.
Washington, D. C. How the gov
ernment plans to raise a war army of
1,000,000 within a year and 2,000,000
within two years was disclosed upon
passage of the war resolution by the
house.
The bill, prepared by the General
Staff and approved by the President
for submission to congress, provides
for the immediate filling up of the reg
ular army and national guard to war
strength of more than 800,000, by
draft unless enough volunteers enlist
quickly and for bringing into the serv
ice by the late summer of the first
500,000 of the new force of young men
between the ages of 19 and 25 years,
to be called to the colors by selective
conscription.
York Harbor, Me.—A German who
said he was Frank Spikehorn, formerly
15 German Aviators Are Seen to Fall of Baltimore, was arrested here Tues
day. Maps of the coast with margin
and 31 Others Driven Down.
al notes in German and a notebook
filled with writing were found in his
London—In terrific air fighting dur possession.
ing Saturday and Sunday in Northern
France, British airplanes carried out
Wilson Insists on Draft Plan.
numerous raids and dropped more than
Washintgon, D. C.—President Wil
eight tons of bombs. Twenty-eight
British machines are missing, says the son threw the weight of his personal
official statement from British head influence into the scales Tuesday in an
quarters in France, and 15 German effort to overcome opposition in con
aeroplanes were seen to crash to the gress to the administration army plans
ground and 31 German machines were based on the draft system.
Summoning Chairman Dent of the
driven down.
Ten German balloons, the statement house military committee, now consid
ering the bill, the President made it
adds, were brought down in flames.
clear that he believes the safety of the
Berlin — The entente allies lost 44 nation hangs on the action of congress
airplanes on the western front, says in this regard.
He will make a similar exposition of
the official statement issued by the
German army headquarters staff. the military situation to Representa
Thirty-three of the British or French tive Anthony of Kansas, who has led
machines were destroyed in aerial en opposition to the draft plan among Re
gagements.
Five German airplanes, publican members of the military com
the statement adds, did not return.
mittee.
Norwegian Losses Mount.
London—During February and March
105 Norwegian vessels of 16,322
gross tons were sunk, according to a
statement made by the Norwegian leg
ation Saturday evening.
Sixty lives
were lost in the disasters and 122 per-
sons who were on board ships that
were sunk are still missing. The state
ment of the legation says:
“During February 41 Norwegian
vessels of 63,84 gross tons were sunk.
Fourteen persons were killed and 22
are missing. During March 64 vessels
of 103,238 gross tons were sunk.”
Danes Do Not Approve.
Copenhagen—America’s entry into
the war cannot be said to have been
received with favor in Denmark, either
in official circles or by the public. The
definite taking of sides by the last
great neutral power is, however, no
small matter for such a nation as Den
mark. She and other small European
neutrals during the war have been bal-
ancing in a more and more difficult
equilibrium between the belligerents
anti endeavoring to maintain not only
normal conditions of life but even nec
essary suppiles for business existence.
Pastor Burned in Effigy.
Portland, Me.— The Rev. Charlee E.
Joy, pastor of the First Unitarian
church, the oldest and one of the rich
est in this city, was burned in effigy in
front of his church by a party of un
identified men Sunday night, after he
had preached a sermon in which he
was reported as expressing the opinion
that “the war in which we serve is an
unrighteous war.
From this pulpit
prayers shall ascend for Germans and
Americans alike,” he said.
“There
will be no prayer that victory may
crown the arms of America.”
Ex-Czarina‘s Lady in Cell.
Miss Wilson Gives $1000.
Washington, D. C.—Miss Margaret
Wilson, the President’s daughter, Sat
urday handed the Red Croes her per
sonal check for $1000— the proceeds of
her spring concert tour.
Her check
was dated April 2, the day of the Pres-
ident’s address to congress.
The money goes to the fund for use
among American sailors and soldiers.
Miss Wilson soon will make another
tour in the South for the same pur-
pose.
T. R. May Consult Wilson.
Washington, D. C.—Theodore Roose
velt came here Tuesday from New
York and although he declined to make
a statement it was reported he would
confer with President Wilson and offer
his services for the war. It was said
he also contemplated seeing Secretary
Baker to discuss the volunteer army di-
vision which the colonel had offered to
recruit. The general staff plan for an
army raised by selective conscription
makes no provision for volunteer units.
Army of Million
At Once Is Plan
London Mme. Virubova, the lady-
n-waiting to the ex-empress, who in-
roduced Gregory Rasputin, the mytic
tonk, to the Russsian court, has been
rought from Tsarskoe-Selo to the
'aurida Palace and then taken to the
rison of St. Peter and St. Paul, says
Reuter dispatch from Petrograd
aturday.
Mme. Virubova is a fellow prisoner
f Mme. Soukhomlinoff, wife of the
x-minister of war.
Brief Resume Most Important
Daily News Items.
COMPILED FOR BUSY READERS
Events of Noted People, Governments
and Pacifie Northwest and Other
Things Worth Knowing.
Five men were drowned as the result
of the capsizing of a boat in the flood
waters of the Missouri River at Bis
marck, N. D., Monday.
Cato Sells, Indian commissioner, has
ordered intensive cultivation of all In
dian reservations during the year be
cause of the war situation.
Ambassador Riano, of Spain, says
that he is in a position to deny reports
that a political upheaval was threat
ened in his country and that the mon
archy was in peril.
The constitutional Democratic party
in Russia, which recently declared for
the establishment of a republic, at a
convention unanimously adopted a
resolution in favor of a democratic and
parliamentary form of government.
The Chemnitz Socialist paper, Volk-
stimme, frankly admits that if the un
restricted submarine war should prove
a failure Germany is lost. "We all
knew this on the day unrestricted sub-
marine war was announced, ” adds the
paper.
Senator Lane, who was reported ill
recently, has been advised by physi
cians that he should remain at Takoma
sanitarium several weeks. His blood
pressure is high, and his general condi
tion such that a long and complete rest
is essential to recovery.
The American steamer Seward was
torpedoed and sunk without warning in
the Mediterranean by a German sub-
marine, according to a dispatch re
ceived at the State department Wed
nesday from Consul Gaulin at Mar
seilles. All of the crew of 31 was said
to have been saved.
Nine persons were killed at the au
tomobile races in Mexico City Monday
when a car belonging to Jose Santa
Maria, the Cuban charge d’affaires,
and driven by Vincente Rodriguez, left
the track at a turn and plunged into a
crowd on the outside of the course.
Twenty persons were slightly • injured.
Sailors from the German auxiliary
cruiser Kronprinz Wilhelm, interned
at Fort McPherson, Atlanta, Ga., will
be put to work raising vegetables as
soon as arrangements can be complet
ed. The plan is said to be in line with
the government’s campaign for in
creased food crops.
Cuban gunboats, which have estab
lished a sweeping patrol of the Cuban
coast and contiguous waters, have been
ordered to fire at sight on any craft sus
pected of aiding German raiders or
seeking to find bases for German sub
marines in or near Cuba, according to
a message received by the Republic of
Cuba News Bureau in New York.
Creation of a general munitions
board is announced by the Council of
National Defense. It will be headed
by Frank A. Scott, a Cleveland manu
facturer, and will be charged with sup
plying the army and navy with muni
tions and equipment. One of its chief
functions will be to decide between the
country’s military and its industrial
needs. ,
Appeals to patriotic young Ameri
cans to enlist in the army, navy and
Marine corps soon will be launched in
electric lights along New York’s
"Great White Way.”
Thirty-two hundred persons in Boise,
Idaho, marched in a patriotic parade
there Thursday night.
The demon
stration was said to be the greatest of
the sort in the history of the state.
Two Mexicans caused a small riot
late Thursday in El Paso, Tex., when
they insulted the American flag by
throwing it on the pavement and
stamping on it They were fined $300.
Ambassador Elkus at Constantinople
has cabled that in Palestine alone
there were between 600 and 700 Amer-
icana, mostly naturalized, awaiting an
opportunity to come home, while sever
al hundred others are scattered through
Syria.
Requests for immediate appropria
tion of $3,400,000,000 for the army
and navy were made to congress Thurs
day by the executive departments.
Provision is made for increasing the
enlisted strength of the navy to 150,-
000 men and to increase the marine
corps to 30,000. Of the great sum, a
little more than $2,930,000,000 is
asked for the army.
Washington, D. C.—President Wil
son’s policy, outlined in his address to
congress, of paying America’s war
bill, so far as possible, while the war
is being waged, leaving a minimum
debt to posterity, was reflected Sunday
night in a virtual decision by leaders
in the house and senate to raise 50 per
cent of’the first year’s expenditures
by taxation.
Under this program congress will
be called on to raise war revenues of
$1,750,000,000 through new and in
creased taxation during the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1918. This is ex
clusive of the $5,000,000,000 bond is
sue, authorization for which will be
sought this week.
The total demand upon the financial
resources of the country during the
first year of war, under this program,
would be $6,750,000,000.
Of the bond issue, $3,000,000,000, it
was definitely stated, would be loaned
to the entente allies.
The entirle issue will bear interest
of 31 per cent. It is proposed to make
the loan to the allies at this interest
rate, which is lower by far than the
rate on their previous issues.
The remaining $2,000,000,000 will
be applied, as necessary, on the cost of
the military and naval establishments
and other war expenses of the United
States.
In requesting authorization for a
$5,000,000,000 bond issue, administra
tion leaders have in mind the necessity
of allowing for a slight margin of
safety, so that the work of the War
and Navy departments would not be
handicapped by a lack of funds due to
the possible failure of proposed tax
measures to raise the entire sum of 50
per cent desired.
Details of the proposed bond issue
have not been fully disposed of at pres
ent.
_________________
Murguia to Surround Villa;
Says War Rumors Ridiculous
British Statesman Heads Com
mission to United States.
FULL CO-OPERATION PLANNED
Political Alliances To Be Avoided at
Conference to Be Held Soon in
Washington by Leaders.
Washington, D. C. — Assembly in
Washington within a few weeks of a
great international war council was
foreshadowed by an announcement from
the State department Thursday that a
British commission, headed by Arthur
J. Balfour, minister of foreign affairs,
is expected to arrive within 10 days to
discuss with the government here ques
tions connected with the conduct of
the war. In addition to the foreign
minister, the commission will include
Admiral de Chair, of the British navy ;
Gen. Bridges, of the army, and the
governor of the Bank of England, at
tended .by a numerous staff.
This was as far as the announcement
made by the State department goes,
but it was learned authoritatively that
a French commission also will be in
Washington at the same time. This
commission will be headed by M. Vi-
viani, at present minister of justice in
the French cabinet and formerly pre
mier.
It is assumed that owing to the diffi
culties in passage and the probable de
lay, the interests of other allied gov
ernments will be confided to their resi
dent ambassadors.
Beyond the statement that the ob
ject of the commission is to discuss
generally questions of policy connected
with the war, no information was giv
en at the State department.
It was
made clear, however, that in no way
will the United States government de
part from the traditional policy of
avoiding anything in the nature of po
litical alliances, though, of course,
that does not exclude full military and
naval co-operation in the prosecution
of the war.
While it is by no means certain that
there will be a joint meeting of the
visiting commissioners, if the state
department should desire to avoid the
appearance of an alliance, there is cer
tain to be concert of action in some
way.
— +----- •—•-----
Juarez—General Francisco Murguia
left here late Monday for Casas Gran
des, where he will take the field in his
enveloping movement against Fran
cisco Villa and his 3000 followers, who
were reported to be north of Madera
and 250 miles from the American bor
der.
General Murguia denied any knowl
edge of German intrigue in his north
eastern command and accompanied a
correspondent of the Associated Press
through his trains to show that no
Germans were among the officers of
the 6000 troops in his present com
mand.
He announced his intention of re
maining neutral in the war between
the United States and Germany, fol German Submarine Reported in
lowing out his instructions from the
Pacific; Shipping Warned
War Department in Mexico City. He
characterized the rumors of German
San Francisco — Warning that Ger
plots in the Mexican army as ridicu man submarines are operating in the
lous.
_________________
Pacific were sent to all steamship cap
tains at sea late Thursday by wireless
Russia Will Be Republic.
on authority of Lieutenant Commander
London—A group of Americans hav E. C. Woods, of the Twelfth naval dis
ing large interests in Russia has sent a trict here.
Commander Woods said that the
report to London that the situation is
stabilizing itself and that the provis Navy department had furnished the
ional government of Russia has been information concerning submarine ac
strengthened greatly as a result of tivities, which resulted in the warning
being sent broadcast.
President Wilson’s speech.
“Get in touch at the earliest possi
Present indications point undoubted
ble
moment With captains and masters
ly to the establishment of a republic.
The whole sentiment of the Russian of all merchant veselss operating in
people is in favor of a democracy sim your district, especially off the coast
ilar to that of the United States. This at sea, and urge upon them the neces
has produced a great feeling of affec sity of keeping a very bright lookout
for German submarines and of report
tion and kinship toward Americans.
ing same immediately by radio to the
nearest radio station.
Urge upon
Canada Hoists U. S. Flag.
them the necessity of giving as much
Ottawa, Ont_The Stars and Stripes
detailed information of locality where
for the first time in history were hoist submarines are seen and any other
ed with the Union Jack on the Cana data that will be of value to the naval
dian Parliament building Saturday. By forces in searching for these vessels.”
thus associating the two flags, Cana
dian officials said they wished to ex
Goethals Asked to Build Ships.
press the satisfaction they felt at the
determination of the United States to
Washington, D. C.—Major General
join the war against the German gov George Goethals, builder of the Pana
ernment. The American colors with ma canal, formally was requested by
the Union Jack also fluttered from the President Wilson Thursday to take
city hall and many other buildings.
charge of the building of 1000 wooden
ships for foreign commerce.
Mere Callers Are Barred.
Increase of overseas tonnage is re
Washington, D. C. — With every garded as an imperative need to defeat
minute of his day occupied by the tre the German submarine campaign and
mendous tasks of the war, President keep up the flow of supplies to the en
Wilson has decided to abandon many tente. Consequently the greatest im
minor duties, which have hitherto tak portance is attached to the plans of
en up much time. Secretary Tumulty the Shipping Board for the building of
and his assistants have begun to refuse wooden ships. The entire resuorces of
all requests to see the President except available shipbuilding yards are to be
those coming from men with the most used for the purpose.
important business to discuss.
T. R. Endorses President.
German Arsenal Seized.
New York — Upon his return here
Cleveland—Hundreds of rifles, bayo
Thursday from Washington, Colonel
nets, swords and ammunition belts
with large quantities of ammunition Theodore Roosevelt issued a statement
were confiscated in police raids on in which he said that “all far-sighted
three houses here Sunday night. The patriots” should stand behind the ad
owners, all naturalized Germans, said ministration in its efforts to secure
they had collected the arms as an legislation for raising an army “in ac
amusement. They were not detained. cordance with the principle of obliga
tory training and service.”
Colonel Roosevelt said he hoped, in
T. R. Urged as War Chief.
Washington, D. C.—Senator Cham addition, for further action which
berlain has received a telegram from would be a supplement to, and not a
substitute for, the legislation recom
The Belgian steamer Trevier from W. M. Gray, of Portland, urging the mended by the President.
appointment
of
Theodore
Roosevelt
as
New York with Belgian relief supplies
secretary of war.
Another from
was torpedoed without warning on Portland Company K veterans urges
Family Men to Return.
Wednesday.
While the boats of the the passage of a compulsory military
Washington, D. C. — The following
Trevier were being lowered the sub
statement was issued Thursday from
training bill.
marine fired on them, severely wound
the War department: "The secretary
ing the captain, the mate and engneer.
of war authorizes the discharge of all
Montana Crop Promising.
Helena, Mont—The grain crop out enlisted men in the National Guard
A bill to grant American citizenship
to all Germans who have lived in the look in Montana is good, according to who have families dependent upon
United States five years has been in- the Federal estimate. Wheat is 93 per them, members of which, while sol
Stock is diers in the Federal service, would be
troduced by Senator Townsend, of cent of the 10- year average.
Michigan.
Thousands of Germans in fine condition. Looses in cattle and entitled to the benefits of the comforts
who have lived here a long time, he sheep were not heavy despite the se provided by the act of congress ap
said, are anxious now to become citi- vere winter, the government report proved August 26, 1916, whether they
desire to be discharged or not.”
says.
sens.