THE GODS OF MARS"~Thri!ling Serial Story; Opening Chapters Next Week ■ HARRISBURG TELEGRAPH LXXXVI — No. 30 14 PAGES RELATIONS WITH GERMANY SEVERED; ON VERGE OF WAR J * I RESIDENT T&LS CONGRESS HE WILL ASK USE Of ARMED FORCES TO PUNISH FIRST OVERT ACT OF GE CONGRESS GRIMLY LISTENS AS WILSON RECITES ACTIONS LEADING UP TO SEVERANCE Long List of Outrages Impassionately Recited by President; Break Only Course Pos sible Consistent With the Dignity and Honor of the United States After Note De claring Stand on Ruthless U-Boat Warfare; Says He Cannot Believe Germany j Will Do in Fact What They Have Warned EARNESTLY DESIRE TO REMAIN AT PEACE WITH IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT, PRESIDENT DECLARES But Will Again Appear Before Congress if Any Overt Act Is Committed by Germany; Country Serves No Selfish Ends, but Stands True to the Immemorial Principles of People; Presence of Justices of Supreme Court and Practically All Neutral Diplomats Added Touch of Gravity to Scene Washington, D. C., Feb. 3.—The severance of diplomatic relations with Germany was formally announced to the country and the world by President "Wilson at a joint session of Congress to-day at 2 o'clock. The United States now stands on the verge of war, with all the historic precedent of centuries pressing it forward. _ Fervently invoking the guidance of Almighty God in the step he had taken. President Wilson detailed to the Congress why the United States could not continue relations with a warring power which repeatedly invades its sacred rights and takes the lives of its citizens. Calm, with a sense of right in what may prove the most somber moment of Ameri can history, the President stood in the historic hall of the House of Representatives, and with Senators and Representatives before him, spoke the words which may carry the country into the world conflict, not for aggression and. not for power; only for law and humanity. # Silent and attentive, the grim company of the nation's lawmakers listened with rapt attention while President Wilson told of America s course in the now unsuccessful diplomatic struggle to dissuade Germany from her campaign of ruthlessness. SERVE NO SELFISH ENDS "We wish to serve no selfish ends," the President stated. "We seek merely to stand true alike in thought and in action to the immemorial principles of our people * * * * # see k m erely to vindicate our right to liberty and justice and an unmo lested life. These are the basis of peace, not war. God grant that we may not be chal lenged to defend them by acts of wilful injustice on the part of the government of Ger many." While the President was addressing Congress, Law Adviser Woolsey, of the State Department, was at the German embassy with a communication for Count Von Bern storff. There seemed no room for doubt that the communication contained his pass nnrts • There was an unusal attendance of diplomats to hear the rPesident's ad dress. Practically all the South Am ericans were represented and many other neutrals, impressed with the sig nificance of the rPesident's action for their own countries, came tothe re served places to listen to the history making address. The gravity of the occasion was further pictured by the presence of the justices of the Supreme THE WEATHER For Ilarrinbarg nml vlclnltyi Fair to-night and Sunday, with nlonly rising tempcrnturet lowr.it tem perature ta-uigkt about *i de- BttM. for rennxylvunin: A'artiy cloudy to-night and Sunday, nllh nlonly rlniug temperature; ntrong nortjinent to nmt wind.*. Itlver The Stmnuehanna river and all Ita branelien will full nlonly or re main ntntlonnry, except local riven may occur where the chan nel become* dogged with lee. lee mill continue to Increune. A ntnse of about eight feet may he ex pected at Ilarrlnburs Sunday morning. tieneral Condition** A further fall of - to SO degree* In temperature baa occurred rum of the Lake Region and nonth and rant of the Übio river In the lant twenty-four hours, with read- IniCH four degreen below zero In Southneat Vlrginln and \\ extern North Carolina. Temperaturcn thin morning are the lowest of the winter generally over the eastern part of the country. Temperature! S a. in.. 4 above aero. Sun; Itinen. 7:11 a. m. Moon: Full moon, February tl, 10:-$ a. m. niter Stage: 8.4 feet above lon water mark. Yenterday'a Weather Highest temperature, 16. I,on eat temperature, 11. Mean temperature, 14. .Vormal temperature, 24. Court upon tlic floor. Members of the cabinet also were present. Tense Silence The assemblage arose as the Presi dent entered the chamber. Then it ' brust into cheering and handclapptng • as the President, his face set and • I Without the suggestion of a smile. I bowed and began reading his address • j very slowly. There was tense silence ■ | in the great room as he proceeded. ■ j Then the assemblage burst into ap • j plause when the President declared he had directed the Secretary of State to ■ "announce to is Excellency the Ger man ambassador, that all diplomatic relations between the United States and the German empire are severed." Greeted by Cheers I There were cheers and handclap ping on both sides of the chamber, Re | publicans and Democrats joining in ' the demonstration. Again the Congress and the galleries ; cheered when the President declared jhe could not believe that Germany ' would not regard her obligations and | intended to destroy "American ships and take the lives of American citi zens." IjOUder and more widespread cheer ing greeted the announcement that the President would come to Congress again to ask authority to "use any means that may be necessary for the | protection of our seamen and our peo- I pie" should "American ships and ! American lives" be sacrificed by Ger man naval commanders in "heedless contravention of the just and reason | able understanding of international law and the obvious dictates of hu ! inanity."" I When the President concluded, Con gress rose again and cheered and re mained standing while the President i left the chamber. Mack to White House The Senate returned immediately to jits wing of the Capitol, justices went to the Supreme Court and Cabinet offl- I cials tiled out. The House resumed ■ its routine work as though nothing J unusual or disturbing had occurred. The President hurried back to the White House. Before leaving, the President went to Speaker Clark's ofllce with the committee of Senators j and Representatives who escorted him and each shook hands with him. A few minutes after Secretary Baker HARRISBURG, PA., SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 3, 1917 went into conference with the Presi | dent at the White House, Secretary i Daniels arrived. Precautionary meas ures to be taken were under discus sion. The President spoke as follows: Gentlemen of the Congress: "The Imperial German government !on the thirty-first of January an i nounced to this government and to | the governments of the other neutral , nations that on and after the first day of February, the present month, it , would adopt a policy with regard to j the use of submarines against all ! shipping seeking to pass through cer | tain designated areas of the high seas, to which it is clearly my duty to call | your attention. Brings Up Sussex "Lot me remind the Congress on ' the eighth of April last in view of the sinking on the twenty-fourth of March i of the cross-channel passenger steamer Sussex by a German submarine, with- I out summons or warning and the consequent loss of the lives of several I citizens of the United States who were ! passengers aboard her, this govern- I ment addressed a note to the Imperial j Government in which it made the fol lowing declaration: " 'lf it Is still the purpose of the ; Imperial German government to 1 prosecute relentless and indiscrimi ! nate. warfare against vessels of coin j merce by the use of submarines | without regard t.o what the govern ; ment of the United States must con sider the sacred and indisputable rules of International law and the univer sally recognized dictates of humanity the government of the United States is at last forced to the conclusion that there is but ono course it can pursue. Unless the Imperial govern ment should now Immediately declare and effect an abandonment of its i present methods of submarine war j fare against freight carrying vessels I the government of the United States j can have no choice but to sever diplo matic relations with the German em | pi re altogether.' The German Reply "In reply to this declaration the Imperial German government gave this government the following assur ance: " 'The German government is pre- I Continued on Page 4] OUR PRESIDENT v • , ->s &' JhImIB r > !a If® < <> 1 <Jf iPlfe-.'*, f • I L WOOD ROW Wi.L-.SOM r*roHilcr,t Wilson will have tlie support of every true American in the difficult situation-lit which he now finds himseir. Americans of foreign , as well as those who trace their lineage. back to the Mayflower are sending the President their pledges of support, headers of the German- American alliances in this city to-day gave assurances to the Telegraph United' Stated fiSIU Gcrmany or any other nation that might attack the REGIMENT CAN BE RAISED AT ONCE IN CITY Nucleus of Volunteer Organi zation Already Formed For Service In the event thkt military prepara j tlons are made in'this country follow ing the breaking off of diplomatic re lations with Germany and the immi nent danger of the United States be ing precipitated into hostilities with the Central Powers, It is more than likely that a volunteer organization will be formed in Harrisburg with the Harrisburg Military Association as the nucleus for a skeleton regiment. The regiment, if formed, would bo composed of Harrisburg young men under direction of one or more capable army officers, and mem bers of the association are confident that a war strength regiment could quickly be recruited from the avail able material in this city. Training For Year The Harrisburg Military Association has beon formed for almost a year, its purpose being to train its members and in the army drill regulations, that in time of wur they might have a basis of training that would enable them to be of ervlce to their country In the capacity of officers. The association was formed under the direction and with the guidance of George F. Lumb, of the Pennsylva nia State Police. From a few mem bers it has grown until forty young men aro enrolled, and drill has been held every Friday evening for the past eight months on the floor of the City Gray's Armory. Practically every member is affiliated with the Harris burg Rifle Association and each is possessed of a regulation Krag Army rifle. Captain I.unili refused to comment on the possible situation, when inter viewed this morning, but expressed his opinion that any hasty action at this time would be premature. "It is a time to think, not act," was his remark when asked about the i possible formation of a volunteer regi ment. Members of the association this morning declared themselvep as being heartily in Tavor of such a plan HB above stated, if exigencies demand it- CITY GUARDSMEN MAY NOT RETURN AT NEW CRISIS May Stay Indefinitely at Bor der, Quell Disorder, or Be Used in Fighting "PENNSYLVANIA'S NATIONAL GUARDSMEN WIUI HE READY ROLL WHATEVER CALL MAY COME FROM THE NATIONAL GOV ERNMENT," SAID ADJUTANT GEN. ERAL STEWART TO-DAY WHEN INFORMED OF THE SEVERANCE OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS. "THE ORGANIZATIONS WHICH "AVE ,11 ST RETURNED FROM THE RORDER ARE EQUIPPED D5 I> TRAINED AND IN SPLENDID SHAPE AND THE OTHERS ARE J* A STATE OF ACFTIVE SER VICE. WE ARE READY FOR WHAT MAY BE ASKED OF US," HE CONTINUED, ' Hurrisburg's guardsmen may not come back to Pennsylvania from the Mexican border, as under present or ders, in view of the breaking of diplo matic relations with the Imperial Ger mun Government. Orders have been issued from the V\ar Department at Washington un der which the Eighth Pennsylvania I Infantry would have started home within several weeks, probably ar riving in Harrisburg early In March. Now that war with Germany Is a grave likelihood, it is pointed out by local military men that the Pennsyl vania troops may receive new orders | within the next few days. [Continued on Page 2] Experts Warn Against Motors in Warships New York, Feb. 3. lnstallation of electric drives on the Tour great battle cruisers proposed In the navai bill now before Congress is being op posed vigorously by prominent electrl cal engineers who have written to ! Secretary Daniels, Chairman Padgett i of the House Naval Affairs Commit tee. and others in authority, asking that the Navy Department refrain from committing itself to thiß form of drive unUl its merits have been passed upon by a board of expert*. WILSON GIVES VON BERNSTORFF HIS PASSPORTS Decision to Sever Diplomatic Relations Reached After Conference With the Cabinet and Members of the Senate; President Believes Whole Country Will Stand Solidly Behind Him Washington, D. C., Feb. 3. Ambassador Gerard has been instructed to ask the Ger man Foreign Office for his passports. Passports have been sent to Count Von Bernstorff. Confident that the sentiment of the entire country is behind him and assured of the united support of Congress. President Wilson after his conference yesterday with the f Continued 011 Page 3] ; : PT TO SINK U. S. TORPEDO BOAT 1 OELPHIA, FEB 3. ACCORDING TO A REP' • \it' THE PHILADELPHIA NAVY YARD AN AT' WAS MADE TO-DAY TO SINK THE TOR PEDO 3OAT JOSEPH JONES. U S. AG NTS TO DROP GERMANY'S INTERESTS Washr Feb. 3. American ambassador, min isters uid consular representatives in England, France. Russia, Jap m, Rumania, Serbia, Greece, Egypt and Mo rocco were to-day instructed by the State Department to * suspend all activities in relation to the German interests which they have taken over and to await information to be convr > t'-ou h :ome neutral government as to whom Ck: h'.-s those interests Entrusted, Thus comes to <■'*• t t.hi.m-.iiurian work the United States has beer, dj, caring for German prisoners in those coun tries- ui we as the practical task of handling Germany's diplomatic interests. AUSTRIAN SHIP DISABLED Ne'-' York, Feb. 3. Word reached the police to-day that coincident with the publication of the news of the rup tufe with Germany the Austrian freighter Himalaya, which been ly 3 in Newark Bay, aivestuary harbor, has br< j put out of commission. The report had it that the piston heads ur. i other parts of her engines had been smashed by crowbars and a.\es. . Washington, Feb. 3.—Senator Thomas to-day intro duced an amendment to the House Revenue bill proposing an issue of $500,000,000 r.oninterest bearing treasury notes to' nit the nation in a "state of naval and military , prepared The amendment was read but not discussed. The notes would be payable to persons from whom the goviT.rnent purchased munitions, could be used to pay taxes' and Would be redeemable in 1935. Washington, Feb. 3. Convoying of American mer chantmen through European waters with warships is being considered by the government. Washington A long dispatch received to-day from Amb.ihsador Penfield at Vienna is understood to announce the adhesion of Austria to Germany's course. MARRIAGE LICENSES Mervla DrunbauiU Itlc-hwlne noil tOmmn Hnrhnrii Kitmidt, llnmtnth* loni. Martta Konrnd and Mur.v Plankovltn, llarrlaltar*. >UHaf Arthur Anilrraaa anil (irneia Knthryn Uankra. Ilnrrlihure Krtdfrlrk Hrrkrrl Itavla Wrldmun aad Ma>- Kllakrtli Mrnlt, I'robriiuk. Ira Unseat Mfcatr. Ltnlalowa, and Ttira Mac Urun, Allen. Single Copy, 2 Cents POSTSCRIPT
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