.'/•-K-tiT^ 'H.,. b-ta ^ d (fi <9 -^ V/ 4^ Copyright 1918 By Charles T. L. Allen JUL 22 1918 M INTRODUCTORY 111 presenting- the data herein, the author has in mind particularly the simplifying of Records of individual and personal accomplishment in the pres- ent War, either in Active Service; or in home work; or in any War work, voluntary or remunerated; or in War contributions, or in any or all of these; or in any effort put forward to furnish real help to our Government in its great work as the champion of Democracy, — Vv^orking in affiliation with other great Nations of the Earth, to make the World a safe and peaceful place in which to live. Aside from the interest which may be taken by the individual in the information contained in this book, it facilitates the keeping of the personal W^ar- Record of its possessor, — which may be kept for- ever. It is also a safeguard to its owner to this ex- tent: i. e. — it is imperative that you know the num- bers of your Bonds, etc. A record of them should he kept herein, and your Bonds and War-Savings Stamps, and your spare money, in the bank. Then }/ou will be safeguarded in every waj'. A separate record should be kept by every adult member, and for each of the children of a family, so that the^ may proudly show this record in after years. The incorporation in this brochure of the address of the President of the United States, delivered at a Joint Session of the Two Houses of Congress April 2, 1917, while not a copyrighted feature there- of, is considered by the author as a necessary fea- ture because of its wonderfulness in expressing the greatness of the purposes of the American Nation. Let us all go on fighting, working, giving, saving, ''that the insfitntions which we hold dear shall not perish from the earth." In compiling this book one of the principal thoughts has been to create, in the mind of the inc!'^ 'dual, an additional incentive to stimulate him in his efforts to assist his Government, in every way in his power — and to record these efforts as he goes along in his good work. C. T. L. A. Printed in the United States. ©GU504159 MY WAR RECORD Name Street Address Citv or Town State Being a record of my personal efforts to "Do My Bit" in the Great World- War now being waged for the perpetuation of Freedom, and for the eman- cipation of the oppressed. And it is a record of which I am proud, and which I purpose shall be handed down to my fam- ily as evidence of the active interest I have taken, not only in mankind, but in the great ideals and purposes of my Wondrous Country — the United States of America — in the defense of Liberty, De- mocracy and Civilization. I am doing mv best. Published by Charles T. L. Allen, Rooms 807, ^08 and 809 East End Trust Building, Pittsburg li. Pa. U. S. LIBERTY LOAN BONDS I own, or have subscribed for. the following U. S. Liberty Loan Bonds. Liberty Loan No. 1 No. of interim Bank receipt No. of temporary Bond _ „ Coupon (or) Registered Bond No. of permanent Bond - Coupon (or) Registered Bond Par Value ----- $ „ Term 15-30 years. Maturity 1947. Interest ZV-//c Interest payable June IS and December 15. Callable at par and accrued interest, at the option of the U. S, Governmtnt, on and after June IS, 19o2. Converted into Liberty J^oan No J3ate No. of Bond $. Coupon (or) Registered Bond Additional Purchases of Liberty Loan No. 1 Bonds Date No. of Bond % Coupon (or) Registered Bond I^iberty Loan No. 2 No. of interim Bank receipt No. of temporary Bond _ _ _ Coupon (or) Registered Bond No. of permanent l^ond Coupon (or) Registered Bond Par Value ----- $ _ Term 10-25 years. Maturity 1942. Interest 4% Interest payable May 15 and November 15 Callable at par and accrued interest at the option of the U. S. Government, on and after November 15, 1927. Converted into Libert}' Loan No Date No. of Bond „ : $. Coupon (or) Registered Bond Additional Purchases of Liberty Loan No. 2 Bonds Date No. of Bond $ Coupon (or) Registered Bond U. S. LIBERTY LOAN BONDS I own. or have subscribed for, the following U. S. Liberty Loan Bonds. Liberty Loan No. 3 No. of interim Bank receipt „ No. of temporary Bond „ Coupon (or) Registered Bond No. of permanent Bond Coupon (or) Registered Bond Par Value ----- $ Term 10 vears. Maturity 1928. Interest 4^%. Inlfrcft payable March 15 and September 15. / Not redeemable before maturity. Additional Purchases of Liberty Loan No. 3 Bonds Date No. of Bond $ Coupon (or) Registered Bond Liberty Loan No. 4 No. of interim Bank receipt No. of temporary Bond „ Coupon (or) Registered Bond No. of pcrnianent Bond Coupon (or) Registered Bond Par Value ----- $ Term years. Matu-ity Interest %. Interest- paj'aMe Callable oi redeemaVde Additional Purchases of Liberty Loan No. 4 Bonds Date No. of Bond _ $. Coupon (or) Registered Bond CONVERSIONS OF U. S. LIBERTY LOAN BONDS I have converted my Liberty Loan Bond No. 1 for a Bond of similar value in Liberty Loan No, 2. No. of New (temporary "i Bond _ Coupon (or) Registered Bond No, of New (permanent) Bond _ Coupon (or) Registered Bond Value $ Rate of Interest 4% Term 15-30 years. Due j947. Interest payable June 15 and December 15. Callable at par and accrued interest, at tiic option of the U. S. Government, on and after June 15, 1932. Additional purchases _ D ate No. of Bon d...,. $.. Coupon (or) Registered Bond I have converted my Liberty Loan Bond No. 1 for a Bond of similar value in Liberty Loan No. 3. No, of New (lemporary) Bond... _ Coupon (or) Registered Bond No, of New (permanent) Bond Coupon (or) Registered Bond Value $ .: Rate of Interest 4,^4% Term 15-30 years. Due 1947. Interest payable June 15 and December 15. Callable at par and accrued interest, at the option of the U. S. Government, f>n and after June 15, 1932. Additional purchases Date '. No. of Bond '...'. $.. Coupon (or) Registered Bond CONVERSIONS OF U. S. LIBERTY LOAN BONDS I have converted my Liberty Loan Bond No. 2 for a Bond of similar value in Liberty Loan No. 3. No. of New (permanent) Bond „ „ Coupon (or) Reg^istered Bond No, of New (temporary) Bond Coupon (or) Registered Bond Value $ Rate of Interest 4%% Term 10-25 years. Due 1942. Interest payable May 15 and November 15. Callable at par and accrued interest, at the option of tie U. S. Government, on and after November 15, 1927. Additional purchases _ _ Date No. of Bond $ Coupon (or) Registered Bond INFORMATION REGARDING CONVERSIONS Liberty Loan Bonds No. 1 Are convertible at par, into higher rate bonds issued during the war, within six months after date of such issue. Ma- turity, interest dates and redemption the same as these bonds, but in other respects ?amc as new tssue. Libert}' Loan Bonds No. 2 Are convertible at par, into the next issue of higher rate bonds, maturing in not less than five years, issued during the war, within six months after date of such issue. Ma- turity, interest dates and redemption the same as these bonds, but in other respects the same as new issue. Conversion privilege lapses if it shall once arise and shall not be exer- cised. (The piivilege having arisen with the offer of 4^s, lapses on November 9, 1918, if not exercised before that date.) Liberty Loan Bonds No. 3 Are not convertible into future issues. The statement las been ofYicially made that further issues will not be convertible. U. S. LIBERTY LOAN BONDS I own, or have subscribed for, the following U. S. Liberty Lean Bonds. Liberty Loan No. 5 No. of interim Bank receipt No. of temporary Bond _ _ _ Coupon (or) Registered Bond No. of permanent Bond _ Cor.pon (or) Kegistered Bond Par Value ----- $ Term years. Maturity Interest %. Interest rayable Callable or redeemable Additional Purchases of Liberty Loan No. 5 Bonds Date No. of Bond $ Coupon (or) Registered Bond Liberty Loan No. 6 No. of interim Bank receipt > No. of temporary Bond Coupon (or) Registered Bond No. of permanent Bond _ Coupon (or) Registered Bond Par Value - - •• - - $ .^ Term years. Maturity Interest %. Interest payable ..., Callable or redeemable Additional Purchases of Liberty Loan No. 6 Bonds Date No. of Bond $ Coupon (or) Registered Bond U. S. LIBERTY LOAN BONDS I own, or have subscribed for, the following U. S. Liberty Loan Bonds. Liberty Loan No, 7 No. of interim Bank receipt - No. of temporary Bond Coupon (or) Registered Bond No. of permanent Bond - Coupon (or) Registered Bond Par Value ----- $. — ~ Term years. Maturity Interest %. Interest payable Callable or redeemable . Additional Purchases of Liberty Loan No. 7 Bonds Date No. of Bond $ Coupon (or) Registered Bond Liberty Loan No. 8 No. of interim Bank receipt No. of tcmporarj^ Bond - Coupon (or"* Registered Bond No. of permanent Bond - - Coupon (or) Registered Bond Par Value ----- $ - - ^ Tern-, years. Maturity. - Interest %. Interest payable - ----^ --— - ■■"• Callable or redeenriable r- -Ht Additional Purchases of Liberty Loan No. 8 Bonds Date No. of Bond. $■•■•• Coupon (or) Registered Bond U. S. GOVERNMENT THRIFT CARDS These are the ci.rds to which are affixed the 25-Cent Thrift Stamps, as purchased. (See record of excharges into War-Savings Stamps on the opposite page.) Date Date Date Commenced Completed Exchanged Cost I bought these (at or from) „ I subscribed for these through the postman „ 1 subscribed for these through the postofTice at Remember that the Twenty-five Cent Thrift Stamps do not bear interest. Thrift Stamps as such are not directly redeemable in casli, but a Thrift Card with 16 Thrift Stamps attached may be exchanged al a post office or other authorized agency, on or before December 31, 2918, for a War-Savings Stamp upon making the addiionai payment required of from 12 to 23 cents. War-Savings Certificates, however, may be redeemed prior to maturity upon surrender at any money-order post office 10 days after such post office has received from the owner a written demand for payment. The redemption value of a War- Savings Stamp affixed to a War-Savings Certificate was $4.12 during JaruEry, 1^'18. One ci-nt is added to this redemption value in each succeeding month up to December 1, 1922, and on January 1, 1923, $5 will be payable for each War-Siavings Stamp affiled to a War-Savings Certificate. U. S. WAR-SAVINGS CERTIFICATES (or "Baby-Bonds'O spaces are provided on the War-Savings Certificates for 26 War-Savings Stamps. For each of these Stamps affixed to the Certificate the United States Government will pay you $5.00 on January 1, 1923. A complete Certificate holds Twenty $5.00 Stamps. War-Savings Certificates may be registered in your nanic, if so desired. This furnishes additional security. Date (or) Date Par Amount of Purchased Exchanged Value Net Cost $ .: $ : $ - - $-- -- - $ $-. $ $.. $ . $-. $ ^ :.- $.. $ $.. $ $.. $ $ 1 have pledged myself to buy (par amount) $. War-Savings Stamps by (date) „ I am a member of the Pershing Limit Club of „.. (par amount) $l,OOQ.6o. ] am pledged to the Women's War Council of... for War-Savings Stamp purchases (par amount) $ 1 am a member of the War-Savings Society of .- War-Savings Certificates should be kept in a Safety De- posit Vault, or in some safe place. No person is entitled to hold more than $1,000.00 (par value) in United States War-Savings Certificates. War-Savings Stamps and Certificates are rree of normal Fed- eral and State taxes. Buy War-Savings Stamps for yourselves and the babies now. SUBSCRIPTIONS TO WAR FUNDS OF NATIONAL AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS I have subscribed to the following Funds: Red Cross Campaign No. 1, at Date $ Campaign No. 2, at Date $ _ Campaign No. 3, at _ Date $. Campaign No. 4 at _ Date $ Y. M. C. A. Campaign No. 1, at Date $ Campaign No. 2, at _ Date $ Campaign No. 3, at Date _ $ Y. W. C. A. Campaign No. 1. at Date $ Campaign No. 2, at „ Date $ K. of C. Campaign No. 1, at Date $......::;... Campaign No. 2, at Date $ Campaign No. 3, at Date $. Y. M. H. A. Campaign No. 1, at „ Date $ Campaign No. 2, at Date $ Campaign No. 3, at „ Date - $.....- Salvation Army Campaign No. 1, at Date $ .- Campaign No. 2, at Date $ ..-. FOREIGN RELIEF AND OTHER FUNDS SUBSCRIBED TO DURING THE WAR Jewish War Sufferers' Fund $ Jewish Soldiers and Sailors Fund $ Zionist Movement Fund $ .American Fund for French Wounded ^ (Money, surgical dressinsrs, hospital garments, dispensary and other supplies). American Fund for English Wounded $ „ American Fund for Italian Wounded $ American Fund for Wounded $. .,,. American Fund for Wounded $ I^elgian Relief Fund _ ?....„ ......$ Polish Relief Fun d $. Russian Relief Fund $. Serbian Relief Fund _ $ Rumanian Relief Fund $ _..„ Armenian Relief Fund , $ Montenegrin Relief Fund „ $ Macedonian Relief Fun d $. Relief Fund $. Relief Fund $ ... (N. Y.) Life's Baby Fund $. (For the maintenance of fatherless children in France). American Marines Club in France $ _ ... American Marines Club in '. .$ Smileage Books :$...!.... ACTIVE WAR SERVICE (For record of battles or engagements, see my diary). Enlisted or Registered in _ „ Age Date County of _ State of Number of registration certificate. ...... Date - New registration number replacing same Date of examination At „ Called to the Colors of _ _ Drilled temporarily Previously was a member of National Guard, or Naval Now known as Assigned to Date- Transferred to Date. Transferred to -..Date. Transferred to Date. Engaged in the capacity of _ Left Date „ For Arrived at Date _ Transferred Date _ Assigned to Date.. Assigned to Date- Assigned to i _ Date.. -Red Cross Work at Date. Y. M. C. A. Canteen at Date. ACTIVE WAR SERVICE Sailed on S. S. . _ Date. Convoyed by ,. From the port of Date Arrived at Fort of Date Arrived at in England. Date. Arrived at ..„ ...._ in France. Date- Arrived at in Italy. Date- Arrived at in Russia. Date.. I have served in the following branches of the Service: I am carrying War Risk Insurance to the amount of $ Certificate No Premium $ Dated Beneficiary. :;. Address _ „ „. I received the following Decorations for Distin- guished Service : 1 was honorably discharged from Service at _ Date Remarks Entered as a - Finished as a.. HOME VOLUNTEER SERVICE I am a member of the Home Defense Corps. Number of registration certificate — — Age _ - - Date _. - 1 am serving in the capacity of - J am a member of the following clubs and organiza- tions whose purpose is war work -.™ I helped in the following subscriptions: Liberty Bonds War Stamps American Red Cross Date $ Date $.....- Date $ Date $ Date $....._ Date „._ $....._ Date $ Date $. Date S Y. M. C. A. K. of C. Y. M. H. A. Date $ Date $. Date — $ _ Date $ „... Date $ „....„ Date _..$ - Date $ Date $ Date -....„..$ Miscellaneous Date — $. _ Miscellaneous Date — $ -.... J have a War Garden, or I am interested in a War Garden, or work in a War Garden at _ _ ~ Am doing voluntary agricultural work at ] am also working actively for — I am a member of the Land Colony _... T practice sharpshooting at — ] am "mothering," "fathering" or "brothering" a soldier or sailor , HOME VOLUNTEER SERVICE T write letters to these (not related) soldiers or sailors: „ „ 1 send papers to these (not related) soldiers or sailors: _ _.... I am a member of the Military Club at _ 1 am a member of the Women's Defense League of I am a member of Home Sewing Club at.. i am a member of Farm Sewing Club at.. I help maintain a "Shell Rooth" at 1 am a member of the Sc (Idiers Comfort League of I at am. .in Vocat ional Re-Education U. S. Re-EducEtional Movement (for Disabled Soldiers or Sailors). I am a member of the Liberty Club of „ „.. I am a member of the Lo3'-alty League (foreign) of ] am a mem.ber of the ''Blue Gowns" of. - I help in Chaplain Aid Association work at I help in American Relief Work at I help in American Defense Society work at I put in a full day's work, and I observe meatless and wheatless days and all the regulations which my country puts up to me to follow ; make my purchases, etc., at seasonable times; and shall continue to do. so, and to influence my friends similarly. I am also making old things over and economizing. AMERICAN RED CROSS WORK I am a member of the American Red Cross. Amount paid in $ Amount due $ 1 am actively engaged in the following Red Cross Work: -.. Army and Navy Nurse Corps. Nurses' Reserve - New War Nursing Class Hospital Work Nursing Ambulance Mork _ Red Cross Motor Car Driving Red Cross Canteen Service Clerical Work 1 am interested in the Red Cross Convalescent House at - _ I am a member of Auxiliary at...._ 1 devote hours per to Red Cross Work at - - making _...„ Knitting done -.,. „. Socks Sweaters .- Head bands Helmets , Miscellaneous T subscribe to the Red Cross Magazine. Date I MISCELLANEOUS WAR ACTIVITIES I have served my country in the following ways: Women's Land Colony ..„ Date _ _.. Mothers' Association Work Date Soldiers & Sailors Club.. Date Sailors Home & Institute Date Farms for Soldiers' Movement at „ - Date - Women's Auxiliary Armv Corps at __ Date ....; Convalescent H ome .Date „ „ _ „.. Home Hospital at _ Date Fatherless Children of France Movement for „ „ Adopting War children „Date _ (General reishinc; has ruiopted two French War children). American Defense Society Date War Communit}'- Service Date _ Navy League Date Hospitality House at „ Care of Soldiers and Sailors Wives at _ J am active in the "Women to the Top" Movement at ~ — Women's Land Army of America... _ Date -. Vacation work done at -.. • - - Date - Saturday work done at - „ Dale : - JUNIOR SOLDIERS BOY SCOUTS rind GIRL SCOUTS AND YOUTHFUL WAR ORGANIZATIONS I am a member of the Boy Scouts of..'... „ (There are over 100,000 former Boy Scouts in the American Ariny in Fisnce). I am a member of the Junior Marines of _... 1 am a member of the Junior Naval Reserve ;. 1 help in the U. S. Boys' Working Reserve Move- ment at '. _ -... 1 am a member of the Girl Scouts of 1 am a member of the George Junior Republic of \ helped in the sale of Liberty Loan Bonds: Nos. Date $....._ Date .:.... „...$..... ]3ate $....„ Date .$ „ I helped in the sale of Thrift and War-Savings Stanips- Date $ :.Date $. Date $..:.; Date : $........:. 1 help in a War Garden at ..-Date ;...;.. Date „ „.. .... 1 help a farmer at ... _ Date - X'^acation work done at _ „ Saturday work done at .". Scout Police work done at Bicycle Working Squad activities at _ 1 am a member of the Jimior Red Cross of 1 am £ member of the School Garden Army of 1 am a member of the Camp Fire Girls' Guardian Association of _ REMUNERATED WAR- INDUSTRY WORK I have served my country in the following branches : In Agricultural work at ; In Ship-building work at „ _ in Ammunition work at ......_ .,. Tn Explosives A4!anufacturing at :., In U. S. Government constructions at „. In ;. Mining at ' - Tn Aeroplane manufacturing at ._ In Chemical Laboratory at _ '. In Textile factory manufacturing at _ In Machine w^ork at ; _ ■ : Tn Transportation work at .•._ _ ,. .. 1 n Clerical work at........... ,. _ ; Tn Forestry work at ...., ....... In Steel plant at *..- In Government Clerical work at ..:.. „. ....^... .. Class of Work ,.....„ _... Farm Plattsburg l :......... ::.. .^ Liberty Camp ...„ Farm Training Camp _ Boys' War Clubs Agricultural Unit : , Industrial Unit ;:.. _ _ lii ... Vocational Unit '. I am a member of the LT. S. Boys' Working Reserve at » :... I took up th c followin g WO] rk during my vacation I engaged in Saturday work at. ■•■-"-■ ••■"- CONCLUSION To be a really good citizen in this War, those of us who are not in active service should not only subscribe to all issues of Liberty Bonds; to the various calls of the American Red Cross; and for Thrift and War-Savings Stamps, but we should also do all we can to observe every request made by our Government, especially with regard to avoiding waste; to encourage War Gardens; to be the "mother" or the "father" of some soldier, in so far as we may be permitted to do so, (if we have none of our ovv^n in the service) ; to help in Red Cross work at home; to subscribe to the Y. M. C. A., the K. of C. or Y. M. H. A., and other similar funds; and to discourage even the semblance of dislo3^al utterances, — to check same, and, if con- tinued, to report them. It is distinctly disloyal to sell any of our Liberty Bonds, or Thrift or War-Savings Stamps, unless absolute necessity compels such action. Those who hold their Liberty Bonds and War-Savings and Thrift Stamps until they mature are sure to receive par value for them, plu^; the interest. And — don't let anyone persuade you to exchange your Liberty Bonds or War-Savings Stamps for something which they may tell you is "just as good." Nothing can be as good as U. S. Government se- curities! Selling Liberty Bonds now only depreciates the market. When the war is ended these bonds will, in all likelihood, be quoted at a premium long be- fore they are due. Remember, that in times of peace the U. S. Gov- ernment Bonds have sold as high as $139.00 (par value $100.00). Liberty Loan Bonds and War-Savings Stamps appeal to more than pride of possession — they are your badge of honor. These Bonds are not merely money — they make you a partner of Uncle Sam! C. T. L. A. THE PRESIDENT'S WAR MESSAGE ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDPINT OF THE UNITED STATES DELIVERED AT A JOINT SESSION OF THE TWO HOUSES OF CONGRESS, APRIL 2, 1917. Gentlemen of the Congress : I have called the Congress into extraorclinarj' session be- cause there are serious, very serious, choices of policy to be marl e_ and rr.nde immediately, which it was neither right nor coristitutionally permissible that I shoulci assume the respon- sibility of miiking-. On the third or Februarj' last I officially laid before you the extraordinary announcement of the Imperial German Gov- ernment that on and after the first day of February it was its purpose to put aside all restraints of law or of humanity and use its submarines to sink every vessel that sought to approach either the ports of Great Britain and Ireland, or the western coasts of Europe, or any of the ports controlled by the enem.ies of Germany within the Mediterranean. That had seemed to be tlie object of the German submarine war- fare earlier in the war, but since April of last year the Im- perial Government had somewhat restrained the commainders of its undersea craft in conform.ity with its promise then given to us that passenger boats should not be sunk and that due warninj-j would be given to all other vessels which its submarines might seek to destroy when no resistance was offered or escrpe attempted, and care taken that their crews were given at least a fair chance to save their lives in their open boats. The precautions taken were meagre and hap- hazard enoirgh, as was proved in distressing instance after instance in the i^rogress of tht cruel and unmanly business, but a certain degree of restraint was observed. Final Indictment of German Frightfulness The new policy has swept every restriction aside. Vessels of every kind, wliatever their fir.g, their c)iaracter, their cargo, their destination, their errand, have been ruthlessly sent to the bottom without warning and without thought of help or mercy for those on board, the vessels of friendly neutrals along v/ith those of belligerents. Even hospital ships and ships carrying relief to the sorely bereaved and stricken peo- ple of Belgium, though the latter were provided with safe conduct through the prescribed areas by the German Gov- ernment itself and were distinguished by unmistakable marks of identity, have been sunk v/ith the same reckless lack of compassion or of principle. I was for a little while unable to believe that such things would in fact be done by any government that had hitherto subscribed to the humane practices of civilized nations. In- ternational law had its origin in the attempt to set up some law which would be respected and observed upon the seas where no nation had right of dominion and where lay the •free highways of the world. By painful stage after stage has that law been built up, with meagre enough results in- deed, after all was accomplished that couicl T)e accomplished, but alwaj's with a clear view, at least, of what the heart and conscience of mankind demanded. Because it had no Weapons but these Tliis minimuni of rig'ht the German Government has swept aside under the plea of retaliation and necessity and because it had no weapons which it could use a? sea except those which it is impossible to employ as it is employing them with- out throwing to the winds all scruples oi humanity or of respect for the understandings that were supposed to underlie the intercourse of the world. I am not now thinking of the loss of property involved, immense and serious as that is, hut only of the wanton and wholesale destruction of the lives of non-combatants, men, women, and children engaged in pursuits which have slwi-ys, even in the darkest periods of modern history, been deemed innocent and legitimate. Prop- erty can be paid for; the lives of peaceful and innocent peo- ple cannot be German Warfare is against Mankind The present German submarine warfare against commerce is a warfare ap-ainsl. mrinkind. It is a war against all nations. American ships have been sunk, American lives taken, in ways which it has stirred us very deeply to lean; of, but ships and people of other neutral and friendly rations hnvc been sunk and overwhelmed in the waters in th;- same way. There has been no discrimina- tion. The ch?»lknge is to all mankind. Each nation must decide for itself how it v/ill meet it. The choice we make for ourselves must be made with a moderation of counsel and a temptrateness of judgmicnt befitting our character and our motives as a riation. We must put excited feeling away. Our motive will not be revenge or the victorious assertion of the physical rvAght of the nation, but only the vindication of .nght, of human right, of which we are only a single champion. It now Appears Armed Neutrality is impracticable When I addressed the Congress on the twenty-sixth of February last I thought that it would suffice to assert our neutral rights with arms, our ri^rht to use the seas against unlawful interference, our right to keep our people safe against unlawful violence. But armed neutrality, it now appears, is impracticable. Because stibmarines are in effect outlaws when used as the German submarines have been used against mer- chant shippinjj, it is impossible to defend ships against their attacks as the law of nations has assumed that merchantrnen would defend themselves against privateers or cruisers, visible craft giving cliase upon the open sea. It is common prudence, in such circumstances, grim neces- sity indeed, to endeavor to destroy them before they have shown their own intention. They must be dealt with upon sight, if dealt with at all. The German aovernment denies the right of neutrals to use arm.s at all within the areas of the sea which it has proscribed, even in the defence of rights which no mc-dern publicist has ever before questioned their right to defend. The intimation is conveyed that the arm.ed guards which We have placed on cur merchant ships will be treated _ as beyond the pale of law and subject to be dealt with as pirates would be. Armed neutrality is ineffectual enough at best; in such circumstances an<,l in the face of such pretentions it is worse than ineffectual; it is likely only to produce what it was meant to prevent; it is prr.ctically certain to draw us into the war without either the rights or the effectiveness of bel- ligerents. There is One Choice we cannot make There is one choice we cannot make, we are incapable of making. We will not choose the path of submission and suffer the most sacred rights oi our nation and our people to be ignored or violated. The wrongs against which we now array ourselves arc no common wrongs; they cut to the very roots of human life. In Fact, Nothing less than War With a profound sense of the solemn and even tragical character of the step T am taking and of the grave responsi- bilities which it involves, but in unhesitating obedience to what I deem my constitutional duty, 1 advise that the Con- gress declare the recent course of the Im.perial German Gov- ernment to be in fact nothing less than war against the government and people of the United States; that it formally accept the status of belligerent which has thus been thrust upon it ; and that it take immediate steps not only to put the country in a more thorough state of defence, but also to exert all its power and employ all its resources to bring the government of the German Empire to terms and end the war. What this will Involve is Clear What this will involve is clear. It will involve the utmost practicable co-operation in counsel and action with the gov- ernments now at war with Germany, and, as incident to that, the extension to those governments of the most liberal financial credits in order that our resources maj', so far as possible, be added to theirs. It will involve the organization and mobilization of all the material resources of the country to supply the materials of war and serve the incidental needs of the nation in the most abundant, and yet the most eco- nomical and efficient way possible. It will involve the immediate full equipment of the navy in all respects, but particularly in supplying it with the best means of dealing with the enemy's submarTnes. It will in- volve the immediate addition to the armed forces of the United States already provided for by law in case of war, at least 500,000 men, who shotild, in my opinion, be chosen upon the principle of universal liability to service, and also the au- thorization of subsequent additional increments of equal force so soon as they may be needed and can be handled in training. It will involve, also, of course, the granting of adequate credits to the Government, sustained, I hope, so far as they can equitably be .'sustained by the present generation, by well conceived taxation. I say suslf.ined so far as may be equitable by taxation because it seems to me that it v/ould be most un- wise to base the ci edits which will now be necessary entirely on money borrowed. It is our dv.ty, I most respectfully urge, to protect our people so far as we may against the very serious hardships and evils which would be likely to arise out of the infliction which would be produced by vast loans. Must not interfere with Allied Munitions In carrying out the measures by which these things are to be accomplished, we should keep constantly in mind the wis- dom of interfering as little as possible in our own preparation and in the cqui])ment of our own military forces with the duty — for it will be a very practical duty — of supplying the nations already at war with Germany with the materials which they can obtain cnly from us or by our assistance. They ire in the field and we should help them in every way to be elTective there. . I shall take the liberty of suggesting, through the several executive departments of the Government fcr the consideration of your ccniiuittees, m.easures for the accomplishment of the several objects I Lsve mentioned. I hope that it will be your pleasure to deal with them as having been framed after very careful thought by the branch of the government upon which the responsibility of conducting the war and safeguarding the nation will most directly fall. While we do These Things While we do these things, these deeply momentous things, let us be very clear and make very clear to all the world what our motives and our objects are. My own thought has not been driven from its habitual and normal course by Ihe unhappy events of the last two months, and I do not believe that the thought of the nation has been altered or clouded by them. • I have exactly the same things in mind now that I had in m.ind when I addressed the Senate on the 22d of January last ; the same that I had in mind when I addressed the Congress on the 3d of February and on the 26th of February. Our object now, as then, is to vindicate the principles of peace and justice in the life of .the world as against selfish and autocratic pov.er, and to set up amongst the really free and self-governed peoples of the world such a concert of pur- pose and of action as will henceforth insure the observance of those principles. One Morality for Nations and Persons Neutrality is no longer feasible or desirable where the peace of the world is involved and the freedom of its peoples, and the menace to tljat peace and freedom lies in the existence of autocr.itic governm.ents backed by organized force which is controlled wholly by tlieir will, not by the will of their peo- ple. We have seen the last of neutrality in such circumstances. We are at the beginning of an age in which it will be insisted that the sr.me standards of conduct and of responsi- bility for wrong done shall b^ observed among nations and their governments that are observed among the individual citi- zens of civilized states. We have No Quarrel with the German People We have no quai-rel with the German people. We have no feeling towards them but one of sympathy and friendship. It was not upon their impulse that their Government acted in entering this war. It was not with their previous knowl- edge or approval. it was a war determined upon as wars used to be deter- mined upon in the old, unhappy days vmcn peoples were no- where consulted by their rulers and wars were provoked and waged in the interests of dynasties or of little groups of ambitious n:i.en who were accustomed to use their fellow men as pawns and tools. Self-governed ritions do not fiH their neighbor states with spies or set the course of intrigue to bring about some criti- cal posture of affairs whicl- will give them an opportunity to strike and make conquest. Such designs can be success- fully worked out only under cover and where no one has the right to ask questions. Cunningly contrived plans of deception or aggression, car- ried, it may be, from generation to generation, can be worked out and kept from the light only within the privacy of courts or behind the carefully guarded confidences of a narrow and privileged class. They are happily impossible where public opinion commands and insists \ipon full information concern- ing all the nation's afi'airs. It must be a League of Honor A steadfast concert for peace can never be maintained ex- cept by a partnership of democratic nations. No autocratic government could be trusted to keep faith within it or ob- serve its covenants. It must be a league of honor, a partnership of opinion. In- trigue would eat its vitals away ; the plottings of inner circles who could plan what they would and render account to no one would be a corruption seated at its very rieart. Only free peoples can hold their purpose and their honor steady to a common end and prefer the interests of mankind to any narrow interest of their own. Here is a Fit Partner Does not every American feel that assurance has been added to our hope for the future peace of the world by the wonderful and her.rtening things that have been happening within the last few weeks in Russia? Russia was knov.'n by those who knew it best to have been always in fact democratic at heart, in all the vital habits of her thought, in all the intim.ate relationships of lier people that spoke their natural instinct, their habitual attitude towards life. The autocracy that crowned the summit of her political structure, long as it had stood and terrible as was the reality of its power, was not in fact Russian in origin, character, or purpose, and now it has been shaken off and the great generous Russian people have been added in all their native majesty and might to the forces that are fighting for freedom in the world, for justice and for peace. Here is a fit partner for a League of Honor. Spies vi'cre here before the War began One of the things that lias served to convince us that the Prussian autocracy was not and could never be our friend is that from the very outset of the present war it has filled our unsuspecting communities, and even our offices of gov- ernment, with spies, and set criminal intrigues everywhere afoot against our national unity of counsel, our peace within and without, our industries and our commerce. Indeed, it is now evident that its spies were here even be- fore the war begen ; and it is unhappily not a matter of con- jecture but a fact proved in our courts oi justice that the intrigues which hf.ve more than once come perilously near to disturbing the peace and dislocating the indu.'=:tries of the country have been carried on at the instigation, with the support, and even under the personal direction of official agents of the Imperial Government accredited to the Gov- ernment of the United States. Even in checking these thing^s and trying to extirpate them we have sought to put the most generous interpretation pos- "sible upon them, because we knew that their source lay, not in any hostile feeling or purpose of the German people to- wards us (who were, no doubt, as ignorant of them as we ourselves were), but only in the selfish designs of a Govern- ment that did what it pleased and told its people nothing. But the}' have played their part in serving to convince us at last that that Government entertains no real friendship for lis and means to act against our peace and security at its convenience. For the Ultimate Peace of the World Tiiat it rricans to stir up enemies against us at our very doors the iiitercepttd note lo the German Minister at Mexico City is eloquent evidence. We are accepting this challenge of hostile purpose because we know that in such a government, following such meth- ods, we can never liave a friend ; and that in the presence of its organized power, always lying in wait to accomplish we know not what purpose, there can be no assured security for The democratic governimrnts of the world. We are now about to accept gage of battle with this nattiral foe to liberty and shall, if necessary, spend the whole force of the nation to check and nullify its pretentions and its power. We are glad, now that we see the facts with no veil of false pretence about them, lo fight thus for the ultimate peace of the world and for the liberation of its peoples, the German peoples included ; for the rights of nations, great and small, and the privilege of men everywhere to choose their way of life and of obedience. The world must be made safe for democrc