JFK+50: Volume 7, No. 2234
STATE OF WAR IMMINENT REPORTS BUFFALO EVENING NEWS
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) 100 years ago today, February 28, 1917, The Buffalo Evening News* reported that a state of war between the United States and Germany was "imminent**." This prediction came in the aftermath of the deaths of American passengers aboard the Laconia which was sunk by a German submarine.
In his headline front-page story, Carl D. Groat wrote...
"By all accounts, the United States' entry to World War I is 'imminent.' After Americans were killed in the sinking of Laconia by German torpedoes, President Woodrow Wilson wanted to arm American ships. The Senate (was jockeying) to filibuster the bill giving Wilson this power, but ultimately Wilson could use administrative order."
*The Buffalo Evening News was founded by Edward Hubert Butler, Sr. in 1873. Today it is known as The Buffalo News & has a daily circulation of 138,895.
**Imminent is defined as impending, about to happen, close at hand. Given this definition, history proves the newspaper report to be slightly premature as President Wilson did not ask for a declaration of war until April 2, 1917. The Congress obliged on April 6, 1917.
SOURCE
"Filibuster Is Brewing In Senate Though State of War Is Imminent," by Carl D. Groat, February 28, 1917, The Buffalo Evening News, www.buffalonews.com/
STATE OF WAR IMMINENT REPORTS BUFFALO EVENING NEWS
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) 100 years ago today, February 28, 1917, The Buffalo Evening News* reported that a state of war between the United States and Germany was "imminent**." This prediction came in the aftermath of the deaths of American passengers aboard the Laconia which was sunk by a German submarine.
In his headline front-page story, Carl D. Groat wrote...
"By all accounts, the United States' entry to World War I is 'imminent.' After Americans were killed in the sinking of Laconia by German torpedoes, President Woodrow Wilson wanted to arm American ships. The Senate (was jockeying) to filibuster the bill giving Wilson this power, but ultimately Wilson could use administrative order."
*The Buffalo Evening News was founded by Edward Hubert Butler, Sr. in 1873. Today it is known as The Buffalo News & has a daily circulation of 138,895.
**Imminent is defined as impending, about to happen, close at hand. Given this definition, history proves the newspaper report to be slightly premature as President Wilson did not ask for a declaration of war until April 2, 1917. The Congress obliged on April 6, 1917.
SOURCE
"Filibuster Is Brewing In Senate Though State of War Is Imminent," by Carl D. Groat, February 28, 1917, The Buffalo Evening News, www.buffalonews.com/
Buffalo Evening News Boys
February 8, 1910
Photo by Lewis Hine
Dept of Commerce & Labor
NARA Image
