108 years ago today, February 26, 1917 (February 5, 1917, the lunar calendar), Germany announced a full-scale submarine war and the United States and Germany broke off diplomatic relations. In the war, the German V-submarine played a huge role. The picture shows a V-submarine emerging. On February 26, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson delivered a short but important speech, calling on both houses of Congress to use all means to maintain "armed neutrality" to deal with Germany's infinite submarine warfare. After the president's speech, the House introduced a bill to arm merchant ships and other ships. This will, in the president's words, protect "the safety of our ships and people in carrying out legitimate activities at sea." The president delivered a brief speech amid a tense atmosphere. As he was speaking, news spread among the MPs that Kennard's ship Rankenia had been sunk. The 207 survivors on board have been transported to Ireland. At least 25 passengers were killed, including two U.S. citizens. Despite news of the sinking of the USS Rankenia, Republicans in both houses of Congress seem reluctant to grant the president very broad powers. The president's actions today are seen as inevitable signs of severing ties with Germany and Austria on February 3. This move is the inevitable result of Berlin's announcement that any ship entering unsafe waters will be sunk without warning. Also in February, the U.S. ship Hausatonic and the British ship California were sunk by the Germans. In the past three weeks, 134 non-belligerent ships have been sunk by the Germans.