New Britain herald., 1916-01-06
TWO GUNS MOUNTED 0N ITALIAN LINER Royal Navy Gunners in Charge Of
 Weapons on Verdi
 VESSEL AT NEW YORK
United States Probably Will Ask Italy to Have Pieces DiSmOunted Ports.

Ports.
 New York, Jan 6-Gunners of the Royal Italian Navy were in charge of the two guns on the Italian liner Giuseppe Verdi, which arrived here today from Genoa, Naples and Palermo, according to the captain, Luigi zannoni. After the vessel left Palermo, the captain said. daily prac- tice was held with the guns, barrels having been thrown overheard as targets.
 The guns were placed on the Guis- cope Verdi by order of the Italian naval authorities, but the captain declares he was instructed to use them for defensive purposes only.
 Command all Positions.
 The two gunners became extremely proficient in the practice of shooting at the barrels, passengers said. The guns were mounted on the after house of the vessel, one on either side, and were in such position as to command all positions from the ship.
 Passengers said they understood the Italian government had been re- sponsible for the mounting of these guns. which were intended to repel any submarine that might have ar- tackled the steamship in the Mediter- ranean.
 Alter leaving Palermo on Dec. 2t all lights on the Giuseppe Verdi were carefully concealed and during the day time the steamer covered a roundabout course for the purpose of avoiding hostile submarines.
 Encountered Gales
 Officers reported having encounter ed terrific northwest and west gales during considerable portion of the voyage and the high seas smash ed several of the liners life boats and put out of commission the tele- phone system between the bridge and the pilot house and engine room
 United States May Act. <
 Washington, Jan. 6.-The state de- partment probably will take up with the Italian government the question Of guns mounted on the liner Giu- scope Verdi, with a view of having the pieces dismounted before the ship leaves Am merican waters
 The guns on the Verdi promise to bring up again a point which has been a disputed one since the war began. At the outset of hostilities the United States took the position that ships en- tering American ports with guns of not more than six inches in calibre, mounted well aft for purposes of de- fense would not be considered. armed but reserved the right to change it's position in the light of changing con- ditions of warfare.
 Informally Compiled.
 The state department later had in- formal negotiations with Great Britain and France through their am- bassadors here, and asked that any guns whatever be removed from the big passenger liners coming into American ports. The two foreign governments, though reserving their rights informally complied. Later a British ship, the Waimana, was de- nied clearance papers at Newport News because a four inch gun was mounted astern. Still reserving it's rights, the British government or dered the gun removed and the ship was cleared.
 Since the question of the gun on the British liner Persia has arisen the point has been brought up again but Secretary Lansing has declined to an- nounce any position aud has let it be known that he would not be com mitted.
 State department officials expressed the view today that the Italian gov ernment would probably be asked in formally to dism ount the guns on the Verdi before she sails from the United States.