The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1916-03-10
SUBMARINES TO WAR ON
ARMED MERCHANTMEN
TUESDAY AT MIDNIGHT WAS THE
TIME SET FOR SUBS TO MAKE
WAR ON ARMED LINERS,
AS WASHINGTON Sees IT
United States Prepared to Consider
Any Overt Marine Act by Teutons
in Light Of Facts-Gstinct on Be-
tween Resistance and Offensive


in Light Of Facts-Eistinct on Be.
tween Resistance and Offensive
Washington.-Germ in formal
note presented by Count Won Bern
storff to Secretary OF State Lansing
Monday reiterated assurances regard
ing the future conduct OF submarine
warfare given in the Lusltania case;
declares those assurances have not /
been modified by the memorandum
setting forth its intention to treat
armed merchantmen Of the entente al
lies as auxiliary cruisers after mid
night Tuesday, and attempts to justify
the issuance of the memorandum by
presenting evidence and assertions de-
signed to prove that tie British gov
eminent has instructed merchantmen
to use their armament for purposes Of
attack in yiolat on Of assurances given
the United States.
Later it was said at the state de-
partment that while the United States
stood unalterably for the right OF a
merchant ship to carry guns for de-
fensive purposes, 1t was not now and
never had been COntendin5 that Amer
leans could travel with immunity on
ships having orders to act extensively.
1t was indicated that although Secre-
tary Lansing was not prepared at this
time to accept as conclusive the ale
cations OF Germany In regard to the
confidential instructions claimed to
have been given to British sea cap
tains, but that if the claims were sus'
tanned the fact would have an impor
tant bearing upon the future attitude
of this government. 1t is felt in high
official quarters at Washington that
the question Of motive Is the cardinal
consideration in determining the dlf'
ference between defensive and often.
sive armament.
A copy Of the so.called British In
structions which we're handed TO Am
bRssador Gerard In Berlin and which
are considered by Secretary Lansing
to be the all-impor;ant element in the
situation as 1t stands at present, have
not yet arrived. Pending their receipt
and subsequent decision regarding
the attitude of the United States the
state department is prepared to con-
slider any overt act committed by the
commanders of German and Austrian
submarines in the light Of the facts.
II was authoritatively stated that the
department probably would not act
upon the case of an American who
sustained injuries aboard a vessel
which 1t could be definitely establish
ed was to be extensively used.
The state department makes broad
distinction between resistance and Of
Tense. 1t holds that merchant ship
has a right to resist capture but not
, to act extensively. Of course, it Is ad'
.. mitted a vessel loses all immunity
, while in the act Of resisting.
+ Authoritative information obtained
, indicated that the British government
, probably would combat the ale atoms
, Of Germany that British ships osten
e sibly armed for defense are in reality
( armed for offensive purposes. 1t was
I said that British masters had not been
q instructed to hunt for submarines
that, on the contrary, they had be2I
told to do everything possible to avoit
the craft, and that only In the event o.
hostile submarine approaching with
. out warning near enough to use bomb!
}, or torpedoes we're the shippers author
lied to use their guns.
y All things considered. the state de
; partment is understood to feel tina
y the possibility is more or less remot
of difficulties arising in the near fu
, ture as result of the new German
!, and Austrian policy. In the first plac
:, officials believe that commanders o
: German and Austrian submarines vii
take particular care not to at,aC
without warning armed merchant yes
ID sells upon which there may be Amer
u cans. This belief is strengthened b
"a the declaration in the German note RI
'r ceived Monday which was acquiesce
3 in by Austria through Baron Zwied
mex, charge of the embassy at Wast
10 ington, that the orders issued to tn
IL naval commanders were so formulate
as to prevent the destruction Of en2m
liners ION account OF their armamer
az unless such armament is proved"