The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1917-03-14
VESSELS kRMEDDY
ORDER OF WILSON
President Also Calls an Extra
Session of Congress to Meet
April 16.
SECRECY CONCERNING SHIPS
Names of Those Receiving Guns Are
Withheld by Government and Sec
rotary Daniels Asks Voluntary
Censorship by u. S. Press.


Washington, March 12.-President
Wilson has decided to arm American
merchant ships, under his cOnstitu-
uonal authority, and also has called a
special session of congress for April 16.
American merchant ships sailing for
the submarine zone have been armed
by the government and they are ready
to sail.
The names of the armed ships will
not be made public by the government
and are not expected to be published in
the newspapers.
The president signed the proclama-
ton for the extra session on Friday
while lying in bed with a cold. Orders
for carrying out the presidents de-
cision to arm ships were Immediately
sent to the navy department.
Backed by Cabinet.
The president decided to arm ships
after receiving formal opinions from
Attorney General Gregory and Secre-
tary Lansing that he had such author
ity, in spite of old statutes which some
believe forbade it.
Mr.. Wilson has the backing OF the
entire cabinet in taking the step. Guns
for arming merchantmen have been as
sembled at navy yards along the At
lantic coast and everything is ready
to carry out the policy announced by
the president.
Ask Secrecy for Ships.
The navy department issued an ap-
peal to the American newspapers 20
refrain from publishing any informa-
ton whatever of the nature or arma
ment Of ships and already has appealed
to the cable companies to suppress all
information of ships crossing the At
lantic in either direction.
Because of the passage by the house
Of the armed neutrality bill and the
signing Of the manifesto approving
such step by majority of the senate
during it's last session, the president
feels he has congress and the country
behind him. AS soon as congress con-
veneS additional legislation on the
question will be asked.
Under a bill passed near the end Of
the last session the amount of money
at the disposal of the government war
risk bureau for insuring American
ships was increased to $15,000,0O0.
TumuIty Makes Statement.
The following statement was issued {:
Secretary Tumulty stated in con-
10 foy
extra session of congress that the pres
ident is convinced that he has the
power to arm American merchant ships
and is free to exercise it at once. But
SO much necessary legislation is press
ing for consideration that he is con-
of the country to have an early session
of the Sixty-fifth congress, whose sup
port he will need in all matters col
lateral to the defense of our merchant
marine"
After the White House announce
1--WE are prepared as to gunners as well
as guns"
Secretary of the Navy Daniels,
calling the Washington representa-
tives Of the newspapers of the coun-
try together, asked that all definite
information as to the arming of
ships, or the movement of armed ships
be suppressed.
May Ask Approval of Step.
1t was stated that as soon as the
new congress cOnvenes the president
will lay before joint session his views
and desires as to legislation. If he
wants legislative sanction for his step
in arming American ships, congress
sional leaders declared that 1t would
be promptly forthcoming.
The adoption of a clOture rule in the
senate has cleared the way for action
in both houses to hold up the presi-
dents hands in dealing with Germany
Immediately following the issuance
of the call for an extra session there
was a succession of events tending to
make 1t extremely possible that here
will be bipartisan organization in the
next house withe Champ Clark con-
tinued as speaker.
White Book to Tell Plotting.
It became known that the admins
tration is preparing a White Book set
ting forth all of the evidence of Ger
man plotting against the United
States, chiefly in the Latin-American
countries, and in the activities Of Ger
man agents in melting acts Of violence
on American soil These documents
are to be published in the event that
relations with Germany take a more
serious turn.