Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-03-12
The ARMED Guard viii Be
Be Composed Of GlInners
\ from American Navy
MUNITTON STEAMERS
WILL ALSO CARRY GUNS
American Inventors Engaged
In Providing Defenses
for Vessels
BY Carl D. Groat

Omitted Press staff eorrespondert)
Washington March l2.-An "arm-
ed guard" for the protection of YES.
sells and lives of persons aboard will
be placed on all American merchant
ships sailing through Germany s bar
red era, the state department. today
notified all foreign diplomats in this
city.
The following statement was pre-
sented to the foreign diplomats for
their information
In view of the announcement of
the Imperial German government on
January 81, 1917, that all ships, those
Of neutrals included, met within cer-
tain zones of the high seas would be
sunk without any precautions being
taken for the safety of the persons, on
board and without the exercise Of visit
and search, the government of the Unit
ed States has determined to place upon
all American merchant vessels sailing
through the barred areas an armed
guard for the protection of the vessels
and the lives of the persons on board. -
The state department gave out the
copy of this statement shortly after
Secretary Lansing had conferred at the
white house with President Wilson.
The official notice will serve TO warn
submarines of the allied powers as to
America s intentions.
Gunners From the Navy
British uadersea boats, however, are
understood to be operated only under
convoy, since there is little likelihood
that the armed ships will make mis-
takes as to recognizing the nationality
of submarines.
The EARNED guard will be Amer
lean navy gunners. The official state
ment shows, too, that it is the inten-
tion of the government to arm not on
" passenger steamers but also to pro-
vide guns and navy gunners for mu-
milton ships.
The statement to the foreign diplo-
mats cleared up definitely the question
of whether navy gunners would be us
ed.
The state department holds that the
presence of these men aboard will not
give the vessels the status of warships.
The vessel becomes a warship only
when used definitely for that purpose,
the department rules.
The state department held that re-
gardless of whether or not secret or
ders were issued to the gunners, armed
merchant ships could not be classed
as warships. though Germany has claim
ed that Great Britain $ secret orders
made her armed ships actual war yes
sells
Inventors at Work
While the state department was
making this definite announcement,
presumably at the direction of Presi-
dent Wilson, the navy department was
refusing any details as to its plans.
American inventive genius, it is
known, however, has been called upon
TO give aid in protecting American
ships venturing forth soon into Ger
many s barred area.
United States inventors, including
the electrical wizard, Thomas A. Edl-
son, are trying to design methods OF
sheltering merchantmen from all Ger
man undersea boats. These new inven-
tions will be installed in the armed
vessels, provided they meet with gov
ernment approval :,
What the plans are will be withheld
1or military reasons, but it is admitted
perfected smoke screen may be one
means employed. British ships now, use
such device, artificial smoke from
chemicals-that hides a vessel behind
an impenetrable screen.
Electric methods of detecting sub
marines, improving upon the present
mierophone attachments, may be in
vented. But in keeping with the ad-
ministration s plan of secrecy, no de-
tails will be announced lest German
inventors be placed at work to ever
come the American advantage.
The work of arming merchantmen
should occupy only few more days
and then American commerce will be
freed from the bonds that have kept it
in American harbors.