The Washington herald., 1917-03-14
MOUNT BIC GUNS
AT four POINTS
ON U. S. SHIPS
Armament Heavy Enough to
Combat Any Encounter
ed Submarine.
KEEPS DETAILS SECRET
State Department Cautiously Feeling
Way-No Precedent in Inter-
national Law.

Armament heavy enough to combat
any submarine that ever plunged be-
meath the seas is being mounted on Amer
lean merchant vessels bound for the Ger
man war zone, the State Department said
last night. While details OF the guns
and gunners placed aboard the merchant
ships were still concealed, the Depart
ment asserted that the armament would
De sufficient to protect the ships and
the lives aboard them. 1t was under
stood last night that in some instances
the Navy Department plans contemplate
placing as many as four big guns on
liners, one mounted forward, one aft, and
two amidships.
The State Department Is feeling its
way cautiously in the matter of arm
ing ships. 1t was stated yesterday that
never before in the worlds history has
nation at peace taken steps similar
to those now under way by the United
states. There are no precedents to guide
the department, and every move will
be made with extreme caution in order
to keep the international legal record
straight. 1t was explained last night
that the orders to arm munition ships
are based upon the State Department.
contention that these vessels. even
though carrying contraband, are entitled
The guns will be put aboard in order
to protect the ships, and the lives of
the crews. Under international law these
ships cannot be destroyed at sea with
out making ample provision for the safe
ty OF the lives OF those on board, and
the guns aboard are to prevent any
disregard of this requirement.
Diplomat VIII Sail.
The first armed ship that leaves for the
war zone will carry an American diplo-
mat. Rugh Gibson. secretary OF the Amer
lean Embassy In London. Secretary Glib
son was given permission to sail on the
first vessel to depart under protection by
the department yesterday. 1t was stated
that the arrangement was not made at
the request of the State Department, but
It was recognized that there would be
great advantage in having a trained
diplomatic observer aboard the vessel
should she be attacked.
The-destruction OF another ship without
warning and the imperillins of the life of
an American was received from the war
zone yesterday. Consul Frost at Queens
town reported the sinking of the Cunard
Nashville, Tenn. on board. late dis
patch to the State Department from Con-
sui Frost said:
Seven lives lost. in sinking OF the
Cunarder Folio out of crew of seventy
eight. Folio was bound New York to
Avonmouth and was torpedoed without
warning five miles of Ramhead. County
Waterford. in heavy fog Sunday at 7:2O
a. m. DIR. Core and officers reached Bris-
tol this morning
YarrOwdnle Prisoners rs>Free.
The final release of the Yarrowdale
prisoners was announced by the State De-
partment yesterday. Minister Stoval at
Berne, Switzerland, in a dispatch to the
department announced the arrival of
ffty-nine of the Yarrowdale Americans
at Zurich
The State Department also announced
that American nationals would soon be
forced to withdraw from Belgium where
they have remained since the break with
Germany in charge of relief work. Re-
ports of Minister Brand WhitIock at
Brussels indicated that practically all of
the relief organization is now in the
hands of Dutch and Spanish subjects,
md that the usefulness of the American
citizens in the occupied portion of Bel
gium had about ended. Instructions to
Minister Whitlock to get all Americans
out OF the German territory are expected
shortly.
The Navy Department Yesterday
pressed vigorously its work of prepared
with Germany Secretary Daniels will
today open bids for six fast scout cruis-
ers, to cost 100000 each. under the last
two naval appropriation bills. The limit
OF cost of these vessels, invaluable in
combating submarines. was s5,OoO,000 un-
der the 1916 law. but it was raised 20
IS. .00o0Oo because shipbuilders would not
bid. Tomorrow the Secretary will take
up with a conference of shipbuilders the
problem Of clearing the way for the con-
struction of big battle cruisers already
authorized. These ships have been de-
layed for months by differences over
prices. This conference will complete
the Navy Departments survey of the ma
tion's shsipbuilding facilities, and It Is
expected that Secretary Daniels will at
once recommend to the President that he
issue a proclamation declaring a national
emergency exists. This will make avail
able the bond issue OF S150, ,0o0. 900 author
ized by Congress to speed up naval con-
tn 0f