The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-03-10
VESSELS BEING
ARMED TO FIGHT
SUBMERS|BLES
Chief Concern Now Is How Germ
any Will Treat American
Craft
BRITISH RELY UPON
UNITED STATES HELP
Navy Department Has Not Issued
Orders to Gunners on Mer-
chantmen
AMERICAN ABOARD.

CuauLWcU
AMERICAN ABOARD.
ASSOCIATED Press)
London, March 10.-Official in.
formation here is that the Nor.
Weqian steamer Storstad, Bel.
gian relief ship, which had one
American citizen on board, was
sunk by a submarine.
United Press.)
Washington, March lO.-The United
States is preparing for the worst.
Warned by Germany that she has
spoken with finality in the submar-
inc warfare and that she will sink all
vessels in sight without warning, the
United States government is today
arming her vessels and taking moro
precautions than has heretofore been
done.
Pan.American Help.
Some held that Germany would be
just as ruthless toward the American
armed ships as she has been with the
British. Others think not. The Brit
ish in the meantime are relying on
the Pan-American cooperation to aid
in stamping out the Germans on the
seas, and their scattered war schemes
that would involve the United States
in the great war. 80
1t was learned on good authority to-
day that the government investigation
of German plotting from the Cana.
dian border to the southern most
point of the American continent IL
being made and the government is
twenty American republics an avOWal
trying to obtain from each Of the other
at all times of Teutonic operations on
the American continent.
White Book.
Although the government Is prepar-
ing a white book which will reveal
all the German plots, the stir has al
ready awakened the people as to the
dangers ahead. Looming far above the
war clouds, is the tremendous possi-
bilty that peace might be: just around
the corner. Germany is hard pressed
for food. This government has no in
tention of making a war declaration.
Germany must force war if it comes,
as the President has said time and
again. In the meantime work is con-
tinuing in ship building. The navy
department has yet to issue orders
as to the policy gunners on American
ships must follow in meeting German
submarines; that is. whether to shoot
at sight or to wait for an obvious Of
fensive move on the part Of the sub
marine. Fire in real defense proba-
bly, will be the order. In view of the
oft repeated plan to seek everything in
sight to win. they must act as the al
lied gunners now dO-shOot first and
inquire later.
To Bare Plots.
AS an aid to allaying Pan-Amerjcan-
ism in move to crush the German
activity on this continent, the govern
ment is preparing a record of all it's
moves. 1t is still undecided in what
manner it will be utilized. Tracing
plots to blow up munitiOn works to
stirring the country against countries
in war on this conitninet will be
shown. The white book will show the
German hand of discord that would
make it impossible to deal with Ger
many abroad.
South America may know the in
fluence which is at work to disrupt
this nation. German Ambassador Won
Bernstorff and his clever spy aides
will be recorded
The book will show the details OF
how Germany planned to cripple ship
ping, align Mexico and Japan against
the United States, how she played
with the Latin-American tribe in an
effort to persuade General Carranza
into conquest in the northern and
southern parts of his domain, how
the Peruvian navy men we're bribed,
and an attempt to blast the Panama
canal. 1t will reveal the full plot of
the planned India uprising, using this
country as it headquarters, the Won
Igle-Boyed and Won Papen plots and
many others. While the navy depart
ment does not reveal the full plans,
the document, it is said, will be used
to spur American patriotism and as
a warning to the country, which some
authorities designate as privately
drunk and proud of it.
Fire at Sight.
American armed merchantmen will
be empowered to fire upon Teuton
submarines at sight High officials
made this claim today, declaring that
neutral ships can presume there will
be encounters, inasmuch as Germany
has served word that she will disre-
gard that mandate of international
law. Sight of a submarine will be just
ification for the American gunners
turning loose the powder of their
guns. This makes the possibility OF
war extremely near. Germany, 1t is
declared, has spoken her last word
and will 60 ahead with her ruthless
submarine warfare. II it is true. anu
no officials doubt it, clash between
German submarines and American
merchantmen is inevitable. The ma
Wv department has requested that
newspapers. press associations and
On bile companies withhold news OF