Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-10
APPEALS TO PATRIOTISM
OF NATIONS NEWSPAPERS
Secretary Daniels Urges Suppression
OF News Concerning Movements
of American Shipping.
NIGHT JEOPAKDIzE HUMAN LIFE
Determines Not to Reveal Any OF
Navy Departments Plans for Car
rying Out Armed Ship Policy Or
dercd by President Wilson.


WASH INCiTON March e-Iarl,inr
iee1i authority to establish general
censorship. the administration Tonight
appealed TO the patriotism OF the coun-
try's newspapers and cable companies
TO suppress publication and transmits
sion OF Information about ..,c move
mentS OF American merchant craft,
now 10 be armed against German sub
marines
''rhc best news that readers can
have. Secretary Daniels said IN II
formal statement to press representa-
tiNes is that the government will pro-
tect tho rights of Americans to the
freedom Of the seas.
''rhe publication of details can serve
no good purpose and might jcopa rtlizc
human life"
reveal any OF the departments plans
for carrying out the policy ordered by
President Wilson. lie previously has
stated, however, that the navy is pre-
pared with guns, ammunition. gun
crews and all other necessary cuuip-
mcnt or personnel To carry out the i'm.
structions.
Navy-yard comnandantS will super
intend the actual installation OF guns
on merchant craft. The rifles. ammu-
milton. mounts. range iindcrs and other
accessories arc already stored at the
Yards They range from heavy sin
iuch rifles TO thrce-inch weapons and
smaller guns. The number of guns to
go on each ship. the personnel selected
from the active list of the navy or
from the reserve to handle the guns.
the time Of sailing or the names OF
ships that have been armed will not
he disclosed.
DANIaLs's s'rATEMENT
no NEWSPAPER MEN
Secretary Daniels. in his statement
to the newspaper men. said:
You have read tho statement is
sued from the White House. and now
you know that the President has the
power to arm American merchant ships
making trips OH the seas on lawful
errands. and Is free to exercise it ut
once. do not think you ought to
ask with what guns they will he
armed or how they will he manned or
exactly when tho power will he en-
ercised The government should be
trusted fully to carry ont the policy
announced in the hest way,
Il do not think you ought to ask
when they will sail. To-day re-
ruested every cable company in
America not To send out any news about
ships sailing 10 or from Europe. The
wireless stations are under the drec-
tion OF the Navy Department. and no
news Of sailinEs will 20 out by radio.
II am going to request you aud
every newspaper and every news
agency in the United States not TO
print any news about the arrival OF
ships or when any Of them viii sail
for European ports. There Is no power
OF censorship I'm our country The
President does not have any authority
over> the press In this time of ma
tional emergency. feel sure that
every newspaper will accedc to the
request not to even give hint or
speculation OF the sailing of American
ships Such publication might result
in the loss Of life. As the reasons are
so obvious for making this request.
there is confidence in administration
circles that this request will be COM
piled with by every paper I'm the
country.
PRESS CAN RENDER HIGH
PATRIOTIC SERVICE
"All patriotic Americans are ready
to make sacrifice for their country In
times of emergency. The press can
render the highest patriotic service by
refraining from printing at this time
what ordinarily they would freely
print.
"Inasmuch as il would be impossible
to reach every paper and news agency
directly, ! will ask all papers to carry
this request, which Is made as an
appeal to patriotism To all Journalists |
and disseminators OF news. The best
news the readers can have is that the |
government will protect tho rights OF
America to the freedom of the seas. |
The publication OF details can serve no
good purpose and might jeopardize
(Contlnued on Second Page.l