Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1917-03-15
VESSELS ARMED BY
ORDER OF WILSON
President Also Calls an Extra
Session o. Congress % Meet
April Is.
sECRfcy CONCERNING SHIPS
Names 81 Those Reeslvlne Gums Arc
WithhsM BY Government and sse-
rotary Daniels Asks Voluntary
Censorship by y. 8. Press.

WitkhsM BY Government and Dec
rotary Daniels Asks Voluntary
Censorship by Y. 3. Press.
Washington. March 12.--rresident
Wilson has decided to arm American
merchant ships, under his constitu-
tional authority. and also laas called a
special session OF congress tor April 10
American merchant ships sailing for
the submarine zone have been armed
BY the government and they are realy
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.
Z The president signed the proclama-
ton for the extra session on Friday
while lying In bed with q cold. Orders
for carrying out the presidents de-
cision to arm ships were Immediately
sent to the navy department.
0aoied 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 II.
Mr.. Wilson has the backing of tho
entire cabinet In taking the step. Gums
for arming merchantmen have been as-
setnbled ut 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 APP
peal to the American newspapers to
refrain from publishing any informa-
tion whatever OF the nature or arma-I
ment OF ships and already has appealed
to the cable companies to suppress all
Information Of shibs crossing tho At,
lnntic In either direction.
Because OF the passage by tho house
OF the armed neutrality bill and the
signing Of the manifesto approving
such a step by a majority Of the senate
during Its last session. the president
feels he has congress and the country
behind him. An soon as congress con-
venes additional legislation on the
question will be asked.
Under 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 $4,000, 900.
Tumulty Makes Statement.
The following statement was issued
Secretary Tumulty stated In con-
nection with the presidents call for an
extra session of congress that the pres
ident is convinced that. he has tho
power to arm American merchant ships
and IL free to exercise It ut once. But
SO much necessary legislation IL press
Ing for consideration that he Ii con-
WINGED that 1t IL for the best interests
of the country to have an early session
Of the Sixty-fifth congress, whose sup
port ne will need in all matters col
lateral to the defense Of our merchant
marine"
After the White House announce
ment the navy department announced
I'VE are prepared as to gunners as well
az 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 ep.
II was stated that as soon as the
new congress convenes the president
will lay before joint session his views
and desires as to legislation. II he
vents legislative sanction Tor his step
In arming American ships, congress
sionai 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 II extremely possible that here
will be bipartisan organization In the
next house withe Champ Clark con-
tinued ms speaker.
white Book to Tell Plotting.
IT became known that the admins
tration IN preparing White Book set
ting forth all of the evidence OF Ger
man plotting against the United
States. chiefly In the Latln-American
countries, and I'm 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 more
serious turn.