Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-12
State Department Informs
Other Nations Of United
States Action.
FOR SAFETY OF ALL
VESSELS AND LIVES
Mobilization Of Complete Fighting
Strength Of Navy Recommended BY
Naval Officials and Executive Order
May Foiiow-Contracts For Sixteen
Huge Airships-Forsign Liners May
Arm Fore end At.

Washington, March IL. - Formal
notice that American ships traversing
the German submarine zone are
carrying armed guards for the pro-
lection Of. the vessel and lives of per-
sons on board, was sent to the en-
bassies and legations Of all govern
ments in Washington by the state de-
partment. Following Is the text Of tho
communication:
"ln Wow Of tho announcement of
tho imperial German government
on Jan. 81, 1917, that all ships,
those Of neutraIs included, met
within certain zones Of the hiah
cas- would be sunk without any
preoaution being taken for the
safety of nersone or hoard, ard
without tho exercise Of visit and
search, the government Of the
United States has decided 70 place
on all merchant vessels sailing
thru tho barred areas an armed
guard for the safety Of all vessels
and tho lives Of those on board"
The navy departments position Is
that 1t will equip all ships whose own
ers apply for the guns.
May Mobilize Navy.
Mobilization OF the complete fighting
strength Of the navy has been recon-
mended by naval officials. The APP
prevail Of President Wilson Is required
before orders can be sent ordering out
the reserves, assembling the militia
and releasing the forces now on shore
duty for sea service. Immediate grad
iation OF the flrstc lass at Annapolis
would be included In the plan. An ac-
tive recruiting campaign also would be
necessary. s
Navy recruiting continues to show =
great increase. For the first eight
days in March the net, gain was 71S
men. Many OF the recruits are from
districts where the navy league IL CO.
operating with the department. On
March there were 59.037 enlisted men
In the navy, and on March 8, 5S,573.
There are still needed for mobilization
l02.295.
Sixteen Airships Purchased.
Purchase Of sixteen non-rigid dirigi-
bic airshipS for coast patrol work. at
a total cost Of $649,250, was announced
todtlS ny Niic navy Nephi tIiehN.
The Curtiss Aeroplane Company, OF
Buffalo, n. Y. was awarded three for
s122,25o; the Connecticut Air Craft
Company. of New Haven. two for $S4.-
900: the Goodyear Tire and Rubber
Company, Akron, O.. nine for $S60.000,
and the B. r. Goodrich Rubber COM
pany. Of Akron, two for $4,000. De-
liveries will begin within 120 days.
The airships are the first OF such
| type to be bought by the navy under
the recent s5oO0,00O appropriation for
aeronautics. They will be $50 feet in
length. 'S112 feet in diameter, so feet
| high over all, and will be equipped
with radio communication and 100
| horsepower motors capable OF making
| a continuous flight of sixteen hours
ut thirty-f five miles each, and a max
| imum speed of forty-flv miles an hour
for ten hours.
Under the designs drafted by naval
constructors, the dirigibles will be able
| to operate from shore bases and alike
| from water surface In good weather.
, Liners May Arm Fore and At.
| New York, March IL. Permission