The Elbert County tribune., 1917-03-16
GERMANS BAR
TO Be IGNORED
AMERICA is DETERMINED TO
PROTECT THE LIVES AND
PROPERTY OF CITIZENS.
US. WILL ARM ALL SHIPS
PRESIDENT FORMALLY NOTIFIES
REPRESENTATIVES, OF ALL
POWERS IN WASHINGTON.

Washington, March 14.-Formal no
the German submarine zone are to
carry "armed guards for the protec-
ton of the vessel and the lives of the
persons on board" was sent by the
State Department to embassies and
legations of all foreign governments
in Washington. Following is the text
of the communication, which was
/ made public by the State Depart
ment:
"In view of the announcement of
the German government on Jan. 81,
1917, that all ships. those of neutrals
included. met within certain zones Of
high seas would be sunk without any
precaution being taken for the safety
of the persons on board and without
the exercise of visit and search, the
government of the United States has
determined to place upon all Ameri-
can merchant vessels sailing through
4 the barred areas an armed guard for
the protection of the vessels and the
lives of the persons on board"
The Navy Departments position is
that it will equip with arms all ships
whose owners apply to it.
1t was learned at the State Depart
ment that the United States holds
that the presence of naval gunners on
American merchantmen will not
change the status of those ships, as
this country has never accepted the
assertion Of Germany that naval men
on British merchantmen rendered
them auxiliary warships.
Guns and gunners will be placed on
munition ships as well as other boats
it was declared, and the naval men
will be responsible directly to the
government and not to the captains
of the ships to which they are as
signed. Whether commissioned Off
GERS are used is entirely up to the
Navy Department, it is stated.
The position of the President and
the State Department now is that
II Germany wishes to avoid armed
conflict with the United States. the
only way is to spare American ships.
Amsterdam.-The Koenische volks
Zeitung, a copy of which has been re-
ceived here, admits that the arming of
American merchantmen will make
Germany's position more difficult. 1t
expresses the belief that the Ameri-
cans will not find 1t easy to provide
guns and gun crews, and says 1t does
not believe the danger to German sub
marines will be increased
I'VE have always maintained" says
the newspaper. that victory over
England would be impossible unless
we also determined to face America
This moment has now come. If an
American declaration of war arrives,
the German people will accept it with
the same determination and conf
dence that they have accepted all
previous declarations"
Ell Paso, Tex.-Because of the ru-
mored activities of German agents,
two companies of United States troops
were sent to guard the Elephant Butte
dam near Engle, New Mex. The dam
was built at cost of about $10,000,-
900 for the irrigation of the upper
Rio Grande valley. AT the bottom OF
what is now great artificial lake are
the ruins OF seven once-thriv'ng towns
sacrificed for the sake of the irriga-
ton enterprise. Dynamiting the dam
would precipitate one of the greatest
flood tragedies of history.
\ Court Finds Thaw Insane.
| Philndplphia Harry Y Tb,,, ~, c