The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-03-03
ARMED SHIPS
DEFY SUBMARINES
CONTINUED from page ~

the American congress against itself
with the result that our legislators,
chosen to give the best that Is in
them for uhselfish devotion to the
nation, have thought less OF defense
than anything else.
1.-THE test hour for those legislators
is here
ut may interest them to know that
there are fewer men in the United
States regular army than there are
licensed chauffeurs in New York; and
the $4,000 men needed to fill the
vacancies in our regular navy would
give full population 10 a city OF NO
mean size.
Our coast artillery Is underman-
ned and it's guns are outranged by
the guns of the first class ships now
in European war service. I do not be-
lieve our navy is big or powerful
enough to repel invasion.
These defects must be remedied;
and only united congress, lnselfish-
ly American and working for the
United States, can change them"
Armed Merchant Ships.
by Robert j. Bender, United Press
Staff Correspondent
president awaits only authority-eX-
pected today-to issue an order to
arm American merchant ships.
The senate will give him full pow
ers today to take this step which
draws the United states closer to open
hostilities with Germany.
The navy department holds guns
in readiness at the New York, Boston,
Mare Island, Charleston, Philadei-
phia, Washington and other govern
ment yards for mounting on Amer1-
can vessels as soon as the order IS
issued The president is prepared
even to convoy vessels when mere
arming proves an insufficient protec-
ton for American lives and property
on the seas.
Immediately after "the full power
armed neutrality bill completes It's
journey through congress, the presi-
dent will sign it.
According to indications today, he
will at once announce at the white
house the dispatch of orders to Sec
rotary Of the Navy Daniels for arming
merchantmen. The secretary OF the
navy will then issue orders to COM
mandants Of the navy department
with instructions that guns available
there be put into immediate use.
Germanys recent announcement in
dicates this armament will not be suf-
ficient to guard American ships. Night
attacks are occurring.
Details of the German plot are still
held secret. Such facts as are per-
mitted to leak, show, however, that
Japan furnished munition making ma
chinery some time ago for Mexico
and the Germans helped operate the
government plant.
Still another development is the
probable entrance Of China in the
war IL she gets what she wants from
the entente in the way of concessions.
Unsuccessful effort was made by
Senator Hitchcock, in charge of the
authority bill before the senate
closed early today, to have speeches
after one o'clock this afternoon linn
tied to ten minutes.
Several senators announced they
wanted to talk at length on the bill.
There was also an effort to include
in the bill provision for conveying
American merchant ships.
While the convoy plan is discussed
as one means the president may. take,
this is not likely to be done at once.
owing to the scarcity of naval yes
sells. 1t is held possible, however,
that this governmen might establish
a lane of war ships through which
could pass to Ireland
and England. but this plan might be
regarded by naval men as taking