Connecticut western news., 1917-02-01
ARMED LINERS
 QUESTION AGAIN
Washington Sees Peril Ahead
 In New Sea Warfare.
ASKS BRITAIN ABOUT PLANS

Germany to Meet Increased Armament
 on Merchantmen by Ruthless Raid
 ina Should United States Rule Their
 Status Is Still PeacefuI-State De-
 partment Anxious Over Situation.
 The sea warfare of the European struggle again confrontS the United States with serious threat of grave complications.
 Following a declaration by Secretary of State Lansing that the entire dis puted question of armed merchant yes sels and the use of submarines was once more before the state department for consideration the following devel Opments became apparent:
 The United States will ask Great Britain to state clearly her intentions as to further increasing the arlnament of merchant vessels, including tranSat- lantic diners
 Ambassador Gerard at Berlin was requested to furnish promptly Il state ment of the facts in the Yarrowdale case and of the status of three Ameri- cans known to be among the crew of the Yarrowdale and held by the Ger man government as prisoners of war because they served on an armed belllgerent ship.
 United States May Change Altitude.
 The United States may change its present attitude as to armed merchant vessels, which, as last outlined. held that no matter what armament a ship may carry she may not be considered a war vessel unless she uses her guns for definite aggressive" action.
 The recurrence of the naval contro- versy. which has been a source of anx- iety to the United States since the be ginning of the European war. grew out of two immediate causes. Authentic reports that Great Britain plans to mount fore and aft guns on all trans atlantic liners, diSmounting all but one stern gun at Halifax before bringing the vessels to the United States. came from British sources.
 From Teutonic diplomats came em phatic statements that ships thus arm ed would be looked upon as auxiliary warshipS and sunk by submarines on sight
 With the seas made the scene of open combat between merchant yes. sels of the entente powers and Tcu- tonic submarines seeking to enforce a food blockade the safeguarding of American citizens on the high seas would force summary action by the United States.
 The gravity of the situation is fur. ther accentuated by the reported inten, ton of the allies to increase the mine blockade of the North sea. making il more than ever dangerous for neutral ships to attempt to reach tho Scandi- uavian countries.
 New Ruling Possible.
 Confronted with the situation. Secre- tary of State Lansing confined himself to the declaration that the entire ques- tion was under serious considerat tion It is apparent. however, that the ad- ministration is gravely concerned over the possibilities and that new line of action in the armed ship controversy is probable.
 While a ruling of the state depart ment was held that vessels clearing from American ports as peaceable merchantmen can carry only single gun astern. the department has fiatIy declared that because vessels carry more guns is not a sufficient reason for declaring her warship and sinking her without warning.
 The reported British plan to bring all ships to and from American ports via Halifax. where the extra guns would be dismOunted. it was stated at the department. would not avoid the state department ruling whatever form 1t might take. It war made clear thai the condition of the ship when she leaves for home port is the determin ing>factor in fixing the status and not her condition when she reaches q neu tral destination.
 Diplomatic Washington saw In to- days developments a clear indication that if the war is to continue if will become a war lpon the sea. German diplomats declared that if the neutral ity rulings of the United States allow ed heavily armed entente merchant ships to prey upon submarines the lat ter would not be backward in resDond. ing. They asserted that as the war seems doomed to become war of star vation the submarine will take it's place in the open sea. determined to prevent all possible supplies from reaching Great Britain and her allies.