The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-12
Wants Guns for American Line
Passenger Steamships.
ADMINISTRATION TAKES NOTICE
of e. s. Ports Is Rap
idly Becoming IntOlerable.
Is Hostile Act for Navy to
Issue Guns Direct.

WASHINGTON,
Franklin, president of the Interna-
tiona1 Mercantile marine today made
formal application to the navy de-
partment for guns to arm the passen-
ger liners of the American line.
Administration officials began to-
day to share the impatience of ship
ping men over forced detention of
American vessels in their home ports
because of Germany's U-boat war.
This feeling appeared likely to has
ten the solution of the question of
armament for merchantmen. The
solution will probably be direct or in
direct issuance of the navy depart
ment guns to merchant ships desiring
them.
Authorities felt that Germany ought
not to be in the position to say that
she had driven shipping from the seas
thru fear of her U-boats. And despite
war between United States and Ger
many, this government doubted that
Germany is prepared to modify her
underSea campaign.
Must Do Something.
The government has found it must
do something to help the tied up ship
ping or face a stream of probable pub
lie condemnation for permitting ship
ping to lie idle while by all rights it
can travel-tho undoubtedly only with
armament as safeguard.
While the state department said
frankly Saturday that the navy could
not issue guns without its being a
hostile act, there was a disposition to-
day to have the action indirect.
The whole situation has been turned
over to the navy for consideration
It may sell guns to some source and
then have this source supply them to
ships wanting them; again, it may
openly supply the guns.
One of the highest government Off
Gals characterized the shipping situa-
ton as rapidly becoming intolerable"
and held that the government must do
som ething very soon He also said
openly that matters would shape up
right and in very short time.
Expect German Reply to NeutraIs.
While the government ponders it's
decision as to armament, neutrals are
continuing their pressure on Germany
to have her modify her warfare.
The fact that they had offered to do
the two countries. officially stated at
the state department, offered some
hope of modification-but not much.
Germany's answer to neutral pro-
tests, expected soon, will probably
show this government what it has to
Idce-real war OR merely a continual
ton of broken relations without war.
Tie Up More Liners.
New York. Feb. 1.-Two more
American liners will be at their piers
today to lie idle until conditions in
Germany's unrestricted submarine
warfare are better.
The New York was due to dock
during the day. The KroonIand ar
rived yesterday. Both came from
Liverpool.
While officials of the American line
are holding back the action which will
send. their ships unprotected into the
danger water, another American
freighter, the Owego, has gone out to
brave the terrors of the submarine.
The Owego, 2, 612-ton ship is on
her way to Genoa. She carries a gen.
era1 cargo of $500 tons, sent out by
the federal line, her owners. Captain
Hatfield, her master. and two-thirds
of his crew are Americans.
The Owego formerly was a great
lakes ship.
Wireless MESA ges from the New
York before she passed quarantine
brought no startling news. Apparent
~ she had an uneventful VOYAGE She
left Liverpool February 5, the last day
of grace granted by Germany for neu-
trail ships.
The kroonland brought thrilling
! tale of suspected German commerce.
raiders. the sight of a Dutch ships de-
structfon by a U-boat and a narrow
escape from destruction herself in a
collision.