Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-03-10

The newspapers cf the United States
have been asked bE Secretary Dan
iels TO refrain from publication of
shipping news that might imper5I hB-
man life or property ON the seas This
appeal. simultaneous with announce
meut that American vessels are TO be-
armed upon the authority Of the pres
ideut and sent across the Atlantic ana
through the submarine zone created
by Germany, brings the country closer
20 the actuaiitjes ~ warfare than ID
has been at any period since she fires
Of slaughter, rapina and hatred have
been consuming the yigals of a beIig-
ereuJ Europe
The president has discovered that
he does not have to have au approx
ing vote Of congress IL order to en-
force armed neutrality That is what
putting guns on American ships fs
called 1T is maintained that ST. fs not
UarHke act that 81 Is q pTecaut5uu
adopted that a vessel with an the
rights that IT. had previous to the war
between the nations Of Europe. may
be prepared tn resist Illegal assault
the guns under no circumstances TO
be employed ~ attack without posi-
tive evidence that the ship Is To be
made the object of seizure or sinking
without warrant
The president and his advisers have
assumed the position that ff Germany
ts sin cere in her reiterated Urotesta-
tons Of desire to remain an peace
with the United States she need not
be disturbed by the new American
program on the sea On the other
hand. If there exists in Berlin that IN
difference as TO the status of relations
between the two nations that we now
and then hear rumbliugs of. st viii be
easy for the Germans to precipitate
the crisis that official Washington has
fought ana laboTed SO long and con
sistently 10 avoid. President Wilson
opposed the arminE of American ships
until Germany violated her promises
and warned the United States that the
shipping IF neutTals would look no
different than that OF the enemy after
Feb l.. This threat Of wholesale de
struCtiOu practically paraIyzed Amer .
lean European shipping. the owners or +
vessels refusing to sail until there was +
some assurance of protection from I.
their government That protection IFS f
to be given without further par.av /
The most expert Eunuers of the Amer {
lean navy VIII be stationed on the (
ships sailing through the submarine .
blockade zone Their instructions viii I
be only to fire when they are men /
aced, which is plain notice to the
kaiser that be must keep hands off
American ships If he desires TO COR
-inue friendly with the United States
Next week we may expect 10 see 81
resumption of American shipping be-
ween our ports and European har-
oors. Whether # presages war lis "a
matter upon which the people of the
nation are far from agreed, but if Is
Toes the same people VIII BEE as one In
supporting the president had his deter
nination to uphold American rights
and honor before tina world. So rs 5s
1ut fair that Secretary Daniels should
,xpect the press of the United States
@ lend its cooperation 10 the govern L
nent TO the end that no advance fnfor-
nation be published in reference to the
iates Of sailings of American ships
or Europe or of the personnel of their
oassen ger lists or of the nature OF ]
heir Cargoes IT Is believed the news
lapers ana press associations as q
init will respect the request OF the /
ecretary Of the navy lie has the 1
hedge of the Associated Press to that
feet, and iuasmuCh rs The Argus re- i
elves its telagraphfc news from the {
associated Press, this paper becomes
party 90 the compact and is glad to
x Sc numbered