The sun., 1917-03-10
Appeal Is Made to Patriot
ism of Press and Cable
Companies.
SECRETARY SAYS NAVY
WILL EQUIP LINERS
Qualification of Details
Might Jeopardize Human
Life" He Declares.
GUNS OF 3 TO 6 INCH
CALIBRE TO BE USED
Armament, Names of YES
sells and Sailing Dates
Won't Be Disclosed.

WASHINGTON, March 9.-Lacking legal
authority to establish general censorship
the Administration appealed tonight to
the patriotism OF the country's news
papers and cable companies to suppress
publication and transmission of infor-
nation about the movements of Ameri-
can merchant craft which are to be
armed against German submarines.
Secretary Daniels has determined not
to reveal any of the Navy Department
plans for carrying out tie policy or
dered by President Wilson. He pre-
viously has stated. however. that the
navy is prepared with guns. ammunition.
gun crews and all other necessary equip
ment or personnel to carry out the in
structions.
Navy yard commandants will superin-
tend the actual installation Of guns on
merchant craft. The rifles. ammunition.
mounts. range finders and other access
sories are already stored at the yards.
They range from heavy s inch rifles to
inch weapons and smaller guns. The
number Of guns to go on each ship. the
personnel selected from the active list
of the navy or from the reserve to handle
the guns, the time of sailing or the
names of ships that have been armed
Will not be disclosed
Statement by Daniels.
Secretary Daniels in his statement 10
the newspaper men said:
You have read the statement issued
from the White House and now you
know that the President has the power
to arm American merchant ships making
trips on the seas on lawful errands and
is free to exercise it at once. l do not
think you ought to ask with what guns
they will be armed or how they will be
manned or exactly when the power will
be exercised. The Government should
be trusted fully to carry out tho policy
announced in the best way.
II do not think you ought to ask when
the ships will be armed or print when
they will sail. To-day ! requested every
cable company in America not to send
out any news about ships sailing to or
from Europe. The wireless stations are
under the direction OF the Navy Depart
ment and no news Of sailings will go
out by radio.
Il am going to request you and every
newspaper and every news agency in
the United States not to print any news
about the arrival of ships or when any
Of them will sail for European ports.
Later Secretary Daniels announced
that there would be no objection to pub
fishing the arrival OF vessels in Ameri-
can ports and that the stipulation con.
cerning arrivals might be stricken from,
his request to the newspapers Of the
country)
Plea to Patriotic americana.
There Ia no power of censorship in
have any authority over the press. In
this time of national emergency I feel
sure that every newspaper will accede
to the request not to even give a hint
or speculation Of the sailing OF Ameri-
can ships. Such publication might re-
suit In the loss OF life. AS the reasons
are so obvious for making this request
there is confidence in Administration
circles that this request will be complied
with BY every paper In the country.
"All patriotic Americans are ready
to make sacrifice for their country lr
times Of emergency. The press car
| render the highest patriotic service by
refraining from printing AT this time
| what ordinarily they would freely print
"Inasmuch as 1t will be impossible tc
reach every paper and news agency di
rectly. will ask all papers to carry
this request, which is made as an ap
peal to patriotism to all journalists anC
dissemnators Of news. The best news
the readers can have Is that the Gov
! ernment will protect the rights OF Amer
lea 10 the freedom of the seas. TIL,
publication Of details can serve no gooc
purpose and might jeopardize human
life. All readers will surely applaud tn,
| papers in responding to this appeal"