Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-03-12
WORD Of U. S. DECISION IS
GIVEN EMBASSIES AT
CAPITOL TODAY
IS NOW UP TO KA|SEn
WAR OR PEACE RESTS WITH SUB.
MARINES AND THEIR CONDUCT
TOWARD AMERICAN VESSELS
GERARD SAILS FROM HAVANA
ON LAST LEG OF JOURNEY.


ON LAST LEG OF JOURNEY.
Washington, Mar. 12.-The State
today sent to all the for
e,en embassies and legations in Wash
ington official notification of this gov
ernment's decision to place arms and
armed guards on all American ships
leaving these shores for the subma-
rine zone.
The announcement came immediate
ly after Secretary Lansing conferred
with President Wilson at the White
House. and follows:
THE Department of State has
today sent the following state
ment to all foreign missions in
Washington for their information:
I'm view of the announcement
OF the Imperial German govern
ment on Jan. 81, 1917, that all
ships, those of neutrals included,
met within certain zones Of the
high seas, would be sunk without
any precautions being taken for
the safety of the persons on board
and with the exercise of visit and
search the government Of the
United States has determined to
place upon all American merchant
vessels sailing thru the barred
areas an armed guard for the pro-
lection OF the vessels and the
lives OF persons on board"
II was made clear at the Depart
ment that this communication Is no
wise intended for Berlin and that the
Swiss legation Is not expected to com.
municate it to the Kaiser's govern
ment.
1t was also learned at the State Ce-
partment that the United States holds
that the presence OF naval gulners on
American merchantmen will not
change the status OF those ships, as
this country has never accepted the
assertion of Germany that naval men
on British merchants rendered them
auxiliary warships.
Guns and gunners will be placed on
ships as well as other boats,
it was declared, and the naval men
will be responsible directly to the
government and not to the captains Of
the ships to which they are assigned.
Whether commissioned officers are
used is entirely up to the Navy De-
partment, it was stated
The position of the President and
the State Department now is that II
Germany wishes to avoid armed con-
nict with the United States the only
way is to spare American ships. and
that she will do this no one close to
the administration believes.
Gerard to Reveal Truth.
Havana, Mar 12-Startling revela-
tions of German diplomatic intrigue
will be made by James W. Gerard,
former American Ambassador, after
lie reports to Secretary of State Lals-
ing and President wilson II was re-
ported before the Gerard party sailed
for Key West at 10 O'Clock today
aboard the Steamer Cobb.
Gerard's purpose, his friends say, is
to furnish the President with an effec-
tive weapon to combat the pacitist
element in Congress. His revelations.
it is understood will be given as much
publicity as possible and will go a
long way toward clearing up any
doubts in the United States Of Ger
many's attitude The former ambas-
cador believes it to be his duty to IL
form the American public members OF
his party declared. and will back up
his statements with documentary evil
dence.
Gerard himself declined to submit
to interviews of the statements when
approached by newspaper men here,
but several members OF his party
brought to Havana first hand informa'
ton regarding internal conditions III
Germany They reported that Ger
many. threatened with starvation, is
counting upon three factors to save
her from defeat. These are
!. An effective submarine cam
paign that will starve England INTO
making peace,
?. A revolution tn Russia.
8. Withdrawal of Italy from the
war.
The new submarine war had been
in operation only few days when the
Ambassasor and his party lett ter
many and none of the U-boats had re-
turned with reports. But absolute con
fdenee prevailed thruout the Empire
that the new warfare would bring
England to her knees
Gerard will 50 report to president
! Wilson upon his arrival In Washlng-
ton.