The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-03
READY TO MOUNT GUNS
WHEN ORDER IS GIVEN
Navy Department Can Prepare Amer
lean Liners for Sea Within
Twenty HourS
THEN NEXT MOVE WILL
BE Up TO GERMANY
All Energies of L. s. Government
VIII Be Devoted Now to Restoring
Trans Atlantic Service-Resuit May
He War.

Washington, March 2.--Complete
arrangements for arming the mer-
chant vessels Of the United States TO
DEFY the German submarine zone were
reported 10 President Wilson today
by Secretary OF the Navy Daniels.
The president IS prepared to order
the next step" against Germany. as
soon as congress has finally acted on
his request for complete authority to
protect American rights at sea
With the final action OF congress
on the authorization resolution but j
matter OF twen,y-four hours. II was
apparent tonight that the presidential
order would be forthcoming before
the formal Inauguration ceremonies
on Monday start President Wilson on
his second term in the White House.
With American commerce once more
or the high seas the next move in the
fatefuI German American crisis VIII
be Germanys. No further action by
this government has yet been decided
on. The president is determined TO
relieve American commerce of the
blockade imposed by the German sub
marine campaign whether congress
grants him full authority or not
Secretary OF the Navy Daniels in
his report TO the president made II
'
of the American line can he furnish
ed with guns and gnnners within
tweuty-four hours after the pres-
Dental order is issued. These ships
would be the first to be armed and
the government expects them to re-
sumo their regular sailIngs under the
protection of the naval armament.
The naval secretary reported that guns
ranging from to 6-inch naval rifles,
are stored at Iona island, at the
Brooklyn navy yard. at the Norfolk
navy yard. and at Boston. ready to
be mounted on merchant ships at
once. The secretary pointed out that
the American lire ships were built
to receive guns and that mounting
them would call for little labor. He
said that it might take a longer time
to arm other vessels. as a 3-inch gun.
exclusive of the mount weighs 10, 600
pounds, and many Of the ships would
require structural bracing before they
could mount such weapons.
The president was told only two
requests have come 10 the department
for arms and gunners outside of the
oft-repreated request of p. A. s.
Franklin head of the American line.
The navy department, ii was said,
does not contemplate any embarrass-
Ing TuSfl IOf naval SlHS WItl ift
president issues his order to arm
vessels Guns will be mounted and
gunners supplied. only after formal
application to the, navy department.
President Wilson il was learned to-
night believes that the only reply to
Germany which this country can now
make is the immediate resumption of
American transatlantic commerce.
Until that step has been taken all col
lateral and aggravating issues be-
tween the United States and Germany
will be held in allegiance.
Official Washington Will wait to see
what action Germany takes and what
treatment is accorded American yes
sells plying the war zone protected
with United States navy guns. The
sinking of such vessel by n sub
marine would, it is recognized, at once
increase the gravity of the situation.
and the destruction of submarine by
an American ship defending itself
from attack. would undoubtedly be
considered an act of war. These mat
tors, 1T was,stated Taught. will be con-
sidered by the administration when
they are reached. but for the present
the energies Of the president will be
directed toward keeping American
commerce safe in its peaceful pur-
suits at sea.