Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-01-31
NO DECISION YET
ON SHIP ARMING
Lloyd George Cabinet Fails
to Reach Policy in
Discussion
EXPECT BIG U-BOAT RIOw

LONDON, Jan Al
Despite the London Times assertion tho,
was authorized to deny that the Ilo,,,
George Cabinet would Increase tho 49,
ments on merchant ships by placing ,mu.
fore and aft, reports were Dersista,,
day that the Government had not re.ohos
conclusion on this important ouestios
The Pail Mall Gazette which is regoraa',
as the mouthpiece of the Lloyd George rn,r
istry, takes the view that mercbnrt .,,,
viii be effectively armed"
Commenting upon the armed ,ror,,,
snip situation, the Pail Mall Gazette sa,,..
Germany is going to be very fright,
ful as a punishment for the refusal -,
her peace overtures. No such relics
OF humanity as she may throw over
can make q substantial difference ~
her warfare. During the next fon,
months she will undergo the sunran,.
test or resistance to her submarine
campaign. Among the other neasuros
tne eHectlNe arming of our mer
chantmen. This step will compel IN.
clearly p''i''oh
The American attitude towards ,h.
arming of merchantmen has long beon
discussed by Washington with ho,h
London and Berlin The decision ,s +.
regarded as momentous and posshl,,
giving a powerful leverage 10 tho
German chauvinists I'm insisting thn.
Germany would better fight Amer,oa
than have the submarine strippod re a..
usefulness "'
ROITERDAM Jan. 31.--Newspaper,
Fhd Shippers are unperturbed ovcr ~
new British mine blockade. some ,.ue .ne
consider it advantageous and likely to ~,
uer more dlfiicult the patrols of the Dutch
coast by German submarines and torpedo.
boats. '0'p peuo-
The Nieuw Rotterdamsche Courant TODAY
declared: ''
England is absolutely right in AZ.
tempting to protect herself against The H
submarine. If she succeeds in reduc-
ing the peril many neutrals will be
thankful.
through London and the British censor, 10
the first definite reference to the "danoar"
specified i'm a recent British official an.
nouncement of a new danger zone" in tba
North Sea. N'e
Earnest requests are being made in ou
sections of the country that the Govern.
ment make some official announcement ~
its attitude on the question of effectively
armlng merchant ships. Writers on naval
affairs make no effort to disguise tho seri
BUSINESS OF the submarine menace The only
official public utterance to indicate the
trend or Government action was made in
the House of Commons on Decemher "a
when Sir Edgar Carson stated that the
Government is earnestly considering the
question OF arming all merchant ships"
The suggestion has been made that mer-
chant ships be sent out in fleets under the
convoy OF one or more warships Whether
this suggestion will be followed up is moi
known now, but color is lent to the pro-
posal by the recent naval conferences in
London for the closer coordination of the
British. French, Italian and Russian
navies"
The chief issues involved are these:
First. The possibility of diplomatic
entanglements with the United States.
Second. The possibility of the whole
sale loss of life among noncombatant
seamen If Germany should decide to
sink all armed mercantile vessels With
out warning.