Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-11
NAVY WILL FURNISH
GUNS AND GUNNERS
|. FOR MERCHANTMEN.
May Be Given Authority to
Fire on Submarine
at Sight.
ENTITLED TO TAKE ALL
MEASURES OF PROTECTION
State Department Holds This
Would Not Be an Ag-
gressive Action.
TO GET WAR-RISK INSURANCE
Presidents Attitude Is That No Stem
OF Bclligerent Character
Shall Be Taken.
,By Associated Prea..l

BY Associated Press1
W y Fl r y G. r ON, March 1o-Tbs
united states government to-day be1a,
actual preparations for arminr Am.r.
'cah merchantmen. against Germany,s
submarine warfare. Shipowners bav.
ing ocen notified OF President Wilson'S
Ncision that he has full authority 60
! proceed. details were taken up SO
there might be as little delay as nos.
sible in granting requests for defen
slve armament.
When vessels sail under armed neu-
tralty they will have the full baol,- q
Ing of the administration expressed Z
In the form OF naval guns and gun
hers and war-rlsle insurance. It was
made clear to-day that the entire re-
sources of the United States will be
ready for action should Germany at.
tack an armed ship.
The State Departments view of de-
fensive armament expressed to-day.
I was that the nero appearance OF q
German submarines periscope near an
American armed vessel would entitias
the ship to take all measures of pro-
lection, on tho presumption that the
U-boats purpose was hostile.
Under this ruling. an American
.
German submarine the moment it was
sighted, without being considered as
taking aggressive action. This view
| Is based on Gcrmany's declared inten-s
ton to sink sight within certain
zones nll vessels. neutral as we'll as
belliCerent. and whether passenger
vessels. freighters or contraband carr
ricrs.
L. :. STANDS TLATIY
ON MARCH, - WARMING
rho United States was said to stand
ilatiy on it's armed merchantmen warn
ing Of March 81 last. In which it
definitely recognized the right to pre-
vent capture" as part OF the fright OF
SELF protection" which could be exer-E
'is"d either by flight or resistance.
IN" mere presence Of a German sub-
marine is declared ground for assume
inG hostile intent. because OF the state
n"hi hy Germany that all vessels are
:" DO sunk "n sight. Denial by Ger.
many "t the old rule OF visit and search
makes All its G-boats actually hostile,
Whether this position will be en-
bodied IN Instructions to comma nders
~ American armed ships. and whether
arms and ammunition VIII be furnished
TO vessels carrying contraband, were
up for discussion to-day but no an
nounccmcnt OF either point was au-
thori%cd.
President Wilson's attitude has been
mat ~" steps OF ~ belligerent charac-
ter should be taken, and that IL Il state
OF war comes, it must be through Ger-
nany's commission OF acts in clear vic
laticn cf international law Despite
the state departments ruling some
officials are known 10 feel that in line
with this policy the United states
should not sanction shoot -on-sichts
program, which might be construed as
aggression.
PRESIDENT DISCUSSES
ISSUES WITH GREGORY
President Wilson has sufficiently re-
covered from his Illness to-day to re-
cciNc Attoricy-C;cucral Gregory and 20
over With him legal questions In con-
ncction with the new policy OF armed
neutrality. 8$
Since tho policy or tho government
has been n tho past not TO insure
ammunition Ia the belliscrcnts. 1t has
bccn considered probable that this at \
iitudc would be maintained Tho lists
of contrahand articles recommended by
the United states differ widely from
those drawn M 10y the various hellieer-R
cnts, and therefore. it IS believed that
only actual munitions of war Will bo3
I placed on the restricted list for the.
I purpose Of determining what ships arc
to hc insured. S
Reports that tho state department.
was preparing o white book of Gcr-{
many's plots and intriGues in this
country for presentation shortly either
TO the press or 10 tho Senate. We're
denied by Secretary Lansing to-day.
lie said that no such step was in CON-
temptation, and that no present end
could be served hy tt. IS
| Aavyyards were ordered to-day to
equip the vessels as fast as possihlc.tl
and the action viii put tho unitcf4
states in the position Of armed ueNty
traiity, the next step beyond the scvoxIls
ancc of diplomatic relations with GerfSs
many. and possibly the preliminary j
OF war What ships arc 10 he arn,cds;
first and Whom they viii sail VIII
/ be kept secret, in order 10 avoid cn.s
dangerins tho lives OF Americana
aboard them "a
President Wilson issued the ncees-%
sary orders yesterday. In tho belisf