Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-09
YANKEE GUNNERS
MAKE SEA LANES
UNSAFE FOR HUNS
CONTINUED from First FaEe.)

UNSAFE run HUNS
(Ccntinucd from First Fage.)
nothing moro than was justified by
American history and precedent. Hum
drcds OF vessels used to sail heavily
armed out of Salem and Boston and
Portsmouth in times Of nominal peace.
nor did any foreign government con-
slider II "a hostile act. They were hon
est mercha ntmen i'll duty bound to
protect themselves against lawiesS aS-
erosion. And it was these same
armed merchant ships which were
swiftly commissioned as privateers at
the outbreak OF the Revolution and
swooped the sea like hawks. They
captured 500 British ships. audaciousiy
towering in tho English Channel and
the Irish Sea, and dealt tho cncmy's
prestige a deadlier blow than did WASH
ington's armies by land. II was In
merchant ships authorized as rrjva-
tcerS that Captain JONATHAN Haradcn.
figure 20 stand beside John Paul
Jones. captured 4 thousand cannon
upon the high seas, and he took them
all in the smoke and fame of gun
powder.
Jus: why this stsnch American doc
trinc was revived against Germany is
easily understood by recalling certain
events OF the last two. years. 1t was
postponed because the imperial gov
eminent gave promises which were In
tended TO be broken. The United States
was reluctant to believe that the
craftsmanship OF n great nation could
bc built wholly upon rerhdy. dishonor,
and brutality. The pledges OF decent
behavior wrunE from Germany after
.,y q 7 ,stt la. md fl,A
Sussex were wantonly violated in the
sinking of the Cunard liner Laconia.
The German announcements that all
merchant ships would be sunk without
warning inside barred zone was the
conclusive proof that all international
law was regarded as a scrap OF paper.
This unrestricted submarine war
fare was misnamed. II was piracy,
pure and simple, and OF a kind so base
that Captain Kidd would have blushcd
for it. The President Of the United
States. by means of the power which
he has the right to use without any
special authority granted by Congress-
notified all nations through the De-
partmcnt of State OH March - that lin
view OF the announcement OF the inn
perial German government on January
81 1917. that all ships. those of neu-
trails included. met within certain
zones of the high seas. would he sunk
without any precaution taken for the
safety OF the persons on board. and
without the exercise of visit and search,
the government OF the United States
has determined TO place upon al Amer
lean merchant vessels sailing through
the barred areas an armed guard for
the protection OF tho vessels and tho
lives of the persons on board"
ARMED FOR DEFENSE.
NOT AS BELLIGERENT
Now. the distinction was very care
fully made. that these were not armed
ships. but merchant ships carrying
armed guards. This was because the
guns and gunnerS were 10 be furnished
by the United States Navy rs a part
o! the government. In order to re-
tain their status as merchant ships.
their shippers were to continue in
command and the gun crews were 10
attend strictly TO their own business
OF trying 10 sink as pirate any sub
marine which should fail to observe
the laws OF boarding and searching
for contraband. II was perfectly clear
that armng ship for defense was a
right and not bellscrent act. and
that the presence OF defensive gun
crews did not make vessels either
auxiliary cruisers or ships of war.
The old-fashioncd mariner had no
such technicalitics as thesS to bother
his head about. His own Srcw fought
his snip as we'll as sailed her and ho
could find plenty OF men trained 10 the
trade. In these days. however. the
navy is the only resource for armlns
" ship. What seems like splitting hairs
in the matter Of the armed guard"
was therefore a legal device 10 let the
navy do the work and Yet avoid any
confusion AS to the character of tho
vessel. No matter how many guns She
might mount. She was still merchant
man controlled by her captain. crew.
and owners.
1t was new business for the navy TO
undertake and the demand came Mt
short notice in the midst OF rush Of
routine preparations for war when
every officer was fairly working his
head OFF To key the fighting feet to
the highest possible notch OF efficiency
was the one thought III mind. Here
was the armed guard. to he organized
overnight as :; separate department Of
tile service. liners and cargo steamers
their guns and gun crews. the country
very impatient and unfairly accusing
The government OF going 10 sleep on
The job.
7" lay hands on scores OF guns OF
inc smaller size required Was one
phase of the problem put UP TO tho
navy They are no, piled up in storage
Ike the old twelve FOUNDERS in Tn,
East India warehouses Of Salem a
hundred years ago War was impend.
ing, and II was known that a urea,
number OF these secondary battery
pieces would be required 10 arm trans
ports, the Larger patrol vessels. and m,
rest OF the auxiliary navy list. Arriu.
merchantmen WAS AN additional tasI,
ana very large one. The guns were
found however, and excellent runs:
theH were, nor were the shlDs k.n,
waiting any longer than was ncces.
sary TO build the platforms and noun,
the long weapons in position.
When II came to getting gun cr.w,
there were complications. Tn. s,r
men who put a four or Gve.inch gun
through us PAGES are trained "a ,vorl.