South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-03-12
State Department Makes 1t
Clear That COmmuniCa-
ton is in NOWiSe In
tended For Berlin.
GERMANY EXPECTED
TO POSTPONE ISSUE
Believed That U-bOatS Will
Not Pay Much Attention to
u. S. ShipS-PIan-
ming For Drive.
international News Service

International News Service.
WASHINGTON, March 12-The
state department today sent TO the
foreign embassies and legations i'm
Washington official notification Of
this governments decision TO place
arms and armed guards on all Amer
lean ships leaving these shores for
the submarine zone.
The announcement came immedi-
ately after Sec'y Lansing conferred
with Pres't Wilson at the white
house and was as follows:
The department Of state has to-
day sent the following statement TO
all foreign missions in Washington
for their information:
In view Of the announcement of
the imperial German government Of
Jan. 81. 1877, that all ships. those
OF neutrals included. met within GER
tain zones of the high seas. would
be sunk without any precautions
being taken for the safety OF the
exercise OF visit and search. the
government of the United States has
determined TO place upon all Amer
lean merchant vessels sailing
through the barred areas an armed
guard for the protection of the yes
sells and the lives of persons on
board"
Is Not For Berlin.
II was made clear at the depart
ment that this communication is in
nowise intended for Berlin and that
the Swiss legation is not expected TO
communicate il 20 the kaiser's gov
eminent.
The first armed liner prob
ably will leave New York within a
few days No report of it's depart
ure will be forthcoming. IL viii fol-
low a course mapped for II by the
navy department. And. IL. and all
vessels which follow, viii act at all
times under a set of instructions
prepared BY the state and navy de-
partments designed 70 meet all pos
sible emergencies.
Navy department officials today
declared that the voluntary censor
ship asked for by Sec'y Daniels has
been misunderstood throughout the
country. There is no desire 20 with
hold news OF voyages, IL was said.
or OF arrivals. either in England or
in the United States. All that is re-
quested is that sailings be kept back.
II also has been ordered that vessel
offcers shall not make public any
details OF the course they sail.
MAY Postpone Issue.
While the majority of officials are
fearful that a direct issue that must
eliminate in war viii be raised SO
soon as the American lines resume
their places on the Atlantic. in GER
tain quarters here the intimation to-
dav was conveyed that action by
German submarines may be post
poned for some time TO come. Ger
many. IL is known here is planning
her greatest offensive on the west
front very soon.
The withdrawal OF troops before
the British and French is declared
by military experts Of the United
states and the EN- bassies here TO
mean simply the Strengthening OF
the German line Field Marshal Won
Hindenburg is an advocate OF open
sghting instead OF trench warfare.
he is known 20 believe that his vet
cram troops are more than match
for .he British and French.
see German Offensive.
Many officials here are absolutely
certain that not later than The
middle OF next month the great
German offensive viii have been
undertaken. They also believe here
that IL viii come at a surprise
point and that II IL csa bee repulsed.
the end OF the war and the 5efeat Of
Ger-hany viii be I'M sight while II IL
is successful submarine campaign
the like OF which has only been
imagined mp 20 the present time.
viii immediateiv be undertaken.
Tn that is the Gs~m@n plan %
campaien. these officials say. BE- is
unlikely that Germany win pay
much attention Co American ships
until many more are actually ON the
sea than can be armed in the next
fsg weeks.