New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-03
Merchant Fleet, Prepared
to Fire at Sight, VIII Sail
Within Ten Days
Rifles Fore and Aft
Six-Inch Weapons for St
Louis-Machine Guns To
Be Used at Night

Washington. March 2.-President
Wilson has definitely decided to arm
as many American vessels as possible
and end the tie-up Of shipping that fol-
lowed the German submarine decree
He has been waiting only for Congress
20 indorse this policy, it is declared.
The Navy Department has the am
munition. guns and complete plans for
mounting them ready. The larger yes
sells will be armed fore and aft, so far
as possible. doubtless including the
ST. Louis and the other three liners OF
the American line.
On the larger ships will be mounted
sx-inch guns, weighing about nine
tons, which will be supported by spe-
cal bracing below the decks. This
bracing already exists on the American
Line boats.
Gunners Must Be Qualified
The smaller cargo boats will have
three-inch rifles, weighing 2,275 pounds.
The Navy Department has received a
list Of the ex-naval gunners who nave
been engaged by the lines and has
checked up their records Only quail
flied gunners will be placed in charge
of the guns.
If former navy gunners with good
records as marksmen are available
they will be employed. Ii not. enlisted
crews from the navy yards or reserve
warships will be assigned to man the
guns. The department is anxious to
avoid weakening its fighting line IN
gunners.
At the New York Navy Yard there
are sufficient guns for the American
Line boats and all other lines that have
applied. Men have been at work for
ten days getting these pieces ready,
and all that remains to be done is to
swing them onto the merchantmen.
All the work incident to mounting
these guns and assembling the crews
can be accomplished within few
days. it is said One or more of the
American Line boats could be got ready
in few hours. as the empacements
are ready 10 receive guns. Within q
week or ten days, therefore, an armed
American merchant feet is expected TO
start across the Atlantic into the Ger
man barred zone prepared to shatter
every submarine that comes into sight.
To Fire at Sight
Except in case of night attack. such
as that on the Laconia, il is believed
the American armed merchantmen will
have much better than an even chance
against attacking U-boats
The rule Of the sea, as construed at
the State Department, permits firing on
submarines at sight. Such action is
declared to be defensive, and could not
therefore be construed as an act of
hostility against Germany. That such
an encounter would be interpreted as
wGrlike by Germany. however, is not
doubted.
1t is possible that machine guns will
be placed aboard merchant ships, "a
well as the big rifles. Reports from
Great Britain say that machine gun fire
against submarines mas been found ex-
ceedngly effective.
Mounted on a steamers bridge, high
above the water, the fire Of n machine
gun is enough to drive a submarine gun
crew from its unsheltered weapon, and
the German commanders, it is stated,
submerge at once If the rattle Of ma
chine gun fire greets them on emerging.
Serious damage from machine gun
fire depends on chance to large eX-
tent. A perscope might be put out Of
commission or the skin OF U-boat
punctured il direct hits were scored. At
a range OF 3SJ TO 500 yards, the ia
vored distance for torpedo attack,
either n machine gun or a one-pounder
is an effective weapon against suoma-
rines.
New Shells for Night Fire
Officers here believe the machine
guns carried by swift aeroplanes are
providing the most effective weapons
against Zeppelins as well. new type
Of ammunition has been developed.
Bullets carrying chemicals that will set
or fire the gas in punctured bag are
followed at intervals by tracer shots
showing a string Of sparks like a rock
cts trail by night.
BY means Of these tracers the gun
ner can gauge his fire and sweep the
aircraft with great precision If he gets
within range. Some similar scheme
may be adopted here for night fire
against submarines.
Every important Atlantic coast navy
ward is ready to undertake work ON
ships in its district on telegraphlc IN
structions from the department
Naual Experts Surrey