The Detroit times., 1917-03-12
j. S. HAS A
SURPRISE
FOR KAISER
New and Deadly Anti
U-BOat Devices May
Protect Ships
DIPLOMATS TOLD
OF ARMING ORDER
State Depart m e n t
Warns Merchantmen
Will Defend Selves

WASHINGTON, March IAN
armed guard" for the protection OF
vessels and liVes OF persons
aboard. will be placed on all Ameri-
can merchant ships sailing thru
Germanys barred area, the state
department today notified all for.
eisn diplomats in this city.
The following statement was pre-
s4nted to the foreign diplomats for
their Information:
In view OF the announcement OF
tho imperial government on Jan. 81,
1917. that all ships. those OF neu
trails included met within certain
zones OF the high seas, would be
spnk without any precautions being
taken for the safety OF the persons
on board and without the exercise
o. visit and search. the government
OF the United States has determined
20 place upon all American mer.
chant vessels sailing thru the barred
areas an armed guard for the pro.
lection OF the vessels and the lives
OF the persons on board
The state department gave out
the copy OF this statement shortly
after Secretary Lansing had con.
ferred At the white House with
President Wilson.
The armed guard" will be Amer
lean navy gunners.
The oflcisl statement shows too.
that II il the intention OF the gov.
eminent 10 arm not only passenger
steamers. but also 10 provide guns
= and navy gunners for munition
ships
The statement 10 the foreign Dip
lomats cleared up definitely the
question ~ whether navy gunners
would be used.
The state department holds tina,
the presence OF these men aboard
viii not give the vessels the status
OF warshlps
The vessel becomes warship
OILY when used definitely for that
purpose, the department rules.
The state department held that
regaydless OF whether or not secret
orders were issued to the gunnors,
armed merchant ships could not be
classed ~ warships tho Germany
has claimed that Great Britaiu's Sc
crct orders made her armed ships
actual war vessels.
While the state department was
making this announcement. pre-
sumably az the direction OF Priest
dent Wilson. the navy department
was refusing any details a. 70 SIS
plans.
American inventive genius, Il Ia
known however. has been called
upon to give aid In protecting
American ships vsnturing forth
soon into Germany's barred area.
United States inventors. Includ
ing the electrical wizard. Thomas
A. Edison. are trying 10 devise
methods OF sheiterfng merchant
men from all German undersea
boats. These inventions will be
Installed on the armed vessels, pro
viGed they meet with government
approval. What the plans are viii
b withheld, but II f. admitted a
perfected smoke screen may be one
means employed British ships now
use such q dsvice--artihciaI smoke
from chemicals--thAt hides a YES
SCI behind an impenetrable screen.
Electrical methods OF detecting
submarines. improving upon the
present miorophone attachments.
may be invented But in keeping
With the administrator plan Of
secrecy. no details will he ar.
nounced lest German inventors be
placed Al work 10 overcome the
American advantage.
The work OF arming merchant.
men should occupy only a few more
days and then American commerce
will be freed from the bonds that
have kept II shivering In American
harbors