The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-03-13
j. S. HAS A
SURPRISE
FOR KAISER
New and Deadly Anti
U-Boat Devices May
Protect Ships
DIPLOMATS TOLD
OF ARMING ORDER
State Departm en- t
Warns Merchantmen
Will Defend Selves

WASHINGTON. March H. An
~armcd guard" FOR the protection OF
vessels and lives OF persons
aboard. viii be placed on all Ainert
can merchant ships sailing thru
GermaBys barred area. the state
department Monday notified all for.
eirn diplomats in this city
The following statement was pre-
sHnted 10 tho foreign diplomats for
their Information"
I'm view Of the announcement Of
tho imperial government on Jan. 81,
1917. that all ships those ~ neu.
trails included met within certain
zones OF the high seas, would be
sunk 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
10 place upon an American MGR
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 ont
the copy ~ this statement shortly
after Secretary Lansing had con
ferred at the White House with
President Wilson.
The armed guard" Will be Amer
team navy gunners.
The oflclal statement shows too
that II Is tho intention Of the gov.
eminent 10 arm not only passenger
steamers. bu, also TO provide guns
and navy gunners for munltion
ships
The statement 20 The foreign DIP
iomats cleared up dedniteiy the
question OF whether navy gunners
would be used
The state department holds that
the presence OF these men aboard
will not give the vessels the status
OF warships
The vessel becomes warship
only when used definitely for that
purpose. the department rules.
The state department held that
regardless OF whether OF not secret
orders were issued TO the winners
armed merchant ships could not be-
classed az warahips tho Germany
has claimed that Great nrltaln's se-
cret orders made her armed ships
actual war vessels
While the state department was
making this announcement pre-.
sumably a. the direction Of Prpsi
dent Wilson. the navy department
was refusing any details az 10 It's
plans.
American inventive genius. n IS
known. however. has been called
upon to give aid In protecting
American ships venturing forth
soon into Germany's barred area
United States inventors, includ
inF the electrical wizard. Thomas
A Edison, are trying 10 devise
methods OF sheltering merchant.
men from ali German undersea
boats. These inventions viii be
inEtalled on tho armed vessels. pro.
vlGed they meet with government
approval What The plans ARE win
b, withheld. but e is admitted n
perfected smoke screen may be one
means employed. British ships now
use such a device artificial smoke
from chemicals that hides YES.
sel behind an impenctrahle screen.
Electrical methods Of detecting
Submarines. Improving upon the
present microphone attachments.
may be invented ISN'T in keeping
with the administration plan ~
secrecy. no details win be IN.
nounced lest German Inventors be-
placed at work 90 overcome tho
American advantage
The work ~ arminv merchant
men should occupy only few more
dsys and then American commerce
will be freed from the bonds that
have kept Il shIyering IN American