The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-03-10
ASKS NJ WSP PAPtRS
TO SUPPRESS
ship NlWS
Daniels Says Publication Might
JeOpardlze human Life
WILL DISCLOSE NO PLANS
Beyond Fact That Navy VIII Arm
Merchantmen No Details VIII
Be Given Out.

Washington, March 10.-Lacking
legal authority to establish general
censorship the administration last
night appealed to the patriotism of
the country's newspapers and cable
companies to suppress publication and
transmission OF information about the
movements OF American merchant
craft now TO be armed against Ger
man submarines.
THE best news that readers can
have Secretary qniels said in for
NAL statement to press representa-
tives, lis that the government viii
protect the rights of Americans to the
freedom OF the seas. The publication
of details can serve no good purpose
and might ieopardize human life"
MIR. Daniels has determined not to
reveal any OF the departments plans
for carrying out the policy ordered by
President Wilson. He previously has
stated, however, that the navy is pre-
pared with guns, ammunition, gun
crews and all other necessary equip
ment or personnel TO carry out the in
structions.
Navyyard commandants will SUI
perintend the actual installation of
guns on merchant craft. The rifles,
ammunition, mounts, range finders
and other accessories are already
stored at the yards. They range from
heavy six-inch rifles to three-inch
weapons and smaller guns. The num-
ber OF guns to 30 on each ship, the
personnel selerted from the active list
Of the iayy or from the reserve, to
handle Tho guns, the time Of sailing
or the names Of ships that have been
armedlswill not be disclosed
Secretary Daniels in his statement
to the newspaper men said You
have read the statement issued from
the White House and now you know
that the president has the power to
arm American ships making trips, on
the seas on lawful errands and is free
to exercise ii at once. | do not think
you ought to ask with what guns they
will be armed or how they will be
manned or exactly when the power
will be exercised. The government
should be trusted fully to carry out
the policy announced nthe best way.
Il do not think you ought to ask
whe nthe ships will be armed or print
when they will sail Today re-
quested every cable company in Amer
lea, not to send out any news about
ships sailing to or from Europe. The
wireless stations are under the direc-
tion of the navy department and no
news of sailngs will go out by radio.
Il am going to requesth you and
every newspaper and every news
agency nthe United States not to
print any news about the arrival of
ships or when any of them will sail
for European ports There is no pow
er of censorship in our country. The
president does not have any authority
over the press. In this time Of ma
tional emergency | feel sure that
every newspaper will accede to the
request not to give even a hint or
speculation of the sailing of American
ships. Such publication might result
in the loss of life. AS the reasons are
so obvious for making this request,
there is confidence in administration
circles that this request will be com
piled with by every paper in the
country.
"All patriotic Americans are ready
to make sacrifice for their country in
times of emergency. The press can
render the highest patriotic service
by refraining from printing at this
time what ordinarily they would free
ly print.
''Inasmuch as it will be impossible
to reach every paper and news agency
directly, | will ask all papers to carry
this request, which is made as an ap-
peal to patriotism to all journalists
and dsseminators of news. The best
news the readers can have is that
the government will protect the rights
Of America to the freedom of the
seas. The publication of details can
serve no good purpose and might
jeopardize human life. All readers
will surely applaud the papers in re-
spending to this appeal"