South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-02-12
Government is Expected to
Aid Merchant Shipping
interests in Securing
Necessary Guns.
WITHDRAWALS NOT
UNDERSTOOD ABROAD
Germany is Using Fact AS
Proof of the Success of Her
Sub Campaign-Cabinet
to Take Up Question.
BY John Edwin Nevin.
International News Service:
WASHINGTON. Feb. II. -

International News Service:
WASHINGTON, Feb. II. - The
, most serious problem affecting the
United states today is how to get
the American merchant marine back
on the ocean The holding up of
practically every American liner and
freighter because of the danger
from German submarines admittedly
is causing the administration grave
concern.
Pres't Wilson has talked over
ways and means with his close ad
visers but so far without result. The
naval officers have set their faces
squarely against naval conveys on
the ground that they simply would
increase the danger. They also have
agreed that, while the government
insists upon it's rights TO arm it's
merchant shipping. such armament
should be secured from private
sources. IL is likely, however, that
this ruling will be changed at least
in part if the officials on the Amer
lean line and the big oil transit COM
panies continue TO insist that they
cannot buy weapons of the proper
kind
IL is expected here that the entire
problem will be made a subject for
cabinet consideration tomorrow and
at least one member of the cabinet
is ready TO suggest that the navy
permit private corporations manu-
featuring guns for II to sell TO them
for merchant ship ornaments.
Action Misunderstood.
1t is freely admitted that the
withdrawal of the American mer-
chant fleet from the high seas is be-
ing misunderstood abroad In Ger
many the fact is being used as proof
of the success of the submarine
campaign In France and England
il is claimed that il is being held
back because of the peace at any
price" advocates And. between the
two the standing of the United
States in the eyes of the world adj
mittedly is not improved. Admins
tratiOn officials say that they realize
this very well. but that they have
been moving slowly so that every
possible right of the nation should
be thoroughly safeguarded.
There have been slight hopes in
administration quarters for some
days that Germany would withdraw
her new submarine order. The fact
that the toll of ships sunk is now far
below the record expected is held
10 be an evidence that the campaign
was not complete success. In fact,
in entente diplomatic circles here
the claim is boldly asserted that the
campaign has been a complete fail
ure. Ii is said that confidential ad-
vices show the Canadian and South
American sailings are increasing in
stead OF diminishing. but details are
withheld
The action Of the various collect
ors i'm the United States in withhold
ing clearances from their ports also
has operated To aid the campaign
against submarines inasmuch as
since that policy went into effect.
many vessels have changed their
port OF destination.
Interested i'm Conference.
In view of developments officials
are deeply Interested in the confer
ence which if reached. the German
emperor has called 10 meet at Ger
man great headquarters today. IL is
accepted as possible that this con-
ference will take action on the pro-
tests of the neutrals against the un-
restricted submarine warfare and
may agree To make certain conces-
stiOns 10 neutral shipping Germany,
il Is said. is very anxious 10 make ar
engagements that will permit resump-
ton Of sailings by scandinavian and
Dutch liners. 1t also is possible
that there will be considered al this
conference a suggestion by Austria
that she be permitted 10 assure the
L. : that there will be no inter
ference with American ships or
Americans IN the Mediterranean.
Now that withdrawn Ambassador
Gerard is safely on Swiss soil. il il
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