Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-03-10
Secretary Daniels Requests
That No Reports of SaiIings
or Of Vessels Upon Which
Guns Are Placed Be Published
SECRECY OBSERVED
REGARDING DETAILS
Appeal Is Made to. Publishers
10 Avoid Anything likely to
FruStrate PIanSi Commerce
to Resume at Early Date,

]
washington March St reS'deu'
! wilson, from a s''k ne" TO-DAY oI'
| dered the arming oI American ineF-
chant ships against Herthahys RUIN
less submarine Watl"te, ana at "
1 ing an extra session or congress !"
meet April TO-
The president uecislon came suu
denly late this afternoon, following th7
action of the senate Yesterday in re-
vising its rules to permit prompt ac-
! tion on important dW"stions and the
Submission of formal opinions b.
| Secretary LansinE u'i Attorney Ge'-
oral Gregory th9t h" mas the power 10
arm merchantm-n "lthout action ~
! congress.
Details of the governments armed
neutrality pr.nl Tor dei sNaing lhe
merchant marine were Ni'HAeld u
Nold endahscflhG Aln4tie.ns au'
heir ships by permitting me hltorma-
l"a % reach TermAhS. Inc on'y
ste'9ment at the White louise and tne
na'. department W''S 'lat uLe PRES
dent was determine 20 pFoteet Aii'e''
lCan fl6hts' ......
Step Was Unavoidable. -
y period Of tens waiting, was gen"
rally hailed as the Unavoidable next
| step in the policy adopteo by the pres
ident when ne broke off diplomatic
relations with Germany and gave
warning that the United States coutd
not tolerate attack on Amtrica ships
and citizens in Etolation OF interna-
/ tional law. 80.
Fraught with tho graz possibliiy
| of war with Getmanv the action was
taken by President Wdgon only atter
he was convinced that Gerln41ly actu@
ally was proceeding with her CAM
paign OF ruthieshesS eltf mad inade
efforts to plot with MeSle" ana Japan
| against the territorial integrity OF the
United states
Long before the order was gwen
from the Whlte House, all necessary
preparations for the armlng of mer-
chantmen had been completed al the
navy department. Secretary Daniels,
however, issued on appeal TO the press
OF the nation to refrain from dlscuss-
Ing these prepar tions.
Now Up TO Germany.
The presidents action sent thrlli
through the senate, meeting IN speclal
! session, and through the government
departments. Still hoping that war
with Germany will be avoided, Off"
cials and senators declared that the
issue rests entirely with Germany
The president signed the proclama-
tlon calling the extra session OF con-
gress and authorized the publication
of the explanatory statement with Sec
retary Tumulty Standing at his bed
eide. A severe cold has Kept him
from seeing callers for three DAYS and
he was put to bed by his physician
yesterday.
In deciding that he h&s power 10
| arm merchantmen the president TOOK
the position that IN old statute, passed
in 1919. cited In the senate debate as
prohibiting such y step, without con-
gressional action has no application to
! the present situation. He is satlsfied
that the nation stands behind him.
and accepts the overwhelming vote in
| the house on the armed neutrality
bill and the known opinion of largo
majority of the senate as proof OF
the attitude of congress.
| Money Is Available.
Although the bill which failed of
passage in the senate provided for Il
bond issue of 500. 900, 600 to pay the
expenses of armed neutrality, the
government has sufficient money
avoiIahIs for it's iunediate nurposes.
Concress will he nsked TO provide
moro when the aytra -,ssion conyenes.
TTndor a bill nass,l durtnp the ,.sf
dave of tho last CONGRESS- the funds
NJ tbo disnosaI ~ tbe Fedora, war risk
h,raa, ~ ,ns,,rn Arnorican sbins we're
,,,nn"as " ets onn onn
trn,oS o,.roi,,,, w a., no,toa "a
81! ~, III .I .ieu..am' tS - 20 An,ar-
aoS' ;na ..e piaut,'". oioe'> - VI - ~
N,'' 'C", ti,o, po,' anu pa cr,,eny
'NCh'ual war Squdtc'S upoI e'o'"a"''