The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-03-13
WILSON DECIDES
TO ARM VESSELS
VIII Protect American Shipping
Against U-B0at Attacks.
ALL BOAT MOVEMENTS SECRET

unWarned Attack Upon an American
Ship Would Be Regarded by the
United States as an Act OF War.
Armed Neutrality Expected 10
Break the Blockade Of American
Ports-lssUe Put Up to Germany.
Washington. March 10-President
Wilson's decision to arm American
merchantmen quickly followed the
action Of the senate in revising its
rules to permit prompt action on i'm
portant questions and the submission
OF formal opinions by Secretary Laii.
sing and Attorney General Gregory
that ne has the power to arm mer.
chantmen without actor by congress.
Lacking authority to establish gen.
eral censorship, the administration
appealed to the patriotism of the
oountry's newspapers and cable COM
panies to suppress publication and
transmission OF information about the
movement of American merchant
craft now to be armed against Ger.
man submarines.
Mr.. Daniels has determined not to
reveal any Of the departments plans
for carrying out the policy which was
ordered by President Wilson. He pre-
Viously had stated. however, that the
navy Is prepared with guns, ammuri.
ton, gun crews and all other neces.
sary equipment or personnel to carry
out the instructions.
Navy yard commandants will ST.
perintend the actual installation or
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 NUN.
Der OF guns to go on each ship, the
personnel selected from the active
list of the navy or from the reserve.
the time of sailing or the names OF
ships that have been armed will not
be disclosed
Details of the governments arlnef
neutrality plans for defending tie
merchant marine were withheld to
avoid endangering Americans and
their ships by permitting the informa.
tion to reach Germany.
Tumultys Statement.
Secretary Tumulty stated in con
nection with the presidents call TO.
an extra session: "The president is
convinced that he has power to arm
American ships and is free to exer.
else it at once, but so much neces-
sary legislation is pressing for cru
} sideration that he is convinced that
1t is in the best interests of the coun-
try to have an early session of the
Sixty-fifth congress, whose suppor!
he will also need in all matters col
lateral to the defense of our mer
chant marine"
Although the bill which failed of
passage in the senate provided for a
bond issue of $1,000 10000 to pay the
/ expenses of armed neutrality. the
} government has sufficient money
available for it's immediate purposes.
Congress will be, asked to provide
more when the extra session con-
yenes
The presidents action sent thrill
through the senate, meeting in spe
cial session. and through the govern.
ment departments. Still hoping that
7 war with Germany will be avoided, cf-
ficials and senators declared that the
issue rests entirely with Germany.
Armed neutrality is expected to re,
move the practical blockade of Amer
ican ports and place the issue OF
eventual war squarely upon Germany
An attack upon an armed American
: vessel will precipitate a fight if tne
! ship gets sight of the submarine. and
| an unwarned attack would be regard
> ed by the United States as an act OF
war.