Norwich bulletin., 1917-02-27
Guns and Mounts for American Ships
ARE STORED AT NAVY YARDS,
 READY FOR USE
WANT TRAINED GUNNERS
It is Estimated That of the 25o Sh ps Under American Registry Not More Than 100 Would Take Risk of En- tering the War Zone.

Washington, Feb- 26.-GunS and mounts sufficient to arm any reason ships are now stored at navy yards, it was stated officially at the navy de- partment today following President Wilson's appearance before congress to ask authority to provide weapons and men should the need arise. Effi- cient gunners are lacking, however, unless they are taken from active ships which can ill spare them.
 Trained Men Imperative.
 Naval officials pointed out that men would be required as gun pointers for anti-Submarine work. At best a U- boat is difficult to hit. as there is lit tie exposed. Often a periscope hardly visible at more than few thousand yards is the gunner's only target.
 25o Ships in Trans Atlantic Trade
 Recent figures show that 25O ships under American registry are engaged in trans Atlantic trade, but it is es- timated that not more than 100 would apply for guns and take the risk of crossing the German submarine zones. There will be no difficulty in furnish ing that number of vessels with wea- pons, but supplying trained gun point many valuable men away from fight ing ships.
 1000 Men in Fleet Reserve.
 There are about 1000 men in the fleet reserve, of whom approximately 100 were trained gun pointers when they left the active list. Most of them are older men, however, and none has had any recent practice in gun point ing. It is said that no sufficiently ex- pert pointers for work on merchant craft could be obtained from that source, although some ammunition handlers and other members of gun crews might be obtained Of the 1000 reservists about one-half have been drilled in gun handling, other than pointing.
 Naval View of Presidents Request.
 Navy officials construe the presi- dents language as asking for author ity wide enough to take any meas ures to defend American ships That might include naval conveys. but the opinion of naval experts is against such a step both because it could not insure the conveyed ships against sub- marine attack and also because the efficiency of the fleet as fighting ma chine would be seriously impaired if it's units were scattered for convoy duty.
 Guns of Ample Range and Power.
 The available guns range up to six inch calibre. Most of them are old power for the work desired Range and rapidity of fire are vital factors in anti-su bmarine operations It is inn portant that the underwater craft be
 
 pedo range. The majority of cases re- ported show this to be 500 yards or less and the skill Of the gunners should be sufficient to make it dangerous for a U-beat to show herself at 5000 yards.
 Naval officials were not inclined to discuss the change in the status of a merchant ship which might result from placing navy crew aboard Whether the 5IIu crews would be placed under the orders of merchant captains or whether naval officers would command the guns and deter mine when and how they should be used was not made known
 Navel Militia Gould Not be Called
 The naval militia, more than 5000 strong could not be drawn upon for gunners because of it's militia status.
 The terms under which the men could be called out for active service are limited by the constitution to sup pression of insurrection, repelling in- vasion and enforcing the laws.
 Smaller Weapons Building.
 In addition to guns now held in re- serve at navy yards, the navy depart merrt has many smaller weapons building under contract. These could be hastened to completion at need for use aboard merchant craft, but there is no present indication that they will h.