The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1917-03-16

put into effect Immediately, by the
arming of American merchant YES
sells, and he also called an extra ses-
sion of Congress to meet Monday,
April Id, in order to have its Support
and control in all matters collateral to
the defense of our merchant marine.
On the mature advice of the Gov
ernment's highest legal authorities
the President decided that failure of
his armed neutrality bill at the last
session left him with sufficient author
ity under existing statutes to issue
naval guns to merchantmen. He is
expected, however, to ask that all
doubt on the point be removed by pas
sage of a specific authorization as soon
as Congress meets.
Proclamation Calling Extra Session.
Whereas, public interests require
that the Congress of the United
States should be convened in extra
session at IL o'clock noon on the 10th
day of April, 1917, to receive such
communications as may be made by
the Executive;
"Now, therefore, |, Woodrow Will
son, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim and de-
clare that an extraordinary session
requires the Congress of the United
States to convene in extra session at
the Capitol in the City of Washington
on the sixteenth day of April, 1917,
at IL o'clock noon, of which all per-
sons who shall at that time be en-
titled to act as members thereof are
hereby required to take notice.
"Given under my hand and the seal
of the United States of America, the
ninth day of March, in the year of
our Lord one thousand nine hundred
and seventeen, and of the independ-
ence of the United States the one
hundred and forty-first."
Ships to Be Armed At Once.
Mr.. Wilson has the backing of the
entire Cabinet in taking the step.
Guns for arming merchantmen have
been assembled at navy yards along
the Atlantic coast ard everything is
ready to carry out the policy announc-
ed by the President.
1t was learned definitely that some
American merchant ships sailing for
the submarine zone will be armed by
the Government at once. Preliminary
arrangements have been completed, |
and it is expected that vessels will be |
ready to sail in the near future.
Lacking legal authority to estab-
fish general censorship, the admin |
istration has appealed to the patriot |
ism of the country's newspapers and
cable companies to suppress publica- |
ton and transmission of information
about the movements of the American
merchant craft, now to be armed
against German submarines.
Secretary of Navy Makes Appeal to
Suppress News of Ship Movements.
"The best news that readers can
have" Secretary Daniels said, in
formal statement to press representa-
tives, sis that the Government will
freedom of the seas.
"The publication of details can
serve no good purpose and might je-
opard human life"
Mr.. Daniels has determined not to
reveal any of the departments plans
for carrying out the policy ordered
by President Wilson. He previously |
had stated, however, that the navy is
with guns, ammunition, gun
crews and all other necessary equip c
ment or personnel to carry out the {
instructions.
Navy yard commandments will su- 5
perintend the actual installation of c
guns on merchant craft. The rifles,
mounts, range-finders |
and other accessories are already C
stored at the yards. They range
from heavy 6-inch rifles to 3-inch I
weapons and smaller guns. The num- p
Der of guns to go on each ship, the Y
personnel selected from the active list I
Of the navy or from the reserve, to t
handle the guns, the time of sailing or
the names of the ships that have been +
armed will not be disclosed. L
Secretary Daniels in mis- statement Y
10 the newspaper men, said:
"You have read the statement is y
sued from the White House and now !
you know that the President has the {
power to arm American merchantmen
making trips on the seas on lawful
brands and is free to exercise it at
,nce. | do not think you ought to
lsk with what guns they will be
Lrmed or how they will be manned or :
Exactly when the power will be exer- s
Used. The Government should be h
rusted fully to carry out the policy n
in the best way. ie
II do not think you ought to ask r'
Vhen the ships will be armed or print
vben they will sail. Today / re- Il
uested every cable company in al
america not to send out any news a.
bout ships sailing to or from Eu- Ia
ope. The wireless stations are I'M I'll
err the direction of the Navy Depart
lent and no news of sailings will go A
ut by radio. al
Il am going to request you and ev- sR
ry newspaper and every news
gency in the United States not to in
rint any news about the arrival of nc
lips or when any of them will sail bi
# European ports. There is no pow be
of censorship in our country. The Sc
resident does not have any authority d.
er the press. s le'
1'In this time of national emergency Fl
feel sure that every newspaper will SIX
cede to the request not to give a sli
1t or a speculation of the sailing of las