Grand Forks herald., 1917-03-10
GUNS AND CUNNERS
TO BE PLACED ON
VESSELS AT ONCE
America Stands Flatly on
Declaration of Right to
Prevent Capture"
OTHER NEUTRALS ).
TAKE NO ACTION
Diplomats Interested in
American.Action Follow-
ing U-boat Attack. :,

Washington. March 1O.-The
mere appearance of a German
submarine or its periscope i'll the
presence of an American armed
merchant ship would cntitle that
ship, according to state depart
ment opinion today. to take all
measures OF protection on the
presumption that the U-boat's
purpose was hostile. Under this
ruling an American armed mcr-
chairman could fire on a German
submarine the moment it is
sighted, without being considered
as taking aggressive action. This
view is based on Germany's de-
clarcd intention to sink on sight
within certain zones all vessels,
neutral as we'll as belligerent,
and whether passenger vessels,
freighters or contraband carriers.
The United States was said to
stand fatty on its armed mer-
chantman warning of March ~
last, in which it definitely recog-
nized the right to prevent cap
ture" as part of the fright Of
self protection" which could be
exercised either by fight or re-
sistance. The mere presence Of
a German submarine is declared
grounds for assuming hostile in
tent because of the deliberate
statement by Germany that all
vessels are to be sunk on sight.
Denial by Germany of the old
rule of visit and search makes all
its U-boats actually hostile.
Whether the government will
issue any general rules for the
guidance of American armed
ship commanders is uncertain at
present. Opposition to such ac-
tion has been expressed on the
ground that the situation is now
entirely clear, that in all event,
the action of tie commander must
depend ON his judgment and the
actual conditions prevailing, and
that the government does not
wish to take any steps which
might be construed as a deliber-
ately hostile act by Germany.
The concensus of opinion in
quarters here today,
was that the action of the United
States in arming merchant ships
would in no way serve to change
the policies of the several Euro
pean neutral nations. AT the
same time, however, diplomatic !
representatives of some of these
nations seemed anxious to secure
all information possible regard
ing the details of the plans Of the
United States government re-
garding what will follow should
a submarine approach an armed
American merchantmen.
1t was explained by at least
one diplomat that details of the
American plans were desired,
more for the information of Euro
pean neutral nations than for
their guidance.
Virtually all agreed that in
their opinion the United States
was nearer to war with Germany
than at any time within its his
tory.
Ready to Arm Ships
Guns and gunners and ammunition
will be placed aboard American ships
and they will be sent to
sea under orders to fire on German
submarines which attack them illegal
ly. ,iss
Navy yards were ordered today to
equip the vessels as fast as possible
States in the position of armGd n6a- j
trality, the next step beyond the sever
ence Of diplomatic relations With
Germany and possibly the preliminary
Of war. What, ships are to be armed
first and when they will sail, will be
kept secret in order to avoid endan-
yering the lives Of Americans aboard
them. S,.ss
President Wilson issued the neces-S
sary orders yesterday. in the bellsi
hat he has ample executive power
without special authorization ffotns
congress. simultaneously, hoWevor.
ne called congress- to meet In special