The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1917-03-13
PRESIDENT DECIDES
TO ARM ALL SHIPS
Continued from Page -

Sioh SahinS the extra session Oh con-
gress and authorized publication of
the explanatory statement with Sec
retary Tumulty standing at his bed
side. A severe cold has kept him
from seeing callers for three days
and he was put to bed by his physi-
clan yesterday.
In deciding that he had power to
arm merchantmen, the president took
the position that an old statute pass
ed in 1919. cited in the senate debate
as prohibiting such step without con-
gressional action, has no application
to the present situation. He is salts
fed that the nation stands behind
him and accepts the overwhelming
vote in the house on the armed neu-
trality bill and the opinion of a large
majority Of the senate as proof of the
attitude of congress.
Although the bill which failed OF
passage in the senate provided for
bond issue of 100000 to pay the
expenses of armed neutrality the
government has sufficient money
available for it's immediate pur-
poses. Congress will be asked to
provide more when the extra session
convenes.
Under bill passed during the last
days of the last congress, the funds
at the disposal of the federal war
risk bureau to insure American ships
was increased to s15,OOO,OOO
Issue Upon Germany.
Armed neutrality is expected to re-
move the practical blockade of Amer
ican ports and place the issue Of
eventual war squarely upon Ger
many. An attack upon an armed
American vessel will precipitate a
fight IL the ship gets sight OF the SUBJ
marine and an unwarned attack will
be regarded by the United States as
an act of war.
Germany and Austria both have
declared armed merchantmen war
vessels.
These declarations were based
largely on the charge that British
merchant ships used their armament
extensively and it remained to be
seen whether Germany will so class
and treat American craft with de-
fense arms.
The whole of German press com
ment and unofficial utterances since
the question was raised in this coun-
try has indicated the conviction that
any armed vessel should be consid-
cred hostile and sunk in the same
way as belligerent war vessel.
There has been no official expression
on the subject.
Policy Not Clear.
Germans exact policy towards
American vessels sailing through the
war zone since it's proclamation Feb
ruary 1 has not been quite clear, ow-
ing to the fact that less than a dozen
such voyages have been made and it
is possible that all the vessels that
escaped succeeded in avoiding tn
snhma rines entirely.
1t has been suggested that Ger
many probably issued instructions to
her commanders not to sink Ameri-
Can ships without every precaution
for those on board, as a last hope of
keeping America out of the war. The
ruthless destruction OF passenger lin
ers like the California and the La
coma, however, is felt here to render
this belief improbable.
The effect of Americas action up
on other neutral nations will be
awaited with keen interest. Vessels
of those countries too have been hold
ing to port through terror OF the Ger
man menace.
The throttling OF neutral shipping
both British and German exports
have stated to be the most serious re-
suit OF the German campaign to date
and has exceeded in effects the act
ual amount of tonnage destroyed.
Several German authorities have in
dicated that so long as they could
terrorize neutral vessels and continue
their attrition on British shipping
the eventual starvation of England
was certain.