Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-03-10
DANIELS ASKS SHIP
NEWS SUPPRESSED
Secretary of Navy Wants Pa
pers to Gve No Information
Concerning Movements.
PLEA TO THE CABLE FIRMS

Washington, March 9.-Lacking
legal authority to establish general
censorship, the administration tonight
appealed to the patriotism OF the
country's newspapers and cable COM
panies TO suppress information about
the movements of American merchant
craft, now to be armed against Ger
man submarines.
The best news that readers can
have" said Secretary Daniels in
formal statment, lis that the govern
ment will protect the rights OF Ameri-
cans to the freedom of the seas.
The publication OF details can
serve no good purpose and might
jeopardize human life"
Navy Has the Guns.
Mr.. Daniels has determined not to
reveal any of the departments plans
for carrying out the policy ordered
by President Wilson. He previously
has stated, however, that the navy is
prepared with guns, ammunition and
gun crews to carry out the instruc-
tons.
Navy yard commandants will sup
perintend the actual installation of
guns on merchant craft. The rifles,
already stored at the yards, range
from heavy si-inch to three-inch
weapons and smaller guns. The num-
Der OF guns to go on each ship, the
personnel selected from the active list
OF the navy or from the reserve to
handle the guns, the time of sailing
rthe names of ships that have been
armed will not be disclosed.
Secretary Daniels, in his statement
to newspaper mef, said:
you have read the statement is
sued from the White House and now
you know that the president has the
power to arm American merchant
ships making trips on the seas on
lawful errands, and is free to exercise
it at once. don't think you ought to
ask with what guns they will be armed
or how they will be manned, or ex-
actly when the power will be exer-
cised. The government should be
trusted fully to carry out the policy
announced in the best way.
Il do not think you ought to ask
when the ships will be armed or print
when they will sail. Today request
ed every cable company in America
not to send out any news about ships
sailing to or from Europe. The wire-
less stations are under the direction
of the Navy department. and no news
of sailinss will 60 out by radio.
Il am going to request you and
every newspaper and every news
agency in the United States not to
print any news about the rraivl Of
ships or when any Of them will sail
for European ports. There is no
power Of censorship in our country.
The president does not have any au-
thority over the press. In this time OF
national emergency, feel sure that
every newspaper will accede to the
request not to give even hint or
speculation OF the sailing Of Amer
lean ships. Such publication might
result in the loss of life. As the rea-
sons are so obvious for making this
request, there Is confidence in admin
istration circles that this request will
be complied with by every paper in
the country.
| "All patriotic Americans are ready
to make sacrifices for their country
in times Of emergency. The press can
render the highest patriotic service by
retaining from printing at this time
what ordinarily they would freely
print.
"Inasmuch as it will be impossible
to reach every paper and news agency
directly, ] will ask all papers to carry
this request, which is made as an ap,
peal to patriotism to all journalist.
and disseminators Of news. The besi
news the readers can have Is that tn,
government will protect the rights o.
America to the freedom Of the seas
| The publication Of details can serv,
no good purpose and might jeopardizt
human life. All readers surely will
applaud the papers in responding tc
this appeal"
i With the departure OF the frs
armed American ship, the Navy de
partment must instruct gun crew.
whether the appearance Of a subma
rine Is sufficient warrant for opening
fire. Officials would not discuss THU
aspect of the situation, which involves
a declaration of policy. 1t will taxi
no more than a few days to outfit an.
ship. Contracts for additional gun
of su;tahle size are beinv soeeded I'm