Show NATIONS NOTIFIED U S WILL flo att NOTICE atice GIVEN OF intentions TO P lace ARMED aenied GUARDS ON 11 V merchantmen MERCHANT MEN aerman germany will be informed informs T that h f i jjr fsr submarine threat will not keep amerian vessels 1 fro from m t the e sea washington the united states government on march 12 took the only formal step th that atwill will precede the sailing fo for the war zofie zone of Aind american rican merchant ships armed to re resist attacks bogerman by german submarines 1 3 notice latice to the worldon worl dof the intention to place an fi armed guard on merchant men I 1 wai was given in a comm leationio leat ioni sent by the 0 eitai state dap department un t to 0 a all it e embassies and legations in washington the statement which it ft Is assumed w win h 11 be transmitted to germany by th the swiss SWI ss minister follows in view of the announcement of the I 1 imperial german government on january aref 31 1917 that all ships those of neutrals included amei met within certain zones zones of the high seas would be sunk any precaution being taken lor for tha safety of f the persons on board ands and without the eixe exercise C ie of visit an and search the government of ot the united states has determined to place upon all american merchant vessels sailing through the barred areas an armed guard for the protection of the vessels and the the 06 persons on board officials continued to 10 be reticent t about tho the arming of ships and ahe he probable date the first would bereacy be ready to sail all 11 such details are regarded as lillta ayi secrets tn in fact there aher Is a general disposition to avoid discussing any phase of the situation pending the outcome nucome of the defiance of the submarine menace iby by american vessels ads sels with naval guns and gunners on board |