Show PREPARING 16 A VESSELS GUN MOUNTS AND ammunition BEING ASSEMBLED AT NAVY YARDS every important atlantic coast navy yard ready to begin work upon telegraphic instructions instruction from government washington with gun mounts and ammunition for arming american merchant ships already assembled at navy yards putting the weapons aboard bait can begin immediately on orders from president wilson navy officials off estimate es tl thatis that it would take from three to five days per der ship working under pressure to equip vessels previously surveyed for or possible use as naval a A longer time will be re I 1 quiren for others every important atlantic coasin coast navy vy yard Is ready to undertake work on ships in its district on telegraphic jn from the department it itts la expected that poll president wll wit sons formal d direction erection that applications of american ships ahins tor for kunibe suns be complied the commandants of navy yards would be instructed specifically to equip each ship for which application Is made aside from a blanket application from the american line covering all its ships the navy department part ment now has only requests for gunseor guns tor for a few individual ves vessella selsA under the senate bill a full complement of guns may be placed on board each ship the biglin big liners eh would carry six 6 inch guns each for war purposes and probably w would carry two or m more bro for defense against submarines most of them have deck em placements already in structural tural wor work kwork work would be necessary only to fit proper magazines anaga to ito insure against fire fire and explosions |