Show FIRE ON ON SIGHT preparations ARE BEGUN FOR MOUNTING GUNS ON AMER ICAN SHIPS state department holds germanys germanas Germ anys instructions to jus ju tiby merchantmen merchantman Merchant men in taking protective macaure Mc aure Washington The american gov eov cremont on oil march 10 began the actual ual preparations to arin arm Airie american rican merchantmen merchantman merchant men against germanas germanys Germ anys ruthless submarine warfare when tile the vessels sail eal under the policy ot of armed neutrality they will do so with the full backing ol of the administration ra ints ex pressed expressed in the form of n war risk insurance and naval guns and gunners it was made clear that in the background will bo be the entire resources of the united states ready tor for action should germany attack an amerlean american ship alp in violation of the warning of the american government the state departments depart menla view of defensive armament as expressed was that the mere appearance of a german submarine or its periscope near an america r med veasel P pa on l ua dmn vessel i rao to take ta we all al ma mAsul of protection on the pres gumpoon hat the submarines purpose was wad hostile this was ald aaa on germanys germanas Germ anys announcement no that her submarines would attack without warning any ally belligerent or neutral merchantman merchantmen merchant men encountered within the barred zone whether this ton will be embodied in instructions to commanders of american armed ships and whether arms and ammu ammunition niton will be furnished to vess vessels elii carrying contraband were up for discussion but no announcement no noun on either point 0 was authorized au zed 0 the ohp attitude of president wilson allson hasteen has been that no steps of a belll belligerent I 1 ger character should be taken and that it a state of war comes it must musi bo through gerwan germanas Germ anys ys commission ot of acts acta in clear violation of international law some officials close to the iho president are known to feet feel that in line with this policy the united states should not sanction a sight program which might bo be construed is as aggression |