Show I ION I FIRE ON BOATS U-BOATS ON SIGHT IS PLAN PREPARATIONS ARE BEGUN FOR MOUNTING GUNS ON AMER AMERICAN ICAN SHIPS State Department Holds' Holds Germanys Germany's Instructions to Submarines Justify Justify Justify Jus Jus- Me Merchantmen In Taking Protective Measures government government gov goy Washington The The American on March 10 began the actual actual actual act act- ual preparations to to arm American merchantmen against Germanys Germany's ruthless ruthless ruth ruth- less submarine warfare When hen the vessels sail under the policy of armed neutrality they will do th so with the full backing of the administration ad ad- ministration ministration expressed expressed in fn the form of Dr war r risk sk insurance and nav naval l guns guns' a and d gunners It was made clear that In the background back ground round will ibe be the entire resources of f the United ready States States ready for acIon ac- ac action action ac ac- tion Ion should Germany attack an Am American Amer Amer- r- r lean ican can ship in violation of the warning of f the American government The state departments department's view of defensive de de- de armament as expressed was that the he mere appearance of of a Gernan German German Ger Ger- man nan submarine or its periscope pe near an In armed American-armed v vessel would entitle entitle en en- title itle the vessel to take all measures of f pr protection on the presumption that the he submarines submarine's purpose was hostile I This was based on on Germanys Germany's an an- I louI cement that her submarines would rould attack without warning any belligerent or neutral merchantmen encountered within the barred zone Whether this will be embodied em em- bodied bodle in instructions ns to commanders commander of f armed American-armed ships and whether er r arms and will be fur fur- furnished furnIshed fur fur- to vessels carrying contraband were vere up for tor discussion but no an an- announcement noun cement on either point was was was' au au- au- au The attitude of ot President Wilson has has has- as been that no no steps of a belligerent ent nt character should be ho taken and nd that hat if it a state of war comes it must be re through h G Germanys Germany's commission of acts in clear violation of i international law aw Some officials close e to the president are ate known to feel that in inline line Inc with this policy the United Stat States s should not sanction a shoot- shoot sight on-sight program which h might be Ibe construed construe con con- trued l as aggression |