Show AMERICAN SHIPS ARE TO BE ARMED WAY WILL BE FOUND TO PUT WEAPONS AT THE DISPOSAL OF COF OWNERS Enforced Idleness of American Merchant Mer chant Fleet Viewed With Disquietude tude and Government May Take a Hand Washington who have been holding their vessels In port because be he- because cause of Inability to obtain guns for defense against submarines probably will have their difficulties solved in a afew afew afew few days Strong intimations were were given In official quarters that wh while le lethe the government will not actually arm merchant craft or even formally advise advise advise ad ad- vise arming a way will be found to put weapons at the disposal of owners who desire to prep prepare preparo re for defense against illegal attack The enforced Idleness of the American American Amer Amer- ican lean merchant fleet is being viewed w with th growing disquietude and the general gen gem eral view here is that not only the export export ex ex- port trade but the nations nation's standing before the world demands that Ameri Amen American can vessels continue to ply the high seas without regard to the German proclamation which the government I has repudiated with the most severe I means in its power short of or war |