Show FIRE ON MATS U ON SIGHT IS PLAN preparations ARE BEGUN FOR MOUNTING GUNS ON AMER ICAN state department hotd holds germanda Ger Geri manya instructions to submarines justify merchantmen merchantman Merchant men in taking protective measures Meas urea washington Washing toD the american government on march aladich 10 began the actual preparations to arm american merchantman merchantmen merchant men against germanys germanas Germ anys ruth less lesa submarine warfare when the vessels sall sail under the policy ot of armed neutrality they will do so BO with tho the full backing ot of the administration ex pressed expressed in the form of war risk insurance and naval guns guna and gunners it was made clear that in the background will be tho the entire resources of 01 tho the united states ready for action should germany attack an american ship in violation ot of the warning ot of the american government tho the state departments view of defensive armament as expressed was that the inere appearance of a german submarine or its periscope near an american armed vessel would entitle tho the vessel to take all mea measures well of protection on the presumption that tho the submarines purpose yas was hostile this waa based on ui u announcement no that he hc submarines would attack without warning any belligerent or neutral merchantman merchantmen merchant men meu encountered within the barred zone whether this will bo be embodied in instructions to commanders com mandera ot of american armed ships and whether arms and will be ba furnished to vessels carrying contraband were up for discussion but no announcement no ou on either point was authorized zed tho the attitude ot of president wilson las bas been that no steps of a bel balliger belll liger ger ent character should be taken had and that it a state of war monies komes it roust must bo be through germanys germanas Germ anys commission of nets acts in clear violation of international law some officials close to the president are known 0 to o feel that in line with this policy tho the united plates should not sanction a shoot on sight program which might be construed as aggression |