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Show MERCHANT SHIPS TI) MM A HASH WASHINGTON. March 11 Within ten days the question of actual hostility hostil-ity or peace between the United States and Germany will be settled With American armed merchantmen prepared for the dash through the war zone of German ruthlessness. the president pres-ident and his advisers settled down tonight for a period of "watchful waiting." Long days and anxious nights of waiting for news from the war zone woll now occupy Washington Washing-ton and the country. The administration was convinced that the difference between the United Unit-ed States and Germany will reach a climax when the first armed American mechant ship meets a German submarine. submar-ine. While all ship movements were shrouded behind impenetrable secrecy, secre-cy, it was stated that the departure of American commercial ships carrying naval guns and gunners, would be a matter of but a few days, and within ten days armed American ships would be in the war zone Under Orders to Fire. With the gunners aboard American ships under orders to fire at once on any submarine which approaches in a threatening manner, the first encoun-ter encoun-ter between an American ship and a Herman undersea boat will bring defi nite results. The administration still hopes against hope that the German submarine sub-marine commanders in the war zone will follow international law and res pert American rights. Only this course I it was stated, can prevent open hos tilities between the two nations. Meantime the navy department went steadily forward with the work of arming merchantmen to defy the war zone. Every American merchant ship Wuch requests protection will be given giv-en adequate armament and qualified naval gunners. Every government agency will be invoked to insure proper pro-per safeguards in the way of concealing conceal-ing vessel movements and keeping secret departures, arrivals and probable proba-ble courses of American ships. Preparations Continue. Waiting for definite action in the ' "n-- to precipitate the climax in the German dispute, the administration administra-tion concentrated all its energies in preparations for any eventuality. The war-making machinery of the government govern-ment is under orders to get into fighting fight-ing trim. |