Show FIRE ON ON SIGHT 16 PLAN preparations ARE BEGUN for ro StUNS P U na an 0 AMER ICAN SHIPS T state tt D department holds hold G germanas germanys Germ anys instruction to submarines justify merchantmen merchantman Merchant men in TAI taking ng protective measures wash washington ingrom the american government on march 10 0 began the actual preparations to arm american merchantmen merchantman merchant men against germanas germanys Germ anys ruthless s submarine warfare arfa re when the vessels sail under tile the policy of armed neutrality they he y avill do so with the full backing of ae the administration mints tra ion expressed in the form odwar of war risk crisli insurance raude and naval guns and gunners I 1 it was made clear that in the background will be the entire resources of the unite d states ready for aci ac i tion should germany attack an all american i c an ship in violation of 0 the w warning of the american government I 1 the state departments view of daj defensive armament as expressed w was that the mere appearance of a german I 1 submarine or its periscope near ad an american I 1 armed vessel aou would d len entitle the vessel to tae take all me measures of protection on the presumption that the submarines 1 purpose was mas hostile this was based on germanys germanas Germ anys announcement no that her submarines would attack without warning any belligerent jor or neutral merchantman merchantmen merchant men jen encountered countered within the barred zone whether wheelie r this will be embodied in instructions to commanders com mandera of american armed ships and whether arms and will be furnished pi to vessels carrying c contraband on were up for discussion but no announcement no on either point w was a q authorized zed the attitude of president vilsin has been that no steps of a a bell belligerent fier character should be taken and that Ifa it a state of war comes it 11 must be through germanys germanas Germ anys commission commissio nj of acts in clear viol violation a tion of international law some officials close to tile the president are ard known to feel fee that tn in line find with chis this policy th the united states should not sanction a shoot on sight program gram which mig might be construed as aggression |