Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 100, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 March 1917 — PRESIDENT ARMS MERCHANT SHIPS [ARTICLE]

PRESIDENT ARMS MERCHANT SHIPS

Congress Called to Mm on Monday, April 16»| ACTION IS BACKED BYShI —— ’ 'Wf' Matti President Adopts Armed Neutra®tyBut Wants Congress PresentWO Render Support and Counsel. , 9K|. •H Washington, D. C., March IO'.W President Wilson yesterday ordered that a policy of armed neutrality be pat into effect immediately by th® arming of American merchant vee* seis and called an extra session of congress to meet Monday, April 16, fn order to have its support and counsel “in all matters collateral to the defense of our merchant marine." ‘ .

On the mature advice of the government’s highest legal authorities, the President decided that the failure of his armed neutrality bill at the last session left him with sufficient authority under existing statutes to issue naval guns to merchantmen. He is expected, however, to ask that all doubt on the point be removed by passage of a specific authorisation as soon as congress meets. It was . learned definitely that some American ships sailing for the submarine zone will be armed by the government at once. Preliminary arrangements have been completed and it is expected that vessels will be ready to sail in the near fixture. Mr. Wilson has the backing of the entire cabinet in taking the step. Guns for arming merchantmen have been assembled at navy yards along the Atlantic coast and everything is ready to carry out the policy announced by the President. The President signed the proclamation for the extra session while lying in bed with a cold. Orders for carrying out the President’s decision to arm ships were.immediately sent to the navy department. The’ President decided to arm ships after getting formal opinions from Attorney General Gregory and Secretary Lansing that he had such authority in spite of old statutes, which, some believe, forbade it.