(1) The officer granting the attachment may, at the time, direct that, as soon as the attachment is levied, publication be made in some newspaper, requiring the defendant to appear at a time and place to be mentioned in such publication, before the court having cognizance of the attachment, and defend the action thus commenced, otherwise the cause may be proceeded with ex parte.
(2) If the order of publication is not then made, the clerk of the court or the court itself may make such order at any time thereafter.