The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-12
Neutral Passenger Vessels Carrying Americans From
 Europe Are Confronted
 With New Dangers
MAY CLOSE NORTHERN EUROPEAN SEAPORTS
 LAS RESULT OF ACTION
Informs U. s. That
 She Will Adopt Tactics
 Already Attributed to Germany-Tourists Safe

Washington, August 11.-Mining
 The North sea as part of the plan of
 the European war not only may close
 most of the northern European ports
 to navigation, but the gold laden 1 fFuiser Tennessee, the cruiser North
 Carolina and neutral passenger vessels
 bearing Americans from Europe will
 be confronted with new dangers. The American government was ad-
 vised formally during the day by the British embassy here that, inasmuch
 as Germany had been Scattering
 mines indiscriminately,' Great Britain no longer could refrain from planting
 mines near her own ports.
 10 Secretary Bryan said tonight Amer
 jeans at home might rest assured that the passenger liners plying between |wprthern European ports would take no chances that would inlperil life. It is believed that Americans in northern ports will remain there for the present or make their way south and southeast to such ports as Marseilles or Lisbon to obtain passage for the United States.
 Itinerary Not Announced An lntlnerary for the cruisers Ten nessee and North Carolina bearing mil hons in gold for the relief of Amer leans has never been announced but as both Great Britain and Germany have given warning of the dangers in Fpe North Sea. it is beIng taken for granted here that neither of the Amer lean warships will venture into those waters. After touching at Falmouth. England, the treasure ships probably Will land at some port in France and then head for the Mediterranean, en- oeavoring, 1t is thought, to reach Americans in both Germany and Aus tria from points in the Adriatic. One diplomatist pointed out today that the ports of four neutral nations, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and The Netherlands. as well as one of the bel gerents-Belgium-w practically blockaded through the promiscuous planting of mines in the North Sea-
  lates the use of contact mines, stipu- lates that the belligerents shall un- dertake to their utmost ito render these Rxines harmless within limited time tNpd should they cease to be under sur veillance, to notify the danger zones as soon as military exigencies permit Naval observers here believe. however, that in view of the titanic struggle this article in the convention will be of little moment.
 Formal Memo Presented The formal memo presented by the British charge d'affairs was delivered to the state department so that ships under neutral flags might be turned back.
 In only one or two places in Europe notably at Genoa, in Italy, and in Swe- -d1n does the financial embarrassment 64 Americans continue, according to reports received today by Secretary Garrison. The situation has improved 90 much that it may be unnecessarily to deposit any gold in Europe for the re- lief of Americans Nearly all of the Eu- ropean governments are believed to be desirous of establishing heavy credits With America to draw upon in pay ment for the vast quantities of food and supplies of other kinds which they must have during the continuance of hostilities and for a long time after ward
 | Secretary Garrison thinks. therefore, { that as soon as the first panicky feel ing Is over and financial conditions have \ been readjusted, the mere announcement uE4at the United States or an individual |'hRs deposit specie in an American bank, subject to the draft from European countries, will be sufficient to establish credit for Americans in Europe. Everywhere on the continent the scat tered tourists and business people who desire to leave are gathering at the sea ports and arranging for Transportation liomeward. Mir. Garrison believes that, - owning to the facilities offered by the | regular steamship lines 1t will be un- | necessary to send more than one or two government vessels
 Official reports to the state depart ! ment from Hamburg today cleared up the last apprehension for the safety of
 Americans in the German empire. with
 the exception of those special cases l which have been take up by Ambassa- i dor Gerard. f4. The little colony in Hamburg, ac- | eu{Aipg to consular dispatches, Is not ouiy in comfortable circumstances, but cReerful and disposed to regard the situation as fee from any danger what
 ever Personal telegrams from Mrs.
 Benjamin Harrison, widow of the for
 mer President, stated that she was safe
 Oliver of Pennsylvania cabled that he
 q losatinuse en Paee Twelve,
 .