Evening star., 1914-08-01
WOULD SHIELD j. S.
FROM WAR SHOCK
CONTINUED from First Pageo

American registry is open to the ships
| of the world. there will have to be an
| actual transfer of the property. we
could not offer them the safety of our
flag as a temporary proposal; They
would have to agree to remain in our
merchant marine"
German Envoy Leaves Russia.
From st. Petersburg the White House
has information that the German am
bassador has left there. and in Paris
| consideration is being given to possi-
bilitv of the American ambassador,
Myron T. Herrick. acting for Germany
in the prospective absence of the Ger
man ambassador from that city.
At the State Department today Mr..
Bryan said that it is not proposed in
any event that Mr.. Herrick should
leave his post before August 8. and he
That Is week OF. Much can happen
| in a week you know.
Mr.. Bryan said the United States gov
ernment has not definitely been asked by
| any Of the foreign powers to allow Its
diplomatic representatives to act for them.
| in case their own diplomatic representa-
| tives leave their posts.
William G. Sharp, the Ohio member Of
Congress, who was named as ambassador
Of the United States to France. and who
expected to sail this week to relieve Mr.
Herrick, cannot go to his post because
the ship upon which he was to leave has
| Cancelled its sailing date. Mr.. Herrick.
former Governor of Ohio and intimate
| friend Of President Mckinley, has done
work at Paris that is satisfactory to the
| administration. and while he has not been
appealed to by Secretary Bryan to re-
| main at his post until Mr.. Sharp reaches
there. whenever that is. he Is likely to
do 3d. Mr.. Herrick would be especially
satisfactory to the Germans in looking
after their interests in Paris, 1t is stated
by German officials.
Bryan Wants Reports.
In order to keep in close touch with
the war developments in Europe and
to have prompt information about
Americans living or travelling in the
affected countries. Secretary Bryan has
cabled the American diplomats in the
countries which may be involved, in
structing them to report promptly by
cable the cases of all Americans killed.
| injured or distressed.
Ambassador Page is now in England
| and Ambassador Gerard is in Ger
many. Ambassador Page, at Rome. who
had planned to leave for the United
States today. is returning to Rome, to
stay at his post. The ambassador to
Spain, Joseph Willard. who plans to
leave for Madrid Tuesday, was at the
White House yesterday. inquiring
about the situation. The new am
bassador to Russia, Mr.. Mayre, plans
to leave for st. Petersburg as soon as
he can obtain passage.
Will Gather Military Data
The War Department has concluded
to relv upon its existing force Of mill
tary attaches in the European en-
bassies and legations for the present
at least to gather information Of mill
tary value during the war. These off,
GERS are already on the ground speak
the language Of the country to which
they are accredited. and are well ac-
ua,n1ed thsx With nth the officials to whom
fore it is the intention of the depart
ment to refrain for the present from
dispatchine special observers. though
about half the officers OF the army have
arnlied for such detail.
responsibility for the maintenance of
order in China, in the event of a gem
eral European conflict. observers here
United States. At present the interna-
tional guard in Chill province includ-
ing American marines and soldiers, ap-
proximates 5000 officers and men, OF
under command of Maj. Dion Williams.
are guarding the legation at Peking.
while 1900 infantrymen. with a ma
chine gun platoon are at Tientsin. under
4
Other Troops Might Leave.
1t has been suggested that II a gem
| eral European war came foreign troops
other than those Of the United States
and possibly Japan might be withdrawn
to augment home forces and to prevent
complications in China It is thought.
however. that the present American
forces would be sufficient to guarantee
order and insure undisturbed traffic on
the railroad between Tientsin and the
capital city OF Peking. In any event.
the American Asiatic naval souaaron
always Is available, as well as froons
from the Philippines 'ope
Foreign troops in China, other than
| American, according to latest reports in
clude: '-
Great Britain. 1000 officers and mon.
Austria-Hungary. 81; Belgium, 81: France
1.462; Germany. 459: Italy. 221: Japan'
LIT: Holland. IS.
Would Recall Men in q. s.
Efforts being made by Austria and Ser
via to recall from the United States for
military service the many thousands of
their citizens who are employed in
American factories. has attracted official
attention, and the question has been
raised whether such activities are being
| carried beyond the limits prescribed by
! the neutrality laws.