Evening star., 1914-08-12
partment to address itself directly to
its consular officers.

partment to address itself directly to
its consular officers.
Through some misunderstanding the
immigration officers on the Canadian
border recently detained a number OF
German reservists who were trying to
reach New York via Winnipeg and
Montreal. but speedy action on the part
of the State Department. whose atten-
tion had been directed to the subject
by the German embassy, resulted in the
release of the detained Germans.
1t is expected the American diplo-
matte and consular officers everywhere,
going to be very busy in extending
protection to hundreds of unfortunates
who are being denounced as spies
merely because they happen to speak
the language of the enemy, and without
doubt the effort will be made to secure
exact justice and a fair trial for every
person so accused. wherever it is pos
sible to do SO, outside of the actual
zone of military operations.
There Is already reason to believe
certain innocent foreigners are being
denounced as result of personal
enmities and spites conceived in times
of peace, sometimes as the outcome of
business rivalrteS.
Question of Far East Neutrality.
The question as to the establishment of
neutral zone in Chinese waters, which
has been occupying the attention Of Of
ficials here since the declaration Of hos
ttlities in Europe. is as yet unsettled. AL
though 1t Is believed that some sort OF
an agreement will be reached before many
days which will provide for the neutrality
Of at least certain portions Of the far
eastern waters, Secretary Bryan states
that no definite proposition" had been
considered.
ments in the far east depends. in the
opinion of officials and diplomats here,
principally on Germany. and there is a va
rance OF opinion as to what Germany
will do.
Attention was called to the fact that al
the request Of the European powers Japan
refrained from active hostilities during
the Chinese-Japanese war in or around
the port OF Shanghai, where there was q
large international colony, and during
the Russo-Japanese war Shanghai also
was held by the two warning powers as
virtually neutral ground.
Revenue Cutters Busy.
The fleet Of the revenue cutter service
Is bending efforts to keep the United
States out of the present great European
war. Assigned to the duty of safe
guarding the neutrality of the United
States. revenue cutters are on station at
nearly every port OF the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans and in the Gulf of Mex
leo.
The onondaga has just relieved the
Presidents yacht. the Maynower, which
has been cruising In Hampton roads and
between the Virginia capes. and will
take over the task OF inspecting the
papers and cargo of each departing ves-
sci flying foreign flag to make sure
that the neutrality proclamation of the
President is observed. The Mayfower
will return to Washington.
The Apache is stationed at Baltimore.
The Gresham is on duty at Boston. At
Charlestown the Yamacraw Is doing
duty. In New Orleans harbor Is the lit
tie revenue cutter Davey, and the Win
dom Is at Galveston.
On the Pacific coast, the Golden Gate
is watching commerce in the waters of
San Francisco harbor. The Unalaga is
off Seattle.
New York harbor Is guarded by the
battleship Florida At Philadelphia no
vessel is stationed. but a revenue cutter
or a warship will soon take station at
the entrance to Delaware bay.