The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-17
GERMANY OFFERS US.
SHIP FOR REFUGEES
Accepts and Asks Use
of Other Liners Tied Up
Here to Send Abroad.

wAsHINoroS, Aug. 1s.--what was char
acterized as a most generous offer was
received at the state Department to-day
from the German Government with re-
gard to the arrangements for bringing
Americans home from Europe.
The Berlin Government Informed wash
ington through Ambassador Gerard that
1t was welcome to select one OF the Ham
burg American liners tied up in United
States ports and send IL 10 Germany 10
bring back Americans. The Government
suggested that the ship be sent around
Scotland to a north German port, pre-
sumaby to avoid danger of mines in the
North Sea and also perhaps to keep
Americans out OF the scene Of a possible
engagement between the British and Ger
man fleets.
The German Government has assured
Ambassador Gerard that the United
States Government may have complete
control over the movements OF such yes
sci as IL selects and may even fly the
United states flag over her IL It so
Is to compensate the Hamburg American
Line.
Secretary OF War Garrison is inclined
to believe that the offer points the way
to clearing up quickly the entire stu
alton in regard to the transportation OF
Americans from Europe to the United
States. A few of the Hamburg-American
liners would bring back more Americans
than the entire fleet OF American steamers
available and In much greater comfort.
Accordingly Mr.. Gerard has been in
oil 90. INF ha f.nVnrfl-
ment that its offer is gratefully accepted
and to ask II the German Government can
not permit the United States Ia select
a number OF the Hamburg American
liners for the same purpose.
IL is believed the German Government
will give It's assent, as It has shown every
disposition to aid the return OF Americans
from Germany since the completion OF
the mobilization.
Ambassador Gerard's message crossed
a message from Washington to the Brit
ish. French and German Governments
proposing practically what the German
Government has offered that is. permits
sion TO use the ships Of those nationali-
ties which are lying idle In United States
ports for the purpose OF bringing Ameri-
cans home.
This suggestion was accompanied by
an inquiry as to whether these govern
ments would be willing TO regard as neu-
trail passenger steamers of whatever flag
engaged by the United States Govern
ment for the sole purpose of bringing
Americans home.
There Is little doubt here that the gov
ernments concerned will cordially assen,
to the proposal from Washington, pro-
vided, of course that the vessels so en-
gagged are not used to carry anything but
home coming Americans.
II the new proposals are agreed upor
II Is virtually certain that none of the
United States TRANSPORTS will he sent &c
Europe. This will be a Keller to officials
here. as the sin transports which II was
planned to use will require extensive al
terations. and even then will not be par
ticularly comfortable nor Of large carry
ing capacity.
The State Department asked Amba ssa
dor Gerard to-day to make the lest esti
mate he could of the number of Amer
leans in Germany. The Department has
fairly completa Information about the
number of Americans in all OF the Euro
pean countries except Germany. and II
is believed the number is large. Lates
reports indicate that there are In Swltz,r
land 10000 Americans who wish to com,
home at once,