Evening star., 1914-08-17
0FFERBY GERMANY
TOAD REFUGEES
Other Nations May Divert
Liners for Return of Strand
ed Americans.
PROPOSITION AWAITS WORD
FROM ENGLAND AND FRANCE
II No Objection IL Recorded, Steam
ers VIII Sail Under American
Flag with q. s. Officers.

x16K W1tU " y. VWCSkB.
Germany's OFFER to place at the dis
posal Of the United States passenger
steamers which would sail under the
American flag to bring refugees home
from Europe was before members Of the
government board Of relief today.
There were Indications that some Of the
other nations involved in the European
war might divert liners for the relief OF
Americans stranded abroad. II sufficient
facilities are available, 1t is probable that
the plan to send American transports to
Europe will be abandoned.
Secretary Garrison announced that II
ships Of other powers were employed
to bring stranded tourists home, strict
est neutrality would be preserved by
the United States. 1t was suggested
that the refugee vessels might be
manned by American officers.
According to plans of the relief board.
the refugee ships would sail direct
to European ports where the marooneo
Americans have been unable to secure
transportation on the few steamers
bound across the Atlantic.
May Use Mediterranean Route.
While the Berlin government has
suggested that any German ship en-
ployed sail around the north coast OF
Scotland for German ports. 1t appear
ed probable that an attempt would be
made to agree on a Mediterranean
route That would take the ships to
French and Italian ports where the
refugees might gather. BY that means
all danger Of encountering mines would
be avoided.
The acceptance Of the offer of the
German government for the use Of
some Of the steamships Of the Ham
burg-American line now anchored at
New York in the TRANSPORTATION to
the United States Of Americans now
in Germany. Is dependent on the re-
ceipt Of assurances from England and
France that they have no objection to
such action. That was a condition
of the offer and is designed to protect
German steamships sailing under the
American officers from attack by the
allies at war with Germany.
Await Word from London.
Secretary Bryan has Instructed the am
bassadors at London to submit the propo-
sition to the English and French govern
ments with the understanding that the
German steamships would be used for the
transportation home Of stranded Ameri-
cans and for no other purpose. In case
Of favorable responses the United States
government will Immediately accept the
German offer and send one or more OF
the German liners to Europe.
A message from Secretary Garrison
asking II some Of the German liners now
lying Idle at New York could be used to
bring home refugees evidently crossed the
offer Of a ship cabled by the German gov
ernment. As there are twenty-seyen Ger
man vessels at New York, Mr.. Garrison
expressed belief that there would be no
dimculty In bringing all Americans in
Germany home with dispatch.
Tho President told newspaper men to-
day he has heard nothing from the
English government as to the talked
of purchase by American capital of
ships OF the German commercial lines,
suggestions having been made in Eng
land that such purchase might cause
i'll feeling in England. Senators and
House today were disposed to pay little
attention to such criticisms abroad. as
II is admittedly within the right of
citizens of the United States to buy
commercial ships wherever they please.
10000 Seek Transportation.
Mr.. Garrison asked the American
embassies at Berlin and Vienna to de-
termine the number Of Americans In
Austria and Germany who want to
come home. Minister Stovall at Berne
reported there were about 10000 Amer
leans in Switzerland who seek trans
portation.
Secretary Bryan, after the receipt of
cablegrams from Ambassador Page at
London. said:
The transportation situation be-
tween this country and Great Britain
now IL such that every American may
in a few weeks go home on the ordi-
nary lines. The problem Is therefore
solved
Consular reports to the State Depart
ment from Genoa, Italy, state that 5000
American refugees are expected to arrive
there from Switzerland and that $500
are already at Genoa awaiting transpor-
tation.
The State Department was advised to-
day by the American consul at Naples
that $40 Americans had sailed from that
port aboard the steamer San Giovanni
and that q list Of passengers and ad-
dresses soon would be forwarded.
Reassurtng News from Paris.
Ambassador Herrick today sent a re-
assuring dispatch to the State Depart
ment which described conditions in
Paris as virtually normal. with the
populace calm and the traffic in the
streets regular. except for the absence Of
the great motor omnibuses. The situa-
ton Of Americans is apparently entirely
relieved.
The crowds. which were unruly when
the war rumors first reached the French
capital. are quiet. the ambassador states,
and the transportation is carried on in
an orderly fashion. The chief sign Of
war IL a slight rise in the price Of food
stuffs but the issuance Of small notes
by the Bank Of France has relieved the
contraction of currency due to the dis
appearance of gold.
A strict censorship on war. news the
ambassador says, has been declared and
no statements are available. even
through diplomatic channels, except
those officially made public to the
newspaper correspondents.
Crude Oil Prices Cut Again.
PITTSBURGH. August 17.-Ol prices
were cut again today, Pennsylvania crude