The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-03-11

will. be made to Germany demanding
that she disavow the action of the
captain of the Eitel. Government Of
ficials and members of the diplomatic
corps believe Germany will not only
do so, but that she will accept hnan-
cial responsibility for the sinking OF
the Frye without any real haggling.
So far as the government now ts
concerned, however, the United States
position was outlined by the president
today as follows:
"A searching inquiry will be made
into the sinking Of American ship VII
liam r. Frye by the German auxiliary
cruiser Eitel Friedrich and whatever
action is taken, Will be based upon the
result Of that inquiry
This inquiry began today at Nor-
felix. 1t will be pushed to compile
ton Immediately. If the facts are as
shown by the preliminary statement
OF the captain OF .ne Frye, then the
United States will insist on repara-
ton. which is is generally agreed viii
be forthcoming. The United States
will insist, in it's negotiations with
Germany that its position is as outli.i-
ed by the president in his note to
Germany in which he said:
IF the commanders of German YES
sells of war destroy on the high seas
an American vessel-it would be diff
ficult for the government of the Unit
ed States to view the act in any other
light than an indefeDsiSle violation OF
neutral rights which it would be very
hard to reconcile.-If such a deplor-
able situation should arise-the gov.
eminent OF the United States would
be constrained to hold the imperial
government to strict accountability. "
In this connection the president
has made II plain that this government
has surrendered none of its rights I'M
der international law so far as any
governments now at war are concern
ed. It stands ready to take any steps
which It may deem right to safeguard
such acknowledged rights everywhere,
but especially on the high seas
It is because of this fact and the
realization that this government at
the present time must steer an abso-
lutely impartial course that the presi-
dent today abandoned all minor busi-
ness OF the government. During the
next three weeks he viii be confront
ed with some o. the most weighty
problems that have faced a president
since the time OF Lincoln. Chief o;
these are the following:
Representations TO Germany for the
sinking OF the FRYE.
Des.royers on Guard.
! WASHINGTON, March 11--Secre-
tary OF the Navy Daniels today order
ed the destroyers McDougal and
Drayton from Guantanamo to New
York to aid the port authorities there
in maintaining neutrality. The naval
yacht Dolphin was dispatched Wed
nesday from Washington to the game
port on a Ike errand. The vessels
will be under Admiral Usher's com
mand.
No Complaint Made
NEW YORK, March 11s-CGstoroe
house officials today denied the de
stroyers had been ordered to SeE
York because of any specific com
plants following the report that the
. Neutrality-suspicious. liners were pre-
a.. pairing to slip out OF port.
i Two dstrCyers and z battIsshiT
were stationed in the harbor here Isgt
j fall to preserve the neutrality OF tbs
port, but were Withdrawn before tbf
u first of the year. It was gtated at tht
e customs house today that the SIC
e Dougal and Drayton probably were or
q dered here to take the places Of thee
. vessels.
ID Rumors flew about the harbor
a. few days ago that one or two OF tht
o German owned liners interned her.
J. were taking on supplies and prepar
IS ing for a dash out to sea-