South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-10-10
GERARD HOME,
IS SILENT To
ALL QUESTIONS
United States Ambassador to
Germany Refuses to Con-
firm or Deny Anything
When Met at Pier.
InternntlnnnI Newa ServIce:

international News Service:
NEW YORK, oct. 10.-Refusing
| 10 confirm or deny any OF the re-
ports published about his mission,
James w. Gerard, the United States
ambassador TO Germany, arrived
here today on the Scandinavian
American liner Frederick VIII. The
! ambassador was accompanied by
Mrs. Gerard.
81 won't say a word" declared
Mr.. Gerard emphatically, when
questioned by reporters. Il refuse
to confirm or deny anything
Mr.. Gerard declared emphatically
tina, ne would return to Germany,
saying:
81 am just as sure that l will go
! back as that 1 am standing here
Pressed in particular about the
report that he is here to warn the
president of Germany's intention to
begin a most drastic submarine war
fare. he retorted sharply:
well. that didn't come from me,
cid it,"
This was Mr. Gerard's first vaca-
ton since the outbreak of the war.
Throughout the two years and more
of conflict he has been living in the
center of the European maelstrOm.
The Frederick VIII passed the
new submarine warfare zone off the
New England coast without being
endangered in any way.
Enthusiastic Greeting.
An enthusiastic greeting was
given the returning ambassador. A
committee, headed by Public Ser
vice Commissioner oscar Straus
went down the bay TO meet him.
Swarms of reporters besieged the
! AMBASSADOR in the gray dawn as the
/ Frederick VIII slid into her moor
ings at quarantine and later as he
was carried up the bay on the po-
lice boat Patrol.
Was he coming with peace pro-
posals from the kaiser for submis-
sion 70 Pres't Wilson?
Was he bearing a message Of
warning that Germany is 10 launch
a new submarine warfare more
ruthless than anything ever known?
These and other questions were
trained upon the diplomat. but TO
all he was silent.
If. as has been reported, Mr..
Gerard was merely coming home for
rest and recreation after his ardu
. Gus labors in the war zone. he got
the. welcome Of a cOnquering hero.
All the way up the bay the police
boat was greeted with roaring
sirens and flags that were dipped in
salute Upon landing at the Battery
there was another demonstration.
Committee of Welcome.
The committee of welcome was
composed Of 81 members appointed
by the mayor. Mayor Mitchell was
not present in person, being absent
from the city. so New York was rep
resented officially by Acting Mayor
! Bowling.
The committee boarded the liner
and an impromptu reception was
held upon the deck.
Mr.. Straus presented n huge bou-
Duet Of American beauty roses to
Mrs Gerard and made a short
| speech Of welcome.
government present was Dudley
Field Malone. collector of the port.
Some OF the passengers of the
| Frederick VIII who were gathered
On the dock said that a submarine
had been sighted from the deck Of
| the liner last Sunday.
The submersible was a long dis
lance of ana its nationality could
not be ascertained, but those who
saw il thought it might have been
| the U-53.
An American newspaper CORE
spondent. who had accompanied Mr..
Gerard across on the Frederick VIII
had sent by wireless to his paper a
story saying that the real object OF
! the ambassador visit was 10 i'm
press Pres't Wilson personally with
| the seriousness Of the cloud hang
| ing over German-American relations
as a result OF submarine activities.
The correspondent also averred that
I the ambassador brought no peace
proposals.
Mr.. Gerard was told OF this story
but refused absolutely TO say a
word His only answer was
Tightening OF the lips.