The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1917-02-16
DEMANDS KAISER
FREE U. S. TARS
u S. Sends PeremptOry Mes
sage to Germany.
WILSON REFRAINS FROM GOLF

Cabinet Takes Up Measures as Hos
tilites With Germany Grow Nearer.
Bill in Senate Would Open U. S.
Ports to Fleets of Entente Ma
ton.
WASHINGTON - A preemptory
demand for the release of the Yarrow-
dale prisoners has been framed by the
state department to be forwarded to
Germany through the Swiss minister.
The demand will probably accompany
a communication assuring Germany
that the United States has carefully
safeguarded the rights of the German
subjects on board war-bound German
ships in this country. 1t is stated that
the only possible move in the Narrow
dale situation was an unconditional
demand for the release of the prison
RS and that arrangements for the
demand had been completed.
A report ordered from Honolulu as
to the treatment of German war-bound
sailors there was expected to account
to prove conclusively that their rights
had not been violated.
Wilson Refrains from Golf.
President Wilson abandoned his
usual morning game of golf and re-
manned at work in his study. In the
afternoon the cabinet met and went
over the situation.
Among the questions now being
carefully considered are:
The proposed conference of neutrals
to outline the rights of the nations
not engaged in the war. This has not
taken definite form and it's exact
status has not been divulged; never
theless it is known the idea has not
been abandoned.
Open u. S. Harbors to Entente.
A bill directed against ruthless sub
marine warfare and proposing to open
the ports, harbors and waters of the
United States in time of war to war
ships or vessels of belligerents against
whom such warfare is waged was in
troduced by Senator Salisbury of Del
aware, president pro tempore of the
relations committee. At his request it
was referred to the committee.
There was no discussion of the bill
in the senate, although many senator's,
after it's introduction, pointed out that
in the present situation, the measure
would open the ports OF the United
States to British, French or other al
led warships conveying merchant
vessels, and also would enable bellig-
erents to patrol the waters of the Uni
ted States freely in campaign
against German raiders.
Hold IL Americans as Hostages.
BERLIN, GER.-Foreign Secretary
Zimmerman informed the press that
he had requested the Swiss govern
ment to make inquiry in Washington
regarding the status of the crews of
interned German ships in American
ports.
Pending an answer, the seventy-two
Americans taken by the German raid
er and brought in by the Yarrowdale,
whose release has been agreed to, are
being held in Germany, the foreign
secretary stated.
Gerard Threatened War.
BERNIE, SWITZERLAND = From
neutral soil it is possible to reveal the
pressure which the German govern
ment brought powerfully to bear on
the American ambassador to force
from him the signing of treaty which
would practically guarantee the safety
of German ships in American waters.
Gerard persistently refused. He de-
clined even to communicate such pro-
posals to Washington unless he was
granted freedom of confidential COM
munication.
An ultimatum, demanding the sign
ing of the treaty, practically was given
Gerard, it being backed up with the
threat to hold American correspon-
dents as hostages if such action was
not taken.
Gerard, it is reliably reported, told
the German official who brought this
threat that if Americans were forced
to remain in Germany, America would
regard such action as cause for
war
Then the American newspaper CORE
spondents ascertained that they were
likely to be held as hostages in Ger
many for Americas guaranteeing of
the German ships safety. They were
finally granted permission to leave
with Gerard on the special train, but
received their passports only four
hours before the time set for the de-
parture.
When the correspondents went tc
Gerard and told him what they had
heard, he replied: 81 told Count Mont
gelas that I'd sit there until kingdom
come and not leave until all Ameri-
cans were permitted free exit
After this the German officials grant
ed passports to those desiring to leave
with Gerard.