Connecticut western news., 1917-01-25
U. s. AN0 CE,al..hANY
 FACE NEW ISSUE
Berlin Must Free Americans
 Taken on YarrOWdd.e.
ARMED SHIP QUESTION AGAIN


 Crew of British Vessel Captured by
 Raiders--Den:and For Their Release
 Considered Probable.
 Direct issue between the German gov. ernment and the United States on the question of armed merchant vessels looms up as a possible result of the raiding activities of German commerce dcstrOJer i'll the Atlantic.
 Prompted by unofficial reports that American citlZCns are held as prisoners of war i'll Germany. the state depart mcnt directed Ambassador Gerard, at Berlin. to make detailed report on the circumstances at once.
 The department was informed that among the prisoners of war" taken tC Germany by the British vessel IaIrOw- dale were three Americans. members of the crew of the captured ship All of the crew of the Yarrowdaic are re- garded as prisoners of war, the Ger. man government holding they were taken aboard n armed ship opposing" tE2 German naval forces.
 It is expected that Ambassador. Ger ards report will be followed b. de mand on Germany for the release of the Americans. German sources in Washing, Jn said there was little likcli- hood of serious controversy growing out of the situation. and it was appar- ent that German diplomats here be- lieve the Americans will be released or demand.
 Armed Ship Question Again.
 The situation, however. is causing SC. rious concern to the state department, The armed ship question is still at is. sue. although in abeyance, between this country and Germany. The Unit ed States has held since the | ginning of the war that placing guns on mer. chant vessel for defensive purposes did not destroy the ''peaceful merchant- man. character of the ship.
 Germany has taken the position hat the arming of a merchantmen auto cruiser the vessel and places her crew in the position of belligerents.
 It is on the construction of the doe trinc of armed merchantmen that the state department believes the German government is holding the men cap tured aboard the YarrOwdae and Other entente merchant ships captured by the German raiders as "priSOners of war"
 The United States under its previous contentious must regard the YarrOw- dale as merchant ship. She received clearance papers from the American government at the port of New York when she sailed on the voyage that ended in her capture. She was cleared as peaceful merchantmen bound on q commercial voyage.
 Appam Case Precedent.
 The state department iS anxiOusly awaiting advices as to the disposition made of the nine Americans captured on merchant ships by the raiders and sent in to Pernambuco. Brazil.
 They are in the same position as the pensioners" brought into Norfolk by the German prize crew which con veyed the captured British ship Alp. pam across the Atlantic. The Appam prisoners were released by the United States immediately upon their arrival in this country. It is expected the Bra. zilian government will effect the re. lease of the Americans taken into Per nambuco aboard a captured prize.
 The recurrence of this question at this time has impressed the admins. tratiOn seriously. The submarine con trOversy is still unsettled between the United States and Germany. A re vival of diplomatic argument between the two countries would he looked upon as particularly unfortunate with the president still seeking means tO bring about peace in Europe. American Flag Used. Two freight steamships conveyed by | two auxiliary cruisers flying the Amer l iran flag. but believed to be war yes | Sels of some European nationality were | sighted off the coast of Rio Grande de i NOrte by persons on the steamship | NarianO. which has arrived at Pernam l DucO.
 The cruisers are believed by many tC l be of German nationality and by oth CTS to be British vessels defending the merchantmen against the German raider.
 | The Drina of the Royal Mail line whose safety was the cause of anxiety reported upon arrival at Rio de JaneirC that several days ago she received q wireless warning of the operations oi the raider. but did not meet the Ger man. Captain SilOr of the steamship i Netherby Hall, captured by the raider landed at PernambucO by the Hudson Maru. says that the raiders speed was twenty-twO miles. He says she haC chree submarines about twenty feet il 1 leligth which operated, using the shir ] aS a base.
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