The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-02-19

ADDRESSING a large dudleASc Va
crisis" at the Emmanuel Baptlst
church, bitterly denounced the peace
partisans, declaring that persons cali-
ing protest meetings at this time are
guilty of treason.
Demand Has Been Sent
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-Peremp-
tory demand for release CT the seF-
enty-two American Yarrowdale prls-
oners, now held in Germany, mas
been sent to the imperial govern
ment, the state department an
nounced today.
The department announced the de-
mand had been sent Saturday.
Secretary Lansing in making an
nouncement that the demand was dls-
patched secretly Saturday, added tnat
late yesterday evening Inc aepai =
ment received word from Berlin, pre-
sumably through the Spanish amoas-
sador that the prisoners would De
released shortly"
It Is not believed this communlca-
ton of Sunday evening is reply
to this governments demand sent
Saturday, since so quick an ex-
change would have been practically
impossible.
officials were more inclined to be-
lieve the Sunday message received
here was a reply to the inquiry mace
several days ago as to the STATUS o4
the American prisoners. :.
The department announced II
would not "at this time" make the
demand public.
while the departm ent would not
saw so fatty, 1t strongly indicated
that the demand is the one winch
| had been prepared some days age
and would have been sent last week
| had it not been for press reports
| from Berlin saying the Americans
had been or were about to be re
leased.
This demand, it was made clear
was Just short OF an ultimatum, ~
cited the attitude, policy ana step
taken regarding Germans. German
property and German ships 1nternee
here; and pointed out clearly Presi
dent wilson's policy to take no stel
that could be construed as navinl
been taken for military exlsency.
Bolivia Denounces Germany.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-Tht
Mexican embassy here received
communication today from the BOIL
Wan government calling upon al
| American nations to join in con
| ference to deal with complications
growing out of the German U ona
war.
| The communication denounces Ger
Imany's sea warfare In scanning
terms.
| Preparedness Expense.
| WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-Congres:
has twelve legislative days remain
ing In which to clean up its vast pre-
naredness program which may carr!
total this year OF $S71.5OO. O3I.o1.
During the twelve days the senate
must pass these bills:
| !, Fortifications, $60,855,0 900; naval
s36s 500 900; army. s247 100000; mill
tary academy, s1,225,043, and sundr.
civil preparedness feature), S2O,2a4'
$50.
resides the bills noted, the senate
&c exnected to add to the naval bill
provision for s15O,o0o,000 for immedi
ate completion of warships and te
! increase the bill itself by about $lo,
e00,0 900. .,
This would bring the total to SSH,
200 600. including the item OF 81.
100000 for families of milltiameT
which has been passed by bott
houses. The house has passed fortlh
cation, naval and urgent deficiency
bills. The army bill is under con
alteration and the military academy
bill is expected to come up next The
sundry civil bill was reported today
| A complaint by the Aero Club Of
America that only $5,300.o00 Is pro
yfded in the navy bill for aeronau
tics. is met in the house with the
reply that if the senate puts in the
$3.50, 100000 item for completion Of
warships and construction OF subma
rine chasers, the navy department
will be able to use some Of this fol
aeroplanes.
| More Hopeful Today.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-Althougl
unchanged in its dangerous particu
lars. the German-Am erican situation
today was generally regarded by o;
ficials as more hopeful than at AM
time since the diplomatic break two
weeks ago.
The situation is such that the Unit
ed Press can state positively thu
president has mo present intentio,
of going to congress to discuss 1t IL
any way
! No overt act" has yet occurre,