Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-02-20

trai powers. Austrfa's adherence to
Germany's position is regarded as
practically certain to force a break
with that country. Ambassador Elkus,
at ConstantinopIe, has been instructed
to ascertain whether submarines oper-
ating under the Turkish flag were I'M
der the same instructions as those Of
Germany and Austria.
News that an official statement had
been issued at Berlin announcing that
Feb. Is was the last "day of grace"
allowed neutral shipping before the
unrestricted submarine warfare went
into full effect, did not appreciably in
crease tension in official circles.
seventy-Two Americans Held.
A cable dispatch from Berlin says
that Foreign Secretary Zimmerman
informs correspondents that he had
requested the Swiss government 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 raider
and brought In by the YalTowdale,
whose release had been agreed to, are
being held in Germany, the foreign Sec
rotary stated.
1--WE could not consent 60 the release
of the Yarrowdsle prisoners, which
was taken to be agreed to a week
ago." said the foreign secretary.
These men had been taken off armed
merchantmen and their status had
been established. They will be liber-
ated just as soon as we learn the fate
of the German crews in American
ports"
The release of the Yarrowdale pris-
oners was agreed to with Ambassador
Gerard on the eve of the break in re-
lations, but the possibility of the Ger
man crews being interned in the
United States prompted the admiralty
to rescind the orders.
La Toilette Would Bar Guns.
Continuing his opposition to Presi-
dent Wilson's policy in breaking with
Germany, Senator R. M. La Toilette
has introduced a joint resolution pro-
viding: THAT it shall be unlawful, at
a time when the United States is not
at war, for any merchant vessel of
the United States t. be armed, and to
depart from a port of the United
States or any Of its territories or pos.
sessions, for port of any other coun-
try, it's colonies or possessions"
1t is indicated that the navy depart
ment, while opposed for military rea-
sons to any project of conveying Amer
lean merchantmen, favors furnishing
such ships with guns for their own
defense. In as much as the govern
ment has recognized that naval stores
are the only supply Of naval guns, it
has been held that obtaining guns
from that source does not alter the
private or commercial character of a
ship.
The enforced idleness of the Amer
lean merchant fleet is viewed with
growing disquiet, and the general view
here is that not only the export trade
but the nations standing before the
world demands that American vessels
continue to ply the high seas without
regard to the German proclamation.
U. S. Ships Sail for War Zone.
New York, Feb. 12.-Unless the
United States government provides
conveys or guns and gunners to pro-
tect it's ships, the American line, own
ers Of the steamships st. Louis, st.
Paul and other liners, will not send
them across the Atlantic, it was an
nounced here by P. A. S. Franklin,
president of the International Mer-
camille Marine.
This decision was reached after the
failure of efforts to provide their own
defensive armament, Mr.. Franklin
said. The only source of supply of
guns in this country, he added, seems
| to be the United States government,
and our government seems disinclined
to afford this protection"
With the stars and stripes flying
| ONcl lIS ldlll all TIC 1lOCACS-
ter, owned by the Kerr Steamship
line, with a general cargo for Bor-
deaux, passed quarantine, outward
bound, shortly after 2 p. m. on Satur
day. The Rochester is the second
American ship to leave this port since
the announcement by Germany on Jan.
81 of her new submarine campaign.
The first was the Dochra, which
sailed Feb. for Genoa. The Roch
ester had the national colors painted
on it's sides, together with the letters
''U. S. A" No vertical red and white
stripes, as prescribed in the German
submarine note, were in evidence
| Neither was it armed.
The Rochester was followed by the
American steamship Orleans, owned
by the Oriental Navigation company
/ also bound for Bordeaux. 1t is simil
arly marked. The Orleans carries a
crew of thirty-fve men, of whom, In
addition to Capt Tucker, thirty-twe
| are American citizens.