New Britain herald., 1917-02-10
May Merely Ask C{
 gross for PrOtectl of American Sh ping in War Zone
VON BERNSTORFF N
 BARRED FROM CAB

Secretary Lansing Declares To
 Ambassador Was Free to Comm
 cate WithYIJorne and Still Do
 That Gerard Was Prevented F
 Beginning Journey to Amcri
 PaciRsts Becoming Active.
 Washington, Feb. 1o.--Late rep of ships sunk by German Su5n1er were scanned closely today by gov ment officials for a double req First there was the ever present
 that any hour might bring a deci for the United States to use fore protect it's rights. Second, yes days reported falling off of aggrel tonnage sunk produced wonder a t whether the failure was only | porary or whether Great Britain already done something to lessen force of the submarine attacks.
 Wilson Decides on Course.
 Tn reference to the chances q more pronounced break with d many, it is disclosed that the else course of the United States been determined. President Wtl will not ask congress for a declarad of war but only for authority to d necessary measures to protect Il tral rights. This would still leave first act of open hostilities to z trN Ney merchant vessels by American
 craft might be ordered.
 Interests in the progressive suot of submarine campaign was based Lloyds reports reaching here, indk ing that not much more than iAy tons total shipping was sunk yca1 day, although about FLOOD tons X reported sunk on Thursday and alb 28,000 tons each of the two proce ing days. A daily destruction 23,0O0 tons would be necessary maintain the rate which the Gerr admiralty believes sufficient to I late England. Reports that Or Britain is arranging to convoy gr fleets of merchantmen through war zone gained credence here.
 One of the questions discussed the cabinet meeting late yester{ was the threatened hampering American industries if ships are h up in American ports much lon by fear of risking submarine danEs It was stated authoritatively after cabinet meeting that nothing ' done to change the policy of the g ernment. @
 No Restrictions on AlnbassadOr.
 The statement attributed to Dr. W liam Won Stumn, German under-s retary of foreign affairs. that @ many has detained Ambassador 0 ard because Count Von Bernstorff | been prevented by this country fir telegraphing that he had received passports, was held by Secreta Lansing today to be improbable.
 He said: N
 ''I doubt the authenticity Of sta ment of that kind which is so dire ly contrary to the facts. Every ia, ity and convenience has been pia. before Count Won BernstorT and would have been allowed to send full statement regarding the sev ance. Whether he availed i,imselr this or not is his responsibility. I German government has been formed with the fullest detail of events in this country through t different sources, the Swiss minis here, who has becn empowered represent German interests and spanish ambassador in Berlin throu whom our communications have 20 have no reason now to believe Il there has been very unusual delay Ambassador Gerard's departure 1"
 Drive for Peace.
 Thousands of telegranls from diff, ent parts of the country urging ste to maintain peace between the Un ed States and Germany reached t White House today. These evident were part of an organized movemel Representatives of the Emergen Peace Federation, recently organiz in New York, called at the Whi House to see President Wilson to a range a meeting next week. A ma m eeting will be held Monday. O. of the objects of the movement is secure referendum on war as su gested by William J. Bryan.