The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-02-15
PATIENCE IS
ALMOST EXHAUSTED
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not have constituted an especially
critical incident
These claim that Whitlock may
have been merely requested"
orderedvto take down the flag.
Such a request, they said, would
have been proper as the legation was
closed and on German occupied ter
ritory.
The governments information was
that Gustav Herter was arrested by
petty officials on his way out OF Ger
many and that Germany would only
let a few relief workers remain IN
Belgium.
by Robert ]. Bender, United Press
Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-All hope
is fast waning in official circles that
the clash looming between the Unit
ed States and Germany will be avoid
ed. Germany's persistence In her
ruthless q boat destruction OF neu'
trail as well as belligerent merchant
men is helping to kill hope for con
tinuance OF peace; entrance into the
new ruthless U boat campaign yes
terday by an Autrian submarine add
ed to the crushing weight on this
hope, especially in view of the fact
that the American ship sunk did not
have contraband Of war aboard.
Germany's position, apparently, Is
to cast all caution to the wind; at
least her statesmen are quoted as say
ing she will not have regard for
America. nor any one else.
In addition to this is the fact that
a. &c, nj o.
up-tied up by Germany's blockade"
All these things are making author
tiles dubious Of the future.
The president intends to proceed
deliberately-not to be stampeded on
a Single incident. his friends say.
But the accumulation OF German
misdeeds, and the evidences that
these will grow rather than decrease.
is rapidly forcing Wilson to his next
step-that of asking congress for
protection of Americans on the seas.
While negotiations still continue
to prevent a break with Austria and
other central powers, a serious turn
was given to the situation by the fact
that an Austrian submarine sank the
American schooner Lyman NJ. Law
illegally. according to reports. The
situation may mean that 1t. will not
be long before President Wilson
breaks with Austria. Meanwhile be-
hind the curtain OF secrecy the prep
arations by the government are pro
ceeding rapidly.
The Council Of National Defense,
comforting with Secretarys Daniels,
Baker, Houston and Lane, are holding
daily sessions from 10 a. N. to p. m.
At these conferences are gathered
some Of the biggest men in Amer
ica's business, railroad and financial
lines; men whose yearly incomes run
into several sets OF figures and VINO
are donating their time and labor TO
the government in an effort to sys-
tematically coordinate American re-
sources.
Efforts Of modelling war mater
ials are now occupying the councils
attention with E. F. Stettinius, of J.
P Morgan and Co., outlining the
means he followed placing large
orders for the entente powers. Plans
for guarding the nations railways in
case of war and for making them
available to national needs, are Sc
cret.
remarkable intelligence system
has been perfected and has been op.
Grated for several days.
Most of the work is being done
secretly, but 1t Is declared that should
war actually come, the rapidity with
which the nation would be able &c
bring it's resources into action, is
highly satisfactory to governm EN-
heads.
Indignation Aroused.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-A SHARP
turn to the already critical situation
setween the United States and Ger
many, occurred today when positive
. Information reached the government
! bringing word carried by Unitec
/ Press dispatches from Carl w. Aek
I erman, that Brand Whitiock, Unitec
States. minister to Belgium, wal
/ forced by German authorities a