New Britain herald., 1917-04-09
Expected Action q CUTS Today---Pen is Safe at ZuIl Switzerland K
GERMAN INFLUENCE
 BROUGHT TO BEL

~ s1 s1l4&s t, r v
 washiretpn, April S.--Austria-E5 gary. under the pressure of Germs has severed diplomatic relations the United States.
 Baron Erich zwiedencik. char5 affairs of the Austro-Hungarian bassy here, called at the state today and, asked for f ports for himself and the enlh stan.
 Almost at the same time . patch was received from Annes4 Stovall at Berne sti the dual monarchy had brokeg relations with the u States in Vienna yesterday.
 It is expected that this was dolil handing passports to the Amer1 charge Grew. ls
 Ambassador Penfield left viennA Saturday.
 spain Takes over Intcrest4
 By pre-arrangement, 6paSn# take over the diplomatic and cOnS interests of the United States in tria- Hungary. 9 All Austrian consular agents depart from the United States the diplomatic mission as ,wae case with Germany. S'
 Un to the time Charge ZWiG asked for his passports no sirAtla tion had been taken by piSi94 Turkey and their represesitaftxS4 disclaimed having any knOwlod the intentions of their governn58 Undoubtedly Austria's breoH8Sl the United States is the pteiude declaration of state Of wAr.s
 The diplomatic history Of clS ton and the pracedents of thSAc4 ,ies show state Of war inEartan n]5 lows . break in dtploS lcs l,etween irstr class pQweEG. 2!l aside from this, h owevers { subscribed, even # 6nfy acadA to Germany canip ipaigIa Of rtlt hil l! although she has not carried against American interests. 1a that Is cpnsidered that it wss quite impossiblesto to have absoa the United States on Q frlcNdly the diplomatic and consular af6 Germany's ally. x ~ S1 Propasnnda onensixc sss x a Anti-American propa knndas ducted by Austrian agents. unde man direction has been nc less sive and scarcely less affecttxasa the German propaganda itsetkk clean break with Austria was time ago recognized as the ioxtc velopment. ssl
 It is possible that there may 'warlikc operations between the of the two governments, unter4 many should force it. ssS
 Charge Grew at Vienna aaaS turn over to Spain, British and neae interests which, this count looked after since the beginn3e the war. Italian French and III nian interests, in Austria l0ok1dx by the United States were oxe turned over to the Swiss anbaN
 The United States. by the hfe is released of the ca&1 probably 100000 war prlsoneSs Russia alone it is estimated tn 25O.OOO Austrian prisoners were American protection with q cg era ble number in France aiHos Austria the United States had for all the Italian and Runla niAiie oners. Other small group4 thought to bring the total well ?, 900, 900. .s z M NJ
 About 200 native AnnericanS thought to be now in Austria Hungary, with perhaps another naturalized Austro--Americans moe whom, will prefer to stay in the c4 try of their birth.
 Austria has In this country fifty consular officers in 'additi0 her regular embassy staff not iue ing clerks, attaches and familles, conduct for all will be arranCd once. ss'3
 Penfield Is Safc.
 The safe arrival of Ambassad6f Mrs. Penfield at Zurich. switeel with three members of tho s1nl staff, was reported today to the partment. The last direct desp from Vienna which reached here terday having been sent SaturaASy said that up to that time Austria not taken action.
 JosephC c. Grew. formerly secret| at Berlin Is acting as charge Vienna. aided by four assistant sed taries.
 Bulgaria and Turkey have not yet given any indication of their prI able attitude and officials cxnA doubt as to what it will be-. Neltj formally has endorsed Germany'4 marine stand and neither. has su rines that would operate near ican shipping. Austrla's sevefen relations will cut off all comm tion with Sofia and ConstantiiAop2 the Greek cable to the latter cltXs only route except via Vienna. has been cut s1