Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-14
new NOTE SENT
TO GERMANY ON
rover CAPT|vES
Formal Notice from Berlin that
the Day of Grace to All
Nations of the World
Has Expired.
SITUATION IS MORE ACUTE
Washington Officials Now Fear
that Overt Act May Come
at Any Moment,
BIG ISSUES TO MEET.

| Washington, Feb. l3.--Anotaer
communication has been sent to Ger
many through the Swiss minister
here, looking to the release OF the
American seamen taken to Germany
on the prize ship iarrowdale and now
retained while, Germany seeks as
surances of the status of its seamen
in American ports. The exact nature
OF the communication is not disclosed,
but it is believed to be demand for
the release of the Americans.
Washington, Feb. l5.-Berlin's for
NAL announcement that the time has
expired for all exceptions iii the cant
paign of ruthlessness, turned attention
here today to the questions which con-
front the American government, in
whatever next steps may be taken to
meet the situation.
President Wilson abandoned his
usual morning game of golf and re-
nained at work in his study. In the
afternoon the cabinet met and went
over the situation.
! Among the questions now being
carefully considered are:
The proposed conference OF neu-
trails to outline the rights of the ma
tions not engaged in the var. This
has not taken form and it's exact
status has not been divulged; never
theless it is known the idea has not
been abandoned.
Loaning guns for the arming OF
American merchant ships. The pre-
ponderance of opinion among officials
who have advised the president on
this point favors having the navy
furnish the guns.
Action on Austria's situation in the
new campaign. The new ambassador,
Count Tarnowski, still is waiting to
present his credentials.
A reply to Mexico's suggestion for
embargoes on food and ammunition
to the belligerents,
Any or all of these questions are
expected to be decided in the near
| future. -.a ..,
While it was reiterated today that
the president would not be rushed
into war. il was plain that all officials
realized that the much feared overt
act might come at any time,
Official Warning Given.
Amsterdam, Feb. l3.--(Via Lon.
don. ALI periods OF grace for neutral
ships entering the zones announced as
prohibited by Germany have now ex-
pired, according to Berlin official
statement received here. The state
ment says that immunity ceases in re-
spect to the Atlantic and English
channel zones on the night of Feb
ruary II, for the North sea zone Feb
ruary and for the Mediterranean
zone on February 10. 1t continues:
From now on, therefore, in all
prohibited zones the warning which
has been issued is in full force and
shipping can no longer expect indiyid-
ual warning. Vessels which, enter the
prohibited areas do so with full
knowledge of the dangers threatening
them and their crews. 1t is expressly
stated that all news spread from
enemy sources about any torpedoing
of neutral ships without previous
warning, before the dates mentioned
for the various prohibited areas, is
incorrect.
The periods of grace mentioned
were also in force for enemy pas
senger vessels because it was possible
that they were carrying neutral pas
sengers .,ho were perhaps ignorant OF
the new blockade regulations
Issue Up to Wilson.
London, Feb. l3.-"President Viii
son wishes to make an attempt to
break the German blockade; the
American government must be re-
sponsiblc for what happens" says the
Berlin Vossische Zeitung in conf
menting on the report that two Amer
ican merchant vessels had left for
the blockaded zone, according to the
Exchange Telegraph company's Co
penhagen correspondent.
The correspondent reports that the
announcement of the vessels depar-
ture had caused pronounced sensa-
ton in Berlin.
The American vessels referred to
doubtless are the unarmed freight
steamers Orleans and Rochester,
which sailed from New York for
Bordeaux on Saturday.