The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-02-14
Inquiry Sent to Berlin Fore
casts More Vigorous Step
if Necessary.
CABINET DISCUSSES
PLANS FOR TWO HOURS
Bill of Particulars Drawn
Up in Indictment of
Kaiser.
LANSING GETS NEWS
OF NEW AFFRONTS
Merchant Ships in New
York Inspected With View
to Arming Them.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.-An inquiry
concerning the redetention by Ger
many of the seventy-two American
seamen brought in by the prize ship
farrowdale was despatched to Berlin
to-day by the United States Govern.
ment preliminary to more vigorous 40.
ton If the men are not promptly re-
leased.
The plight Of these sailors occupied
much of the time at to-day's Cabinet
meeting given over to the crisis grow.
ing out of Germany's submarine war
fare. 1t was agreed that their liberty
again should be demanded in most en-
phatic fashion.
Pending complete reports as to the
treatment Of German crews on war;
bound ships in the Philippines, Hawaii
and elsewhere, however. the Govern
ment will content itself with the in
quiry as to why the Americans are
held and under what conditions.
Relations between the United States
and Germany are rapidly becoming more
/ and more intolerable to President Will
son and his Cabinet advisers. The grow-
| ing bill of particulars which the Presi.
dent will frankly place before the Amer
| lcan people when the hourly expected
overt act forces him to make his ndict-
! mem before Congress and ask for power
TO protect American rights WAS discussed
at length by the Cabinet to-day.
II Is now said to be possible If not
! probable, that the final rupture may
come even in advance of the sinking Of
an American ship or the sacrifice Of
American lives in the war zone
bill of Particulars.
This bill OF particulars is as follows:
Detention of Americans as prisoner
OF war In time of peace
ihreat TO detaln Americans in Ger
many unless United States not only
reaffirms the provisions of the treaty
or l'99-iScS, but approves of certain
| new clauses, virtually constituting q
new treaty, which would have to be
ratified by the Senate
The treatment of Ambassador Ge-
rard and his party in Germany follow
ing the rupture of relations
| The accumulative cases of attacka
on vessels bearing Americans in the
war zone.
| Nlrtual blockade of American ports
Inc new complications which threaten
10 assume a serious aspect and which
iHulcate 10 some that Germany is delib-
era'ely FORCING matters to the point of
an open clash are the announced deter
mination of Germany to hold the seyen-
tH-tWo American sailors brought in on
the prize ship Yarrowdale as prisoners
or war until definite assurances are re-
,'Eeu 'hat German crews in American
haroors would not be held or imprisoned.
ana the further apparent determination
OF Berlin to force this Government 70
sign revised edition OF the treaty OF
l799-ls2S as the price for obtaining per-
mission for Americans in Germany to
leave the country.
Official Ire Aroused.
Both OF these virtual German demands
nave aroused the ire and offended the
dignity of the Administration. The
President admittedly is going to great
lengths TO give Germany the benefit of
every doubt as to whether or not Ber-
Inns apparent aggressiveness Is deliber-
ately planned or based on EiCinforma-
uon concerning conditions confronting
Germans in this country. The right of
the United States to demand that Ameri-
cans be permitted to leave Germany IA
absolute. the President contends, and
which may be reached
Secretary Lansing, when he arrived al
the White House for the Cabinet meet
ing. had in addition TO the German
threats concerning the Yarrowdale sail
ors and American residents In Berlin a
detailed account of the indignties suf-
fered by Mr.. Gerard In Berlin, besides
ofhcial news from the German Foreign
Office that the submarine blockade was
now to be pursued without individual
warnings to neutral ships, on the ground
: that the time limit for sparlng neutral
; vessels had passed, and an unofficial ac-
count OF tho latest U-boat achievement
the attack on the White Star steamer
Afric.
more Than two hours and was character
lied. 1t was learned, by discussion de-
voted exclusively to matters pertaining
to the acute situation between the Ger
n man and United States Governments.
Opinion among the Cabinet members was
, unanimous that the situation was rapidlv
going from bad to worse. The hope for
r staving of final rupture has dwindled
I almost to nothing The only matters
: upon which there was room left for diyi-
@ sion of opinion We're how far this Gov
c ernment ought now to go without waiting
for Germany to continue profiting by its
$ openly aggressive policy. and whether or
= not the United States could take more
d ronounced precautionary measures with
. out running the risk of facilitating Ger
lmany's reported desire to place respon-