The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-02-15
ANOTHER DAY OF
WAITING FOR THE
T PRESIDENT TO.AGT
Opinion Grows That the Cri.
sis is Now at
81. Hand.
LAW CASE NOT SERIOUS
Sinking Was Illegal But No
Lives Were
-.l4A.. Lost.
law CASE NOT SERIOUS
az Associated Pressl

WASHINGTON, D. c.. Feb. To-
State department advices today re-
ported officially that Brand whitlock,
American minister to Belgium, had
been requested, but not ordered, by
the German military authorities, to
lower the American flag from the lega.
ton building in Brussels.
The department dispatches made
no rlention Of American relief work.
ers being held prisoners and Officials
shared the view Of Herbert Hoover,
chairman Of the American commission
that 1t was improbable.
AS to the flag incident it seemed
to be regarded by officials as more SEN
timental than actually serious although
1t did arouse some feeling.
State department officials took the
view that the German military author.
tiles were acting strictly within their
rights. The American minister Is &C,
credited to the Belgian government,
not to Belgium as geographical unit
and the seat of the government is AZ
Havre.
Mr.. Whitlock remained at Brussels
by permission Of the German govern
ment to take part in the relief work
and tn j American legation building
for all diplomatic purposes ceased to
be a legation.
WASHINGTON, D. o., Feb. IT,
While 1t was still indicated that the
accumulation of violations Of Amerf-
can rights might lead President VIII
son to go before Congress at any time
1t was stated today that he has made
no definite plan for taking such q step
Immediately.
When he will go before Congress-, It
was said, will depend entirely on cir
cumstances. The opinion grew among
officials, however, that such q step
would not be long deferred.
Nothing has been heard by the State
department early today from Germany
in reply to its inquiry as to the exact
status Of the Americans taken into
Germany on the prize ship Yarrowdale.
Likewise no news came from Ann
bassador Elkus at Constantinople
about Americans in Turkey.
The government began to feel the in
sistent need for some sort of action
soon to open way for the movement
of shipping now held up in American
ports by the suspension Of sailing on
account of the German submarine CAM
paign. Reports on accommodating
freight now are reaching officials reg
ularly and although the situation Is
not yet regarded as serious 1t is appar-
ant that American industries win be
affected unless ocean shipping starts
moving before long.
- At the present stage of tevelop-
ments of the German-American situa-
ton attention is centered on Presi-
dent Wilson by the growing belief that
he will take no steps even to the fur
nishing of defensive armament TO mer-
chant ships without first consulting
Congress. Hourly interest is becoming
keener as to whether the President
VIII do this and when.
The sinking Of the American schoon-
or Lyman NJ. Law in the Mediterran-
can by an Austrian submarine proba-
bly, with warning is regarded by Off
cials here as illegal, inasmuch as the
cargo was not contraband and the sub
marine displayed no flag, but since no
lives were lost it is believed the Incl
dent will not in itself develop into a
cause for drastic action by this gov
eminent.