Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-10
GERARD TO START
FOR HOME TODAY
AMERICAN AMBASSADOR AND
SUITE TO DEPART FROM BER-
llN-TO RETURN VIA SWIFT.
ERLAND AND SPAIN.

Washington. Feb. l0-AmbassadOr
James W. Gerard will leave Berlin
today for the Swiss frontier, the state
department was officially informed to.
day by DIR. Paul Ritter, Swiss Minis.
ter, in charge of Germany's affairs
here Dr. Ritter also said that the
departing diplomat will be met at the
border by Swiss officials.
The department denied the state
ment created to Baron Won Stumm,
the German under secretary for for
eign affairs, by the Amsterdam Han
delsblad, that Count Bernstorff, the
dismissed German Ambassador here,
had been denied the right to com
municatiOn with his government by
wireless. 1t was stated by officials
/ that he had been at liberty to use the
radia at any time but not in code,
however Whether Won Bernstorff had
availed himself OF this right was not
divulged
Later Secretary Lansing announced
that DR.. Ritter had subsequently in.
formed him that Gerard would quit
Berlin at / o'clock tomorrow morning
With him will go fifty attaches of the
American Embassy, consular officials
and others.
Although it was not doubted at the
State Department that the Scandi-
navian American line would aid in
every way, news that official permit
for the special voyage of the Frederick
VIII to enable Ambassador Won Bern
storff and his suite to return to Ger
many had been cabled today, was re-
ceived with much satisfaction. Ar
rangements for the diplomats depal-
ture are rapidly progressing 1t is
not certain whether the ship will sail
Tuesday or Wednesday.
Berlin Guarantees Safety.
Berlin, Feb. 1O-All arrangements
have been completed for the departure
of ex-Ambassador Gerard and his par.
ty from Berlin tonight. A special
train provided with military escort,
will be put at the disposal of the par.
ty by the German government
The original route has been altered
and the trip will be made into Switz
erland by way of Singer instead OF
Basic. to save time.
The special train will consist prin
cipally of day coaches with a parlol
car for Mr.. and Mrs. Gerard and sleep
Rers for other women members of the
party
There is little excitement in the
American colony and many of its mem
bers have expressed the determination
to remain here definitely.
There are number of sick Ameri
cans in hospitals who could not leave
now even if they desired.
win Fail to Satisfy U. S.
London, Feb. 10-That Cermany's
explanation Of her detention of Am
bassador Gerard will fail to satisfy the
United States was the opinion express.
sed in British newspapers today.
The explanation was given by DR..
William Won Stumm, under Secretary
foreign affairs in Germany and was
telegraphed here from Amsterdam.
where it was printed in the Handles
blad
Dr. Won Stumms expression was the
first official admission that the lber-
ties of the recalled American ambas-
sador at Berlin had been interfered
with. According to this official Mr..
Gerard's passports were held up "be.
cause the United States had not al.
lowed count Won Bernstorft to send
word that he had received his pass.
ports from the State Department"
Says Gerard Delays Going.
Copenhagen, Feb. 1O-A dispatch
from the Wolff Bureau the official
news agency of Germany, states that
james w, Gerard. former American
Ambassador to Germany and his staff
will not leave Berlin until next Tues
7 day, the day on which Count Won
Bernstorl1 is scheduled to sail from
New York.
, Messages from Berlin to Amster.
dam yesterday stated that Mr.. Ger
ard and his staff, as well as many of
the American residents of Berlin,
would leave tonight.
| Frederick VII. Released.
New York. Feb. 10-Agents of the
Scandinavian American Line here to-
+, day received cable permission from
their home Office to allow the 'reder.
, lex VIII to sail with Count Won Bern
storff and his suite for Copenhagen.
The vessel will sail probably Tues.