Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-02-17
INQUIRY ON DELAY
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(Continued from PAGE One)
end it, and when. are the only ques-
tons The President is understood to
have a very definite opinion as to what
should be donc. but he has not yet de-
cidod that the time to do it has come.
Seamen Released
Press dispatches from Berlin an
nouncing that the II American scamen
brought in by the Iarrowdale had
been released caused the demand that
the men be freed to be withheld pend
ing official advices. A cablegram was
sent to the Spanish ambassador at
Berlin asking whether the report was
true. 1t is not doubted. as it has been
assumed from the first that Germany
would not hold the men after rumors
reaching there of the Imprisonment of
German sailors in the United States
had been cleared up.
Another inquiry was sent the Span
ISL ambassador to ascertain the cause
of delay in the departure Of the Amer
lean train from Munich which Mr.. Ger
ard previously had reported would
leave "somc day this week" with Sc
consuls and their families and an I'M
known number Of other persons.
An earlier dispatch from the Spanish
ambassador said Germany lad prom
ised to facilitate the consulS departure
as much as possible. It is understood.
however. that for military reasons the
Germans insist that the remaining
Americans all go out in one trainload
and that there has been delay in con-
cpntrating them at Munich. No doubt
is felt here that they will soon arrive
at Bernc.
British Danger Zone
Two important moves by Great Brit
ain TO meet the submarine menace
were announced during the day. a new
danger zone was proclaimed, seeking
TO block virtually the whole route Of
exit towards the Atlantic Of the Ger
man I'-boats from their bases IN Ger
many and Belgium. With the English
channel virtually closed by an elabo-
rate system of nets. mines and patrols,
the means of exit for the submarines
has been through the route north or
scotland and down the Irish coast. The
new danger zone. designed to close that
way out, is understood to have been
literally Strewn with mines.
Details of plans for changing the
port of call and examination for boats
between this country and the northern
E,l,ropean neutrals from kirkWal to
Halifax were made public. The idea
is to allow the vessels to avoid the
German submit rine zone by swinging
around ireland and Scotland and down
the Norwegian coast instead of touch
ing the British Isles. A second port for
.he examination of southern commerce
NAV he established later at the Bahia
mas or Bermuda
American exporters will still be af-
f0rded The opportunity of securing
letters Of assurance" from the Brit
ish embassy here that their goods are
not consigned directly or indirectly to
I1nglands enemies. The British
blockade and the rationing of Holland
and Scandinavia will continue as be-
fore and a new list of articles which
cannot he imported into England will
be published shortly in order to save
cargo space and prevent unnecessary
expenditures.
The falling off in the rate Of daily de-
struction by submarines to few thou
sand tons has made II great impress
sion here and given rise to speculation
as to whether the return Of submarin
fleets to base OF the success of Brit
ish precautions is chiefly responsible.
Dispatches from Ambas sa dor Pen
field at Vienna are awaited with par
ticular interest because of press re-
ports saying the ambassador has
broken off negotiations with the
Austrian foreign Office and Americans
had been ordered out Of the country.
There has been no official contirma :
ton Of either Of these reports. SO far
as the state department knows the
amba dor still is presenting the
views of the american government in
regard 70 Germanys submarine pol
icy. to which Austria has adhered,
although final report from him
showing n break with Austria to be
inevitable is expected at any time