Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-02-12

Berlin, Feb. II, via Wireless to the
Associated Press via Sayville, Feb. IL
Minister Zimmerman today
informed the Associated Press that ne
had requested the Swiss government
to make inquiry in Washington re-
garding the status Of crews OF interned
German ships in American ports.
Pending am answer the seventy-tWo
Americans taken by the German RAIDER
and brought in by the Yarrowdaie'
whose release had been agreed TO-
will be held
During the past week recurring
rumors have reached Berlin IN whlcn
It was announced that the United
States government had sequestered
the German ships and interned theT
crews. No definite official denial hav-
ing been received, the government was
prompted to ask the government OIL
Switzerlana &c obtain specific informa-
| ton.
Germany Retaiiates.
I'm regard to the Yarrowdale PRISON :
! ers," the foreign secretary said. these
men had been taken off armed mer-
chantmen and their status had been
established. They will be liberated
just as soon as we learn the fate OF
German crews in American ports.
The release Of the Yarrowdale crew
was agreed to on the eve Of the break
in relations, but the detention OF the
German crews in America caused the
resembling Of the order.
r. American Citizens Unmolsstsd.
It is pointed out here that this epi'
sode is further indication OF the
menace growing out Of lack OF factli-
tiles by both countries. Herr thinner
man reaffirmeds his previous state
ment that the Americans now in Ger
many will be permitted to move about
unmolested and perfectly free to leave
the country when they desire. Thit
ltntention u based on the impression
Iprsvaitinf here that the Un1tsd State.
80 not contempJ ating Any steps witt
\! regard TO OI5erInanvcivfl Hans that migiT
4 compel Germany TO reconsider tht
position she has now definitely taken.
These and similar considerations
calculated to work out to mutual ad.
Vantage are said to be incorporated ir
Il modernized draft OF the treaty o
! 1888, which 10 now. awaiting the ap.
Iproval Of both governments. Th'
\ complete. text OF the revised version
has not yet been made public.
\ Ships Carried Contraband.
| OF seven steamers and three sailing
vessels reported sunk by German sub
marines on Feb. 8. says the Oversee.
n News Agency, two steamers carried
I-.kny NJ . 1oA 1r.t}h at
corn, nuts or, provisions. Two Of th
sailing vessels carried victuals TO
England.
! Reports from Christiania say tha
the Norwegian steamship Norland wa
| fired at by Two British torpedo boat
while in Norwegian territorial waters
Merchantmen Not lnterned.
There are two classes Of German
ships in American ports. Those in
termed are war vessels, such as tn
commerce raiders. Prinz Eitel Fried
rich, Kronprinz Wilhelm, and sue
naval vessels as the gunboat Cormo
rant, at Guam. and the Ge!er, a
Honolulu The crews Of these yes
sells, as well as the ships, being pan
OF the German naval forces which hav
taken refuge in neutral harbors, hav
been interned during the period OF tn
, war.
The status Of the war-bound Ger
man merchantmen is different and 8
is the status OF their crews. The reI
. lchaHtmen are not interned in an
, sense, but are remaining in a port {
! lrefuge. They are free to put to sea 8
any time. Their crews are in tn
|sane status as any other aliens com
ling to tho United States. Any one {
them may be admitted to the countr
upon fulfilling the immigration re
Iquirements.
While they are in the status
, aliens they are at present confine
aboard their ships by the immigratio
|authorities, according to the steI
4 taken to prevent destruction OF pror
d lerty.
! Ii is believed that Germany's inquir
: lis to clear up conceptions widely eli
q lculated there that Germans In IL
n United States have imprisoned. Pres
. dent Wilson has announced that q
: foreign rights are to be respected
: Ievery sense.
RISK BUSINESS UNAFFECTED.