Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-02-28
Passenger Traffic On All
Vessels to America Re-
ported Suspended.
TO EMPLOY SHIPS IN
MOVING SUPPLIES
British Admiralty Said to Have Taken
Over All Freight and Passenger
Boats in Order to Move Foodstuffs
and Transport Troops - Liner Fin
land, Last Of American Line Boats,
Reaches New York.

New York, Feb. 2S.-The arrival OF
the steamship Finland from Liverpool
today added the sixth and last to the
American line liners held here. The
Finland Is the third American liner to
leave Liverpool since the proclaimins
Of the blockade. All the ships of the
American line are tied up here for the
first time since the Spanish American
war. .a
B. F. A. Franklin, president of the
| international Marine Company which
controls the American line, said he
hoped the government intended to pro-
vide properly trained Gunners from
the navy to handle the guns provided
for American merchant vessels. Ihe
ships of this line, he said, could be
fitted with guns at their piers with
little delay, as the mountings and
plates We're already in place.
Passenger Traffic Suspended.
Reports that passenger traffic on all
'Rritish vessels leaving England for
America and France has been sus-
pended were brought here today by
passengers who arrived here on the
liner Finland.
James F. Egan, of Philadelphia and
Robert Wilson. of New York, European
representatives Of large American
business interests, said that before
leaving England they had been in
formed on what they considered re-
liable authority that the British ad-
miralty had decided to employ all ves-
sells solely for transporting supplies or
moving troops.
Scandinavian and Dutch passenger
ships to America no longer stop at
British ports but avoid the submarine
zone. Consequently If the report of
the Finlands passengers is correct no
passengers car,>'now reach the United
States from England unless American
liners sail from this. country to fetch
them.
Passengers in Fear.
Phe Finland left Liverpool on the
morning of Feb. s, with all lights out.
and for forty eight hours persons on
board said tension among the pas
sengers was acute. few of them taking
off their clothes in fear of the German
submarine peril. The vessel brought
ITO passengers, among them United
States Senator Elect Hale. Frank D.
Simmonds, the New York Tribune's
war writer. and Lady Richard Welles-
Icy, whose husband, British army
officer, was killed In the war
In the steerage we're eight members
Of the British crew OF the Japanese
Prince, sunk by a German submarine.
Entente Wants U. s. in War.
When the Finland left Liverpool.
with ITO passengers, she sailed with
all lights burning. Illuminating the
American flag painted on her side. y
DR.. Henry Van Dyke. former Amer
lean minister to Holland, who was re-
ported to be on the Finland, did not
sail. United States Senator Frederick
Hale, of Maine, said he understood DR..
Van Dyke was still in London.
Mr. Hale during three weeks in Eng
land and France met many of the lead
ing men handling the affairs of the en-
tente.
II talked with Lloyd-Georse," he
said, "and he told me he hoped Amer
lea would get into the war. He added
that nc wanted American to take
prominent part in the peace negotia-
tions.
II also saw Premier BRAND and he
said the entrance of America into the
war would have good moral effect
and would hasten the bringing about
Of peace.
"The opinion was expressed often
that should American send over even
a small fighting force the effect would
be wonderful