South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-03-27
Fifty Are Said to Have Been
Taken Into Port and Swiss
Minister is Asked to
Verify Report.
UNITED STATES WILL
STATE ITS POSITION
Germany'S Policy of Evasion
Will be Answered by a
Straight Forward An
nounCement.
IrternationaI News Service

international News Service
WASHINGTON. March 27.-Ger-
many has been asked by the state
department whether any Americans
were among the prisoners taken 20
its home port by the raider Moewe.
just returned from her second dash
through the Atlantic. IL was an
nOunced today. Unofficial cables
from abroad have said there were
more than 30 such captives and ac-
cordingly the Swiss minister here.
Dr. Paul Ritter. has been asked 10
inquire.
Germany's policy Of evasion viii
be met with one of straight forward
ness by the United States.
High officials today made this
plain in discussing the remarka bic
plans outlined 20 William Bayard
Hale by Berlin ofiicialdom, IN which
10 is declared that even though
congress shall announce that a state
of war exists Germany viii take
the position that she is not aware
Of that fact" such a suggestion. 10
is declared here, simply is a con
tinUation OF the German policy OF
covert insslts and manipulation OF
every possible agency TO embarrass
the United States
Will Know L. :. Position.
Congressional leaders who viii
frame the policy Of the United
States when Priest Wilson has laid
the entire situation before them
were "A unit today i'm declaring that
Germany viii be left in no doubt
as 10 the position Of the United
States The foreign affairs commit
tees Of both houses have already
tentatively agreed that the resolu-
tions TO be reported by them follow
ing the address Of the president viii
set forth i'm plain and unmistakabls
language that the United States has
striven at all times 10 maintain
peace even at great sacrifices but
that Germany has violated the
honor and the interests Of the United
States in such manner that no ma
ton could further submit
The additional declaration made
20 Mr.. Hale that Germany viii not
consider any change i'm her sub
marine policy but that Germany
will not declare war" likewise meets
with no responsive echo here. Com
ing as IL does on top of the GER
man official announcement that her
submarines sunk the CITY ~ Mem
phis and the Illinois and with the
report OF Capt. Christopher or the
American tanker Healdton. sunk in
the safety zone" off the Holland
coast absolutely without warning
this statement fell on deaf ea-s. 50
far as oficialdom was concerned.
Need No Declaration.
10 declaration Of war is necessary
now. officials say. international law
takes cognizance Of acts before
words can be considered and the
acts Of Germany following with
drawal OF her solemn pledges that
she would conduct cruiser warfare
with her submarines have consti-
tuted the carrying on Of open hos
tIiues in the opinion ~ nearly
every administration official fra
Washington.
TOday's cabinet meeting was eX-
pected further 20 consider the plans
for coordination and unity of action
between all government depart
ments Already the various secre-
taries have made gigantic strides in
efecting an agreement whereby red
tape shall be cut 20 the minimum
and the departments work in uni
son that all false motion shall be-
eliminated This viii be absolutely
necessary in order % meet the de-
velopments Of the present crisis.
In addition the general plan o.
finance was expected 90 DE discussed
The question Of financial support 90
Germauys enemies Dr. still under
discussion and wide differences OF
opinion have developed fra congress
What action the president viii de-
eide 20 take on this subject Us. or
course. known only % himself TIE
has asked for the advice Of the
cabinet and viii have that for guild
ance In addition ne expects 20 con-
fer during the present week with
memb ers OF congress and dnanciers
generally so that he will be able
TO definitely discuss the subje~t in
his message 10 conRrazS