Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-10
FIFTY AMERICANS
WILL ACCOMPANY
US. AMBASSADOR
Washington Gets Official Word
Gerard and Party Will Leave
Tonight For Zurich

Washington, Feb. 10. American
Ambassador Gerard will leave Berlin
this evening for Zurich, Switzerland,
with his entire staff and fifty Ameri-
can citizens according to a dispatch
received to-day at the Swiss legation
here from Berne
The message said:
The American ambassador, MIR.
Gerard, with all his personnel and
nifty American citizens, will leave Ber-
lin February 10, in the evening, by
special train for Zurich. The am
bassador will be received at the Swiss
frontier with all consideration due
him."
Berlin, Feb. ., via London, Feb. TO-
Am mpassador Gerard's train will
leave Berlin approximately as sched-
uled, but will enter Switzerland by
way of Singer instead of Basel as
originally planned. Americans who
Will travel with the ambassador were
informed late this afternoon that their
baggage must be at the depot for in
spection not later than II o'clock
tomorrow morning, so as to avoid
delay and confusion at the frontier.
IT is probable that the special train s
baggage capacity will be taken to the
utmost as the embassy staff and 9TH
ers permitted to travel with Gerard
plan to carry most of their belongings
with them.
The train will consist largely of day
coaches with salon car for the am
basador and possibly sleepers for the
women. The route decided upon is
shorter than the original one by way
of Basel.
Americans Not Worried
Despite the fact that the details of
Ambassador Gerards departure have
been indefinite until this evening the
Americans in Berlin have shown lit
tie tendency to worry and the delicacy
of the situation has not affected the
serenity of the German uprpose No
more attention has been paid to for
eigners than is usual. Americans have
been treated with rigid courtesy and
no objection has been raised to Eng
lish being spoken publicly.
The newspapers continue to devote
themselves largely to news dispatches
from America received by various
routes, but there is little editorial COM
ment Apparently the press is waiting
for some definite action by the United
States in one direction or another and
dispatches which deal with the posi-
bility or probability of maintaining
peace between the two countries are
given prominence.
Ambassador Gerard authorized the
Associated Press to-day to say that he
has neither given nor will under any
circumstances give an interview of
any kind or description to any one
before he reports personally to Presi-
dent Wilson. The ambassador made
this statement to forestall irresponsible
reports which he said his experience
led him to anticipate.
Can't Get Out For Two Weeks
Although Ambassador Gerard, his
suite and fairly large number of
Americans with more or less official
standing have received assurances
that they may leave Berlin Saturday
night, the bulk of Americans in Ber-
lin are still somewhat in the dark as
Most of those who wish to leave have
already applied tC the police for
formal permission, but few, if any.
have as yet received it.
The rule generally enforced, but
sometimes relaxed that at least a
fortnight must elapse between the
date of application and the granting
of permission to leave is apparently be-
ing rigidly adhered to. The authori-
ties presumably intend to thoroughly
investigate every phase so as to estab-
lish that no cause exists why the ap-
plicant should not depart from Ger
many.
Safe arrival at Genoa last Thurs
day of the Italian steamer Dante
Alighieri, which left this port on
January "a, was announced here to-
day. She carried between 400 and
500 paSsengerS