The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-02-08

req. .. -
yielded to Wilson's demands for "im-
mediate release" of seventy-two Amer
lean seamen taken from British mer-
chantmen and held as prisoners of
war. Washington also learns that
Germans were within rights in sink
ing Housatonic, which carried contra
band, and exercised unusual precau-
tions to prevent loss of Americans
aboard vessel.
London, Feb 5.-The American
steamer Housatonic has been sunk by
German submarine. The Housa-
tonic was sunk near the Scilly islands.
The rumor is current that the Housa-
tonic was sunk without warning, but
the crew saved. One American from
Colorado was aboard. The total num-
ber of Americans on the ship was
twenty-five.
The Housatonic sailed from Calves
ton Jan. 6 and from Newport News
Jan. 16 for London. She formerly
was the Hamburg-Ame line
steamer Georgia, and American regis
try was granted to her in April, 1915.
Prior to that time she had been laid
up at New Orleans since the begin
ming of the war.
The Housatonic was summarized at
noon Feb. 8. All of the officers and
crew were saved by British armed
steamer.
Galveston, Tex. - The steamship
Housatonic sailed from here Jan. 6 for
London. via Newport News. She car
ried 144,2OO bushels of wheat from
this port.
Boston, Mass.-United States Mar
shall Mitchell Saturday night took
physical possession of the North Ger
man Lloyd liner Kronprinzessin Ce-
celie. The Kronprinzessin Cecelie was
found to be crippled beyond possibil-
ity of early usefulness.
Philadelphia. - Saturday night the
interned German auxiliary cruisers
Kronprinz Wilhelm and Prinz Eitel
Friedrich were seized by order of the
Navy Department, and their crews Inn
prisoned in an isolation barracks.
Panama.-Four Hamburg-American
line steamships, which have been in
Cristobal harbor. were seized by the
canal zone authorities.
New York.-Word reached the po-
lice that, coincident with the publica-
ton of the news of the rupture with
Germany. the Austrian freighter Him
ole wb 1,,;r tn,
ark, bay. an estuary of New York har-
Dor, has been put out of commission.
Washington.-Lieut Hans Berg and
his German prize crew we're removed
from the liner Appam at Newport
News, Va, Saturday by coast guard
cutters, under direction of United
States marshal. The ship is In the
custody of tie Federal Court pending
appeal to the Supreme Court from
decision awarding her to her English
owners.
Having voluntarily submitted to in
terment, these vessels actually are in
custody of the United States govern
ment, subject to such disposition of
ships and crews as the government
sees fit to make.
There is no intention on the part of
the United States to seize the German
merchantmen laid up in American
ports as matters now stand. Such a
step admittedly would be an act of
war, which the government has no
idea of committing
Arsenals and Army Posts Guarded.
Guard of New York state and the ma
val militia were ordered out Saturday
night by Gov. Whitman after a con-
ference with Maj. Gen. John F. o.
Ryan. Gen. Organ was directed to
have every arsenal, armory and wa
tershed adequately guarded by the
militiamen, and Commodore Forshew
of the naval militia was told to pro-
tect all bridges.
Congress Leaders Approve Wilson.
ashington.-Leaders in Congress
without regard to politics expressed
freely their approval of President Will
sons course and of his address.
Washington.-Precau to safe
guard naval stations, army posts and
arsenals, and other service property,
were military measures taken follow
ing the severance of diplomatic rela-
tions with Germany. President Will
son conferred briefly after his address
to Congress with Secretary Baker and
Secretary Daniels. The conference, it
was stated, had to do entirely with
precautionary steps, although the Sec
retaries also probably gave some gem