Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-08

Secretary of the Navy. almost unimit.
ed powers, In marshalling the nations
resources to the nations defense
The principal amendment formuat.
ed since the German crisis became
acute and already agreed upon in com
mittee, gives the President the right
to commander shipyards and private
plants. 1t has been decided to with.
hold for tie present a provision CIV
ing the President the right to draft
agents and representatives of civil es-
Establishments into the naval force.
This provision will be enacted, how.
ever Immediately, should there be
any stacking in the work of rushing
the naval program to completion.
Report on California Sinking.
Washington, Feb. S.--Complete re.
ports OF all OF the circumstances sur.
rounding the sinking OF the Anch, r
Liner California have been ordu.ed
from Consul FROST at Queenstown IL, d
the United States Embassy in LondoL.
These reports are to include the story
OF John A. Lee, said to be an Ameri-
can citizen from Montgomery, Ala.
Pending their arrival officials will not
discuss the sinking. On the surface
1t is said that the sinking of the Cali
fornia hardly will prove the overt
act which will force President vii.
sons hand. Lee was saved and 1t has
not yet been completely established
that he was an American. The fact
that Mrs Alexander Cuthill, of Gas.
per, Wyo., whose husband has taken
out his first citizenship papers, was on
board does not change the situation
First papers are simply a declaration
OF intention and do not entitle the
holder to TIE privileges and protection
Of citizenship.
The constantly increasing activity
of the German submarines on all the
coasts of the British Isles adds to the
extreme delicacy of the general situa-
ton. 1t is accepted here, that Amel.
can rights will remain in constant jeo.
pardy so long as the present German
submarine activities continue. And
there can be only one course Of ac-
tiOn il the overt act referred to by
the President in his address to Con-
gress takes place. He has announced
a policy that will be rigidly adhered
to. his advisers say.
Navy Department officials were ex-
pecting today to get applications in
the near future for guns to mount on
merchant ships under American regis
try. Secretary Lansings notification
to all American ship owners that
they had the authority to Take any
necessary measures for the protec.
ton of their vessels from attack Is
expected to be taken advantage. The
Standard OIL Company is expected to
ask for guns shortly as all OF Its big
feet now is being held In port. 9th
er companies naturally can be expect
ed to take the same course and the
navy has plenty of guns on hand.
Advices reaching the State Depart
mcnt from Scandinavian sources say
that a great many Americans have
left Germany during the last three
days. Ambassador Gerard and the
Embassy staff have done their best to
expedite departures. It is under
stood, however, that large number
OF Americans have decided to stay
where they are. believing that even
tho an open break should come be-
tween the two nations their rights
would be respected
In this connection officials every
where, acting under a lead given by
the White House. are making ii very
plain that the German property
rights and the persons Of all German
subjects in the United States will re-
coive complete protection, no matter
what NAV happen.
/ Meanwhile the necessary legislation
to meet all possible contingencies Ia
being pressed. The measure which
will hermit the. President to take ovel
I'm time Of war" any instrumental
ity OF water commerce" Is to be
pressed thru both Houses. There arc
many submarines under construction
IN American plants which would come