Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-11
Won BERNSTORFF
and PARTY WILL
GO WEDNESDAY
German Ami II \
New York al ". on the
Scandinavian Ship
Frederik VIII.
GERARD TO START HOME
American Diplomat VIII Be
Met'at Border by Agents of
Swiss Government.
STATEMENT BY LANSING

By Associated rress5
The Swiss legation in Washington
has been informed that Ambassador
Gerard, his staff and that the Ameri-
can citizens would leave Berlin Satur-
day night by special train for Zurich,
Switzerland.
Arrangements have been completed
for the departure from New York on
Wednesday next Of Count Won Bern
storff and his staff on board the
steamship Frederik VIII for Chris
tiania, Norway. Agents of the Scandi-
navian-American line in New York
received permission from the owners
in Copenhagen to use the vessel to
carry the German ambassador across
the Atlantic.
Madrid (Via Paris), Feb. i0.--A
wireless message from the Spanish
ambassador at Berlin to the American
ambassador here, transmitted at the
request Of Ambassador Gerard, asked
passage for the ambassador, Mrs. Ger
ard and the ambassadors suite be en-
gagged on the Alfonso XIII, leaving
Barcelona on February 2l, or on the
lnfanta Isabel, steaming on Febru-
AIRY Is.
Washington, Feb. l0.-Arrange-
ments today were completed for the
departure on Wednesday of Count
Won Bernstorff and his staff aboard
the steamer Frederik VIII for Chris
tiania, Norway. The former alnbas-
sador and the personnel of the en-
bassy will leave Washington Tues
day night.
New York. Feb. l0.-The steam
ship Frederik VIII was given per-
mission by its owners in Copenhagen
today to convey former Ambassador
Won Bernstorff and his suite to a
Scandinavian port, according to a
cablegram to the Scandinavian Amer
lean line Offices here. 1t was an
nounced that the Frederik VIII will
sail Wednesday afternoon at 2 O'Clock
In addition to the ambassaA "
suite provision has been made "
carrying about 200 German cons 1s
Berlin, Feb. 0.--(Via London, Ftb.
l0)--Amhassador Gerard's train will
leave Berlin approximately as sched.
uled, but will enter Switzerland by
way of Singer instead Of Baslei 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 | | o'clock to-
morrow morning, so as to avoid de-
lay and confusion at the frontier.
Despite the fact that details Of
Mr.. Gerard's departure have been III
definite until this evening, the Amer
leans in Berlin have shown little ten
dency to worry and the delicacy of
the situation has not affected the
serenity of the German public. No
more attention has been paid to tor
eigncrs than is usual, Americans have
been treated with rigid courtesy and
no objection has been raised to Eng
|ish being spoken publicly.
Ambassador Gerard authorized the
Associated Press today to say that he
has neither given nor will, under any
circumstance, give All interview OF any
kind or description to anyone be-
fore he reports personally to Presi-
dent Wilson.
Lansing Doubts Won Sturm Story.
Washington, Feb. l0.-The state
nent attributed to Dr. William Won
Sturm, German under secretary for
foreign affairs, that Germany has de-
tained Ambassador Gerard because
Count Won Bernstorff had been pre-
vented by this country from tele-
graphing that he had received his
passports, was held by Secretary
Lansing today to be improbable. The
secretary said:
81 ioubt he authenticity OF a state
nent of that kind, which is 50 directly
contrary to the facts. Every facility
and convenience has been placed be-
lore Count Won Bernstorff, and he
would have been allowed to send a
Iull statement by wireless regarding
the severance.
Whether he availed himself of this
Or not is his responsibility. The Ger
nan government has been informed
with the fullest detail of all events in
his country through two different
sources, the Swiss minister here, who
las been empowered to represent Ger
nan interests, and the Spanish ambas-
sador in Berlin, through whom COM
have gone. l have no
'eason not to believe that there has
been very unusual delay in ,Ambas-
'ador Gerard's departure"
Secretary Lansing announces today
.eceipt Of advices from the Swiss min
ster here that Mr.. Gerard, his staff
md fifty other Americans would leave
Berlin tonight for the Swiss border,
where he will be met by officials of
he Swiss government.
A Berlin dispatch last night said
hat Mr.. Gerard's departure had been
again changed and that he would not
cave Germany until Count Won Bern
storff and his suite leave this coun-
Try on February Is has not been con-
irmed through official channels. Alb
solute incredulity was expressed,
however, that the German government
would take such action.
Nebraska Field Hospital
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