The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-02-07
IN CENTER OF
DANGER ZONE TODAY
tcontinued from page ID

I'll This may De due 10 -nS lAAUtHCs
of President Wilson. who has coun
EseiIed strongly against panic and
haste" Also It NAY be due 10 &C
stfrities going On which no one knows
; .about-powcrful. secret ACTIVITY
lLsnding TO aTert crash which would
involve this country IN war. In this
connection a mystery as deep as ever
isurrounds the course OF action 10 be
ado, ted toward Austria, who has
sEul this government a note on Q
boat warfare, practically identical
With the German declaration
Plea From Ford.
i LONDON, Feb. T-For God
sake rescind the submarine order.
!. State terms instead
! British wireless sts.icns today de-
ciared rhey had picked up this mes
sage, signed Louis P. Lochner-
/ LochneTs message, II was said.
was addressed to the Imperial Ger
nan Foreign Secretary Zimmerman
! Louis P. Lochaer Is Henry Fo-ds
secretary and the virtual head Of the
Ford peace movement plal1
peSens. Appropriations.
WASHINGTON, Feb The house
TO-DAY was ready 20 mass defense ap-
preparation bills toi.itng threerIa--
tiers OF billion dollars
Abort s15.s.a. GO has been added
so far 10 the naTF bin. which orig
! EnarIy tossIad 1884. SO. e-sa a sep
arass bill by Chairman Pa5gsSr- u
the ravy committee, asks an spPro-
p-tzct0u O. SEA. ssa3 50 fog Immediate
cou2lexscn Of EzrshiRa total pros
n-tsFa @r M 20 date q ssisr-
Gssa toe
Immediately after adoption Of the
uaTy biz, the house Is 20 consider
Ere army bin, SO far tozaling s74s--
GO g1ta- Tie prospect IS thai this
vii be increased materially.
During an hours enthusiasm the
house yesterday inserted sI-250. 600
! item for machine glns. increased the
auti-air crstt appropriation from ST.
cG6.eod TO 5000 CSC: increased the
navy ammunition item from sisSoa,-
600 10 ss.5oo.e5o; the item for am
i munirion for merchant auxiliaries
. for batteries for merchant auxiliaries
, from S4.3s7 900 to S5.1Sl.010 and tbs
appropriation for ordnance and ord
!, nance stores from $780,, 900 to IS.
4ss. 600
i eeeret Ruling
WASHINGTON, Feb. THE state
department is about to make a secre
ruling on the saslings OF Americas
. ships.
This fact became officially Known
today along with announcement thai
the American line steamer St Louis
will not be given q convoy.
The notification VIII be forwarded
to American ship lines including the
American line. The state department
. viii not give out the statement be
cause, they say. President Wilsor
does not wish to make 1t public
Apparently no restrictions viii be
placed on publication from the steam
snip Offices
Wreekine In.erned SHIPS.
WASHINGTON, Feb because
this government has discovered eyi-
{ tsnce that the crews Of German YES
|, sells both In Manila Bay and Colon,
|. Panama, were laying plans to sink
. these vessels, to ohsruct the ports,
the government has taken precau-
tionary measures 10 prevent such
alton, it was learned today. No Ger
man vessels have been seized. how
ever.
Secretary Baker today submitted
the following memorandum on the
question OF ship seizures TO the
white house:
> In the harbors Of Manila and
elsewhere in the Philippine islands
and at Colon. Panama, the German
merchant vessels were discovered TO
have had certain parts OF their ma
chinery removed and in some in
stances evidences OF preparation for
the sinking OF these vessels had been
made.
Solely for the purpose OF protect
ing the several harbors and other
shipping and property therein. steps
have been taken to prevent damage,
but none OF the ships have been
: seized by the government Of the
United States and in all cases the
comm aa6srs and crews have been
Informed that the government of the
United States has made no seizures,
claimed no right to the vessels, and
does not deny the right of the cou-
mander and crew TO oismantle the
vessels IL they see fl, so long as the
destruction is accomplished in q way
which viii not obstruct nsyigzhIe
port waters or iuture OF sa6algsr
other shipping or property
The breach Of diplomatic Tsia-
tons between the governments 0.
tie United States and Germany has
not changed the relations O. thsss
ships and their crews TO the govern
uleut Of the United States no. for
feited their right 10 our hospitality.
and steps taken are limited 70 neceS-
sary police regulation 10 prevent IL
jury TO the property OF others O. the
obstruction Of harbor waters
The administration. II vas euptz-
sized both az the white house ana
war department Is taking only the
necessary precautions against viola
tons OF laws OF any zo-t-
Il was officially added that the al
uiniStratiou Is taking tie creates.
pains 70 see 20 Il that 70 right @
any foreign government q foreign
owner IS violated
The statement followed closs.y On