The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1917-02-08
TORPEDOINC OF THE CALIFORNIA
BARELY MISSES BEING CASUS
BELLI THROUGH LUCK
INTENTION OF GERMANS SAID TO
Be MANIFEST IN THE ACT
Detention of Ambassador Gerard Said
BY Noted Writers to be Insult
News That Great Britain Has Given
BernstOrff Safe Conduct.
Omitted Press)

Omitted Press)
WASHINGTON, Feb. S-The crisis
in the present strained relations be-
tween the United States and Ger
many appears to be approaching. Two
factors contribute to the feeling that
the existing break may develop a more
serious phase in a very short time.
The first of these is the Official YER
sion of the sinking of the California
and the second the virtual detention
of Ambassador Gerard and other
Americans contrary to international
usage. The fact that "the one Ameri-
can" John Lee, was saved from the
California may prove a thread on
which the president will hold the
present tacit peace, although some Of
ficials express the opinion that the
thread will not hold. Officials ex-
press astonishment and indignation
over the fact that Germany is with
holding passports.
France granted safe conduct to
/ Count Won Bernstorff and staff This
was expected to adjust matters in
! Berlin, it was announced at the state
department, as it complied with the
first statement from Berlin that Ger
many would not permit Ambassador
Gerard, the staff of the American en-
bassy or any Americans to leave the
country until it received information
that safe conduct has been granted to
! County Bernstorff and his staff. Pass
ports to Americans were also corting-
ent upon Berlin's ascertaining what
the attitude of Washington would be
toward an old treaty, permitting citi-
Zens of Germany and the United
States nine months after Cessation of
diplomatic relations in which to ad-
just their business.
The fact that even the assurance Of
| Frances compliance has not resulted
in prompt compliance by Germany
with the request for passports has
| aroused much resentment here. Pro-
fessor Stowell, of Columbia universi-
ty, an authority on the subject, de-
clares "The detention of Ambassador
Gerard is an insult and a violation of
all information law" while Professor
Giddings, also an authority said to-
day, Congress ought to declare war on
this ground today This is outrageous.
Germany apparently means to force
war"
Officials here admit that the fact
) that no Americans were lost on the
California was a case of pure luck"
and declared that the spirit and intent
of Germany was shown by the act, re-
gardless of the personnel of the pas
sengers. However, those knowing tne
mind and intent of President Wilson
declare that there must not be a ves-
tige of doubt, or any question what
ever that the case is a clearcut viola
! tion of American rights before actual
warfare results.
: The first steps of the allies toward
attempting a sympathetic convoy is
, now being made. A fleet of twenty
I five vessels loaded with munitions of
war. cotton, supplies and other con-
traband, left Virginia ports today. They
are now twenty-five miles from shore.
= Warships which have not yet picked
= them up will convoy them across the
Z ocean.
: Consul Frost today cabled the state
I department that there were 162 sur
vivors of the steamer California which
i was torpedoed last evening, and that
{ forty-one were missing. The survivors
T are due at Queenstown at 8 o'clock D.
} m. Consul Frost said that both the
u Eavestone and the California were
sunk without warning. The Eaves-
tone, being a British collier was sub
ject to unwarned attack, but this does
not apply to the California. According
n to a Glasgow cable, received at New
y York this morning, there were six
women and five children among the
missing from the California. The
y cablegram read Steamer torpedoed
l. without warning
A London dispatch announces the
lOlAOW1hB SlSdlAlcAS DIS tOl pcuOcu- AOi
ino, Hollinside, and Dauntless. All are
u British. Six members of the crew oi
> the Dauntless reached shore, two ot
e them dying afterwards in a hospital
y A Copenhagen dispatch received thi:
"a morning. says that seventeen Dane.
were killed when the Lars Kruse wa.
5 torpedoed Tuesday. The Lars Krus,
was relief ship, carrying grain t,
u Belgium.
le 1t was learned here today thai
IL all German enlisted men aboard Uni
/ ted States coast guard vessels hat
'u been dismissed Tuesday. The govern
j. ment forces are laying mines in Mo
le bile harbor today, it is learned. Aliel
lighthouse tenders in the harbor wer
III dismissed.
u Although negotiations are still i
~ progress Austria has thus far not in