The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-17
Demand on Germany With
held Pending Official News
as to Freeing OF Seamen
AMERICANS NOT
F. ORDERED OUT AUSTRIA
a
AS Matter of act All Citlzers
of This Country Are Seek
ing Means to Quit Tcutonic
erritory Soon as Possible
Is, r.. X. Sartwell
International News Service Cores
pnntcrf


pendent.
Washington, Feb i6.~-The Situa-
ton OF American citizens in the coun-
tries Of the Teutonic allies tonight be-
came the prime consideration of the
United States in the German crisis.
An inquiry was dispatched to Ger
many asking where and why Ameri
can consular officers had been delayed
in their departure. The peremptory
demand for the release Of the Var
row-jale prisoners was withheld from
delivery 10 Germany pending ofiicla!
adyiccs as to the release of these
seventy-two American sailors. who.
the German government last night
announced, had been released
The state department showed grave
concern over the deiay ina the de-
parture Of the American consular Of
ficers Itighty-six American consuls
with their families and an unknown
number IT private American citizens
desiring 20 leave Germany, were re-
ported ready TO start for switzerland
on a special train early in the present
week. Am AMBASSADOR Gerard from
Berue notified the state department
that the train should leave some time
this week Since then nothing has
been heard from the trainload OF
Americans. The state department to-
day directed a formal inquiry as TO
where and why their departure has
been delayed. through the Spanish
ambassador at Berlin. now handling
American affairs there.
To Assure safety OF Citizens.
While the tension in the internal
tional situation was considerably les
sened today by the. unofficial reports
OF the release OF the Yarrowdale pris-
nj ha 0f
granted to Minister Brand Whitlocl
and American relief workers Ill Bel
GUM, the state department continued
it's efforts 10 assure safety OF Amer!-
cans IN Germany, Austria, Bulgaria
and Turkey II was stated that the
peremptory demand for the release OF
tho Yarrowdale prisoners forwarded
through Spain would be withheld
pending official assurances of their
release. Even II that assurance is
forthcoming it was understood to-
night that a part of the communica-
ton. sharply refuting reports that
Germans in the United States had
been mistreated, might he delivered,
Not Ordered Out of Austria.
The state department took occasion
to formally deny that all American
citizens had been ordered out of Aus
tria, Unofficial dispatches from Paris
to that effect were branded as false.
It was stated that Americans had not
even been advised to leave II was
pointed out 10 official circles. how
ever. that the time for advising them
to leave was passed and that Ameri-
cans were now seeking not advice but
the means OF getting out Of the T"u-
tonic countries.
No assurances were received today
as to the thousand OF more Americans
in Turkish territory. FOR whose relief
the naval collier Caesar and the cruiS-
~ Des Moines are in Turkish waters.
Secretary Lansing said today that
Minister Flkus at Constantinople hal
last communicated with the depart
ment under date of February IL, but
he declined To discuss the contents Of
the dispatch It was understood. how
ever. that Minister Elkus discussed
the situation Of Americans in Turkey
and that his information was not re
assuring.
DENY Break With Austria.
Persisten; unofficial and press re-
ports of break with Austria met
with denials at the state department
today 1t was asserted that no
definite step had been taken in the
Austrian situation The reports were
tiiscredited by the announcement that
Joseph {, = G formerly secretary
OF the embassy AT Berlin. had been
ordered to Vienna TO assist Am
bassador Pcnheld The state depart
ment. however SAID that no sig
nifcance attached TO the transfer Of
Grew.
The state department was appar-
emily deeply interested in the Vienna
~itua ton The houors paid the Ger
man kaiser during his visit there, and
- in,
garizstion apparently dictated by
Germany. were looked upon as I'M
dicating an effort by Germany to weld
the two Teutonic allies closer to-
sether Dispatches outlining an in
.ervieN given out by the kaiser in
Vienna landing the submarine cam
pa ign. and asserting that il was strtk-
ing the greatest blow given England
since the war began. were looked
,lron as significant
Al OF these matters were discussed
today by President Wilson and his
cabinet at the regular cabinet meet
ing. No announcement was forth .
coming following the meeting. how
ever, and members of the cabinet de-
clared that the situation was "un-
changed"
Armed Ship Issue Not Acted On.
The question of arming America n
merchant ships for the perilous mas
sage of the war zone remained in
allegiance. The state depa
after today's cabinet meeting. said
that 40 step in. this, nattar had hsey
decided upon r was understood.
| howevet, that the navy department
had submitted complete nlans for
arming ships with 500 reserve guns
I already allotted for that purpose. The
I, British announcement that Halifax,
tContinued on Third Pae>l