The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-23
BREAK WITH AUSTRIA
MAY CONE IN GW DAYS
Am assador P'nficlf's Reporte said to
Contain No Hope For adiust"scnt
With Dual Monarchy.
CABINET WILL CONSIDER
SHIP PROTECTION TODAY
american LINERS Are AH Expected To
he Taken over BY Government In
Few DAYS. Following Next
step

Washington. Feb 22.s \ conviction
that n diplomatic break between the
tuited states and Austria cannot long
I've avoided became apparent in adj
miniStraton circles here tonight II
is practically certain that before
President Wilson takes the lnterna-
tional situation onca more before con
sTess. mbassador Penfield viii have
been recalled from Vienna Advices
from Ambassador Penffe4d to the state
department it was learned tonight,
-h..sye 4aana tar frosa @ssskoavagtng, and
Austria IS apparently determined to
stand firmly by her original endorse
meut Of the German declaration OF
relentless submarine warfare.
No Evasion Possible.
= The latest demand made by Am
be sador Penfeld for a clear and
definite statement OF the Austrian
position. was made in such way
as TO prevent all further delay or
evasion. While administration Of
fcials tonight declined 70 discuss the
progress Of the negotiations there was
an apparent feeling that Austria Will
take the position that the submarine
pledges given this country in former
individual cases applied only To the
particular incident under discussion
and were not intended as an an
nouncement Of future policy, II this
l. done II was admitted tonight there
Viii be nothing for the presiden; to
do but break SO far the admins
tration has been going slowly hecause
OF the desire to continue American
relief work among the thousands OF
entente prisoners held in Austrian
detention camps
The president wna axe up the ep-
tire Austrian question with his cabinet
at the regular meeting tomorrow. and
Will undoubtedly decide on the course
to he followed Meantime, admins
trAtion orticials declared thar all de
Ponds upon Austris's reply to Am
bassadoF Penneld's latest communica q
ton
Tn" cabinet tomorrow will also take
M the question OF protecting Ameri-
can shipping bound f0r the submarine
zone, Y. A. s. Franklin. president OF
the American line. came to Washing
ton today and held extended confer
euces with Secretary of the Navy
Daniels and Assistant Secretary
Roosevelt Both Franklin and the
officials fatty refused to discuss the
matters taken up in these conferences,
but there was general understand
ing in Washington tonight that plans
are under consideration for the TAX
ing over by the government of the
entire American line fleet OF trans
atlantic liners. These are the ST
Louis. 81. Paul. New York, Philadel-
phia and Kroonland The st. Louis
and the ST Paul were built with a
view to turning them into government
auxiliary cruisers in war time, and
navy department officials said tonigh,
that placing the required armament
aboard of them would require only a
week or two The guns for all o.
the American line ships are ia the
naval reserve supply and are avaiia BILE
for immediate mounting. Reports
from New York that the cargo was
being removed from The st. Louis
and that the American line was paw
ing off its crews, supported the be.
lief here that when the liners next GO
10 sea they will be manned by naval
crews and will sail under naval
orders. 1t was said that the actual
transfer of the ships to the govern