Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-10


will be asked to authorize use OF any
and all means to Protect Americans
in their rights.
Granted such authority, the Navy
Department, with plans already com
pleted, would act. II would safeguard
American shipping everywhere on the
ocean as much as possible. Its plans
are secret, but officials express conn.,
dence that they will prove successful
especially against submarines. But
Congress will not be requested by the
President to declare war on Germany.
The onus for such action must be-
placed on Germany. il it must come,
the leading members of the admins
| tration point out.
or course. big national disaster
would change this. The sinking OF an
American lined flying the American
flag and laden with American citizens
would be in itself almost an act Of
war. The President does not believe
that q German submarine commander
would take responsibility for any such
act. even tho American vessels shall
decline to be bound by the German
restrictions on travel and insist on
making their regular trips to their
regular ports For the present, practi.
cally all American shipping is held in
port. But it Is considered certain that
sailings will be resumed not later
than next week.
Meanwhile commercial experts OF
| the government, familiar with the en-
tire situation, say that the new Ger
man campaign gives evidence OF fall
Ing far short OF the complete success
which was hoped for it when II was
launched. Under present conditions
Il is claimed, the sailings from Canada
and South American ports have not
been curtailed. These vessels are fol
lowing the lane laid down by the Brit
1t to a certain maximum number OF
ish Admiralty. are protected by fiotil
las Of submarine catchers and big de
stroyers all heavily armed. And fol
the most part these vessels are OF the
largest type with enormous tonnage
They are carrying, officials say, only
munitions and foodstuffs. And certain
OF the munition carriers have been de
tached from that service to transport
food exclusively.
The main effect of the submarine
blockade. officials say, and the one
which is most serious. has been ,G
force neutrals to hold their ships II
port. The American line and most %
the Holland and Scandinavian line!
are completely crippled for the pres
ent at least. And this has meant tina
Americans who want to 60 ABROAD
have had to trust to securing sailing'
under belligerent flags. 1t Is believed
however, that within a very short tim
all OF the neutral lines will resum
their regular sailings. 1t Is believes
that the British government eventual
~ will grant the request Of the Scan
dinavian and Holland Lines to max
Halifax instead of Kirkwall, the po.
OF call for search for cOntraband, an
that " this Is done these lines will b
able to keep out Of the danger zone.
In order to find out In what mamie
the offers of manufacturing plants ant
the like can best be utilized for tn
benefit of the Government. the Council
OF national defense and its advisor!
council will meet here next Monday
The council Is made up OF the Secre
taries OF War, Navy, Interior, Agricul
ture, Commerce and Labor, and the ad
visory council OF President DAME
willard, OF the Baltimore and Ohio
Samuel Gompers Of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, Or. Franklin Martin
EOf Chicago, Howard r., Coffin, ofADe
troit, Bernard NJ. Baruch, Of New
York, Dr. Hollis Godfrey, Of Philadel
phia, and julius Rosenwald, Of Chica
60. In a statement issued regarding
the meeting it is understood that thu
meeting is not due to any new inciden
in the International situation, but t
get the work Of taking advantage o
offers of assistance to the government
In case OF emergency under way with
out delay.
Baltic ls Safe.
New York, leb. 1C.-The safe ar
rival of the White Star Liner Baltic a
Liverpool leaves five more big passen
ger ships on the high seas. There ar
thirty.seven Americans on board them
The liners, together with their date 0
dearture from New York, and thei
quotas OF Americans follow: Adriatic
White Star, sailed Feb. 3, carries 81.
Americans; Rochambeau, French
sailed February 4th, carries nineteel
Americans; Saxonia, Cunard, saile'
January 30th, carries one American
Cedric, White Star, sailed February
carries four Americans; Dante Alig
hieri, Italia sailed January n, car
ries eight Americans.
Two V. S. Ships Sail.
New York, Feb. l0-With cargoe
cons idered contraband of war, tw'
American freighters, the Rocheste
and Orleans, the first American ship
to leave this port since Germany De
clared her policy Of ruthless subma
rine warfare, will sail today for Bor
; deaux, France. They expected to sal
yesterday. 81,