Daily Kennebec journal., 1917-02-12

standpoint regarding these negotiation,
From that point nothing further -.
heard OF the protocol or Of the ,os.,
bility of OBTAINING Americans.
Sensational Untruths
The German newspapers were ,hen 4.
ing flooded with dispatches ssser,,,.
that German ships were being ST.
and their crews interned in the u,,,.
States, and no Official communism
from Count Won Bernstorfr had co
since time several days before IN. 80
ture of relations. AZ sosn as au,ho-,
tative communication was received
direct dispatches that the renor,,
confiscation of ships ana the internu,n.
of sailors were incorrect and ,hs,
obstacles were being placed In tn. x,.
of Count Won Bernstorffs departure !.
der a safe conduct. arrangement. q.
the issuance or passports 70 the A..
bassador and his suite began 70 proc,.,
with marked acceleration.
Had they been In possession Of dir.
and authoritative information ON :,
true status of affairs in America "a
cials declared repeatedly TO The AS.
ciated Press correspondent the Germ.
government would have been far Ia.
concerned about the necessity OF a.,
tecting it's own interests. Much % "a.
telegraphed press reports Received ,h.
officials declare. they had not psrmp.
ted the German press to re-publlxh
fearing the effect on public opinion.
German Courtesy
The Americans In Berlin and 50 d.
as known throughout Germany hav.
during the days of tension fonev,,.
] the rupture of diplomatic relations, h.,.
treated without hostility and even |.
most cases with marked courtesy. Th..|
! have been no outbreaks OF anti-Amsr1
can feeling or mob spirit such as ~
Cured occasionally at the outset OF ,h.
war against the English and national.
of other hostile countries and excep, n.
the uncertainty and alarm reRara,,.
eventualities in connection with ,bs.
plans to depart from Germany thsr
| have had up TO the present LITTLE cays,
for dissatisfaction as TO their treatnen,
by the German people as whole
As before. they are free to move aho,.
the country and to follow their cus,ou,.
ry pursuits. The issuance In the ordips-,
way of passport vises for dcpar,ur.
through the local police. has been SIN.
pended. however. and no American PASS.
port is good for passing the frontier IN.
less specially stamped by the miltary
authorities.
Though the official standpoint 10 tina,
permission TO leave will be granted IN
due course and that the government Ia,
no present intention OF departing frur
the provisions OF the treaty OF l7tr Or a..
tanning or interning AMERICANS in case d,
war. the delays In issuing these miltar,
authorizations have produced a feeling q
apprehension among those American
| who desire TO leave Germany now nr n
case of an actual breaking out ~ hos.
tilties. The final attitude OF the Germaf
government on the question Of deteutos
will undoubtedly be determined by that
of the American government on the sam,
subject.
The first act OF the German author.
ties after receiving news of the ruptgr
of relations and the reports of the cpnts.
Z cation of ships and lnternment ~ Ciyl.
! ians was TO send orders 20 the frrnuc
not to recognize the regular polio" yi'o
upon American passports but to r,4gu
a special military wise and to instru-
the police to turn over all decision 70 n,
military authorities. few Americas
who completed the formalities for goHs
abroad before the police stopped issuing
vises succeeded in getting across m
frontier before the order was Ecrcrnny
enforced. The others reaching The fros,
tier with viscd passports were turned
back. and until today tho German hcr.
ders virtually were entirely closed 70
Americans
With the departure of the ernhassy
some of the nou-of'icial Americans began
TO trickle across the boundaries and n 4
develops that no detention will be On.
forced In America there seems every rea.
son TO expect that the bars win he low.
cred and permission granted