Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-02-16
MOST PRESSING: plI&SE:
OF SITUATION DISPOSED OF

! Or SITUATION DISPOSED OF
WASHINGTON. February i5.-Ncws
OF the liberation Of the sevcnty-two
American Seamen brought 10 Germany
by the prize ship Yarrowdalc came to-
night after President Wilson and other
administration officials had retired
Their release dsposes OF one OF the
most pressing and irritating phases
of tho German American situation
The British steamer Yarrowdale was
ono of the vessels captured BY A Ger
man raider in the South Atlantic some
time ago. With an armed prize crew
aboard. the steamer was taken into 4
German harbor December 81 She had
469 persons on board among whom
were seventy-two Americans, accord
ing TO an announcement made some
time ago by tho German Foreign Sec
retary. 1t stated that these men
were TO be intcrned as prisoners, hav-
| ing been CAPTURED on an armed vessel.
The day Of the Scvering Of diplo-
matic relations with Germany, the
i United States government demanded
! the release OF the Americans. The fol-
lowing day it was announced that Ger
many had acceded to the demand. Later
| il was announced from Washington
/ that the men wei being held In Ger
I many until assurances had been re-
ceived from the United States as 10 the
! safe departure of Count Won BernstorG
and tho German consuls and the safety
of German warbound ships in American
waters. \ dispatch from Washington
on Thursday said that pcrcmptory
demand for tho release of the men had
been prepared by the State Department,
i and thar IN ~ l.rSl
through the Spanish ambassador at
I Berlin.
PERtMPTORl DEMAND
| HAD BEEN PREPARED
! WASHINGTON. February l5.--A per-
! cmptory demand upon Germany for
the release OF the sevcnty-two Amer
| lean seamen brought in by the prize
ship Yarrowdale was prepared at the
/ State Department to-day with Pres
ident Wilson'S approval. Officials were
! reticcnt about the communication. but
| it was admitted that II would go for
ward shortly through the Spanish am
] bassador at Berlin.
4 TO accompany the demand the de-
partment has gathered complete data
4 showing the treatment accorded Ger
| man sailors in American ports.
/ 1t is confidently expected that Ger
| much more delay. thus disposinE of the
most pressing OF tho questions which
! arose immediately after the severance
| OF relations between the two coun-
tries. There virtually is no hope here,
p. however. that the hour of more serious
/ trouhl" with Germany can be postponed
much longer.
| Nifi.NHaN1f. ffoRE 'oNGhI'SS
~" oNhf hAiIEH OF DAYS
I Many responsible officials of the ad-
! ministraion have como to the conclu-
sion that unless there is a prompt and
decided change in the general attitude
OF Germany toward the interests OF the
1 United states. the appearance Of Pres
ident wilson before Congress 10 ask
| authority TO afford protection to Amer
ican lives and property is only mat
! ter OF days
/ AhF douo' existing as 10 the ruth
less character "t the ne" submarine
! campaign ana It's VOCATION OF neutral
sHtS Io"I since mas disappeared and
\ ''f SITUATION - oeihs MADE more and
\ u'''' R'"Ne u''iS oS assraVa''hE Incl
o." - S"' iieS'ueHl aeiaEs Soihs
:" 'oS' 'o"Scl 'h"h y IS peIcNcd
;" ''oS' ''"'te's ne VIII 'he present
o" eo.t'S 70 ah ena IN 'oss than