The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-02-22
President Says That Yar0sdaie
: Men Must &c Released
NOTE LEAVES NO LOOPH0iE
New Enslsnders Among Captiyes,
Most OF Whom Were Members OF
Crews Of Shlps Sunk by Sea Raider
Next Step to Meet Submarine
Situation Fully Planned

Washington. Feb. 20. The United
Gtates has sent a second sharp de-
mand 10 Germany that the seventy
two Americans imprisoned In thai
country after their capture on the
British steamer Yarrowdale be re-
leased
This percmptory noto WIS prepared
. week ago. but was held up on re-
capt Of unofficial Berlin adyiccs stat
ting that the captives had been liber-
ated
Secretary Lansing officially an
nounced that sll the Americans are
still in prison, and that there has
been no marked Improvement In the
Yarrowdale situation.
Assurances arriving through Sran-
Ssh channels that tho prisoners would
be released shortly have not cleared
the atmosphere. especially In view OF
the continued delay following the Per-
lin announcement that they had been
given their freedom.
Tho Yarr.Hdale matter has been
considered the mes. Irritating and
pressing thasc of tre German Amen-
can situation President Wilson Is
known TO have expressed Great relief
when II was announced that the raj
ser's government had decided TO re-
lease tho men hnt Il Is now felt that
this expression was premature.
Tho second note, 4 is slid, leaves
no loophole for misunderstanding and
.s supposed 10 he one Of the strcng-
est that President Wilson has ad-
dressed 20 the German government.
The Americans On the Yarrowdale
were captured by German sea raid
er in the south Atlantic. The Var
rowdale herself ran the gauntlet OF
the British blockade and put into a
German port with prize crew In
charge.
The men were taken, II was sald,
60 detention camp at Westphalia,
and. according to the last semi OH
cial announcement, were about to be
transferred to permanent military
prison settlement.
Since this announcement, which
came at about the time OF the last
German U-boat note that broke on
Diplomatic relations between the two
countries. nothing OF a definitely on
cial nature has reached this country. |
On the day that Ambassador Gc
rard was recalled, he was instructed
to make formal demand for the re-
lease Of the Americans among the
Yarrowdale captives. This is re-
teved TO have been his last official
act.
A number OF New Englandcrs are
among the Yarrowdale captives. most
OF whom were members OF crews OF
ships sunk by the sea raider. The
blockade runner put into a German
port Dec. 81, making II more than
six weeks that the men have been de-
taired
TIE only excuse known TO have
been pleaded by German officials hiss
been that the German foreign olice
bad not been advised of the status OF
the sailcrs on German beats war
bound in American harbors.
REPORTS that Germany had served
notice on this government that TIE
armlng OF Awerican ships in the
barred zone woll1 We considered
hostile act wore denied.
The administration next stepr TO
meet TIE submarine si.natl remains
,arefally concealed White House
Ind state dercr'ment sources insist
ha' Il fas heen fully planned
Bat iia nstsre rnd whether CIR mt
{ viii he made REGARDLESS OF TIE le-
of tie su marine s.tia-
Son. insofar aa tho sinking of yes
Iels without warning Is conee-nct,
continues a caresally g;ardei secret.