Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-02-16
Press Reports State Berlin
Has Officially Announced
the Release Of Seamen
Taken From the Steamer
Yarrowdale.
NO OFFICIAL WORD
HAS BEEN RECEIVED
Probable That the American
Demand Will Go Ahead at
Once Unless Confirmation
Is Forthcoming Situation
Slightly Relieved.

Is Forthcoming Situation
Slightly Relieved.
Amsterdam, Feb. 16.-Re-
lease of the American sail
ors held among those cap
tured by the German sea
raider and brought into port
on the Yarrowdale, was Off
cially announced in Berlin
early today. Dispatches re-
ceived here gave no details.
Washington Feb. 1G.-T'he United
States may send its Yarrowdale note
to Germany regardless of press reports
that the ~ American sailors had been
LEASED. Up to 1880 today no official
confirmation of the press reports had
been received here.
The note is ready to go. Since it
contains detailed statements regarding
treatment of German sailors. German
citizens and German property in the
United States. the state department, 1T
was officially intimated today. may feel
that it sho,l. d be sent even should this
government in the meantime receive
official word that the Yarrowdale prs
oners have been set free.
KEEP RECORDS CLEAR.
Such a note would keep the records
clear and serve to place on file Amer
ica's protest against what the presi-
dent and Secretary Lansing consider a
clear cut violation of international Law
by Germany.
Discussing the probability OF this
governments sending the Yarrowdale
note, even though the prisoners are re-
leased, the department frankly stated
this government is annoyed at the 'ap
parently gauging manner" in which
Germany is doing only what she
should do" in releasing the sailors.
! SITUATION IN TURKEY.
+ The department announced 1t has re-
ceived word from Ambassador Elkus at
Copenhagen, giving additional details
as to how Americans are affected in
Turkey. Apparently conditions are net
as bad as first feared.
! The department refused to reveal the
contents of the Elkus message.
/ While no official statement was
forthcoming today regarding Austrian
American relations, questions put to
department heads as to that phase of
the international situation indicated
that negotiations continue designing 70
avert a break with Austria, despite
Austra's identical U-boat pronounce
ment.
This government, II was officially
stated, has not advised Americans to
leave Austria
TENSION Is RELIEVED.
In contrast to the general pessimsr1
officially manifested over the German
American situation yesterday there was
some relief in the tension today. as a
result of reports that Germany has re-
leased the ~ American Yarrowdale
prisoners and her revelation Of her
CIDER ousting American relief work ers
in Belgium.
/ While officials generally still are in
dignant at the series of apparent insults
and violations of American rights and
privileges precipitated by Germany since
inc break III TelatlODS, her feleaSe Oh
the Yarrowdale prisoners and change
III attitude toward Belgian relief work
ers had quoting effect.
Some officials said these two incl
dents may indicate decided change In
tho defiant German attitude ward the
interests of the United States.
A majority, however, held little hope
that the optimistic change will be long
lived.
CAME JUST IN TIME.
The report OF the release Of the Var
rowdale prisoners came in the very
nick of time to stop determined and
peremptory demand being made on the
kaiser's government for their freedom
The demand already had been pre-
Jared. 1t was to have gone forward
today.
Besides the demand the document
contained a complete review OF this
governments attitude toward all Ger
man property in this country. 1t ex-
planned actions regarding Germans and
German property this government has
taken since the break in relations anc
an explanatory section in frigidly pc.
lite terms stated that every step was
taken without the slightest regard foi
any questions Of military exigency, bn
& wholly and literally In accord with
i.,ta f.,l la. do