Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-14
j. s. INSISTS THAT
GERMANY RELEASE
|NTERNEO SAILORS
WASHINGTON ALERT FOR NEWS
FROM BARRED ZONE --"NExT
sTEEp COMES AFTER AMERl-
CAN CRAFT &c SUNK

WaahinGton, d. G.. Feb. li.--Re-
lease of the Yarrowdalc prisoners is
the immediate proposition OCCUPYING
the attention of the United States In
the new Germany controversy. Of
fcials today made it very plain that
the latest inquiry dealing with their
status means far more than appears
on the sdrfacc The United States
will insist that they be released. De-
tcntion under the present crcum-
stances II declared in official quar-
ters to be an "unfriondly act"
Pending an answer to the inquiry as
to their status sent forward thru tho
Swiss minister however, officials Do
cline to discuss The plans that have
boon evolved about them.
Reports OF n division among mem
bers OF the cabinet rs to the qnes-
tion OF arming American vessels
alone cleared up today. II 3as stated
that the entire cabinet accepted as a
common right that American vessels
arc entitled to arm for defense. Leg
islation enacted at the time Of the
4 war between the states admittedly
give that privilege. The question
causing division was whether an
American armed merchantsmsn could
/ fire at a submarine without commit
/ ting an act Of war
Tho majority Of the cabinet IN TN
derstood tu have taken the position
that tho use ef gums would be "ar
act of defense even though il should
be followed by a declaration Of wal
by Germany which would construt
that action as hostile.
Administration officials today were
watching tho war zone very closely
American vessels arc approaching it
February II was the last day Of
grace" allowed neutral shipping ac
cOrding 10 the official announcements
from Berlin. 1t can be asserted up
on the highest authority. that PrCsi
dent Wilson win 20 before congress
and outline his next step the moment
that an American vessel is sunk in
defiance Of International law
The state Department again IL
press ne Ambassador Pcniicld al
Vienna for information rs TO his sta
tus There has hcCu no word from
/, him since the break with Germany.
g. No information as yet Is available
but that the situation is considered
serious Is indicated by the fact tha
, Inquiries to him have now been ad
dressed thru neutral sources, Since
/ the break with Germany a week ag'
: Saturday only one message has beer
received from our Vienna represent
atige and no word has come iron
Ambassador Elkus at Constantinople
1t developed today that cOmplei
Investigation Of AL the circumstance
surrounding the purported offer o
Germany TO reopen the submarin
situation with tho United States is il
progress That certain newspaper
and diplomatic sources were used I
that connection now Is certain Bel
; lin Is understood to have repudlatc
the entire matter and to have al
serted that If an offer was made
was without the sanction OF the in
pcrial government. II was in antic
patton of such disavOwal that tn
State Department called the Sws
y minister to put the suggestion
d writing Secretary Lansing and h
y assistants hayine been suspicious {
The on'iro proposition because It va
madc public in inspired circles b
fore II was communicated to- the Sla1
department in any way. Unless, hoy
:. ever. it shall develop that the cntil
matter was developed by American
,r Il Is unlikely that any action VIII
= taken by this government at the pre-
; cnt time. Whom the immediate cris
/, has passed, however a compile
= statement may be made.
$. Arrest Crank On frederick vIlI.
49, Hoboken, N. j., Feb. l4.-An unde
titled man, .said to be a crank W
arrested here today while ondeav'
ing TO get aboard The Scandinavia
! American liner Frederick VIII, viii
win carry Count vCn Bernstorh a
his official family Ito Copcnhagt
~ Tho man said he haN "a letter whi'
ay he wanted to give the dismissed Al
th bassadcr He was locked up.
mr. China to Break Relations.
er London, Feb. IA A diplomat
ny break between China and Germa
i can be momentnrily expected, accol