White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1917-02-16
SAILORS
HELD IN GERMANY
WILL NOT RELEASE NARROW
DALE PDIsoNERs-Ask OF
TEuToN CREWS IN U. 8.
MAY Be CASE OF RETALIATION
Rearrests to Be Protested at Once
Foreign Sailors Well Treated,
Government Explains-u. s.
Investigates Hawaii.

Washington, Feb. 13.-Formal mott
fication of the retention in Germany
of the " American sailors brought in
as prisoners on the prize ship Var
rowdale was given to the state de-
partment Monday by DR.. Paul Rit-
ter, Swiss minister here, acting for
the German government, together
with an inquiry as to the status of
the crews of the German war-bound
ships in American harbors.
Germany, DR.. Ritter said, had de-
cided to hold the Yarrowdale pris
oners until she has definite assur
ance that German sailors in Amer
lean harbors would not be held or i'm
psisoned.
German Act Amazes Washington.
This development, wholly unexpect-
ed, was amazing to the American gov
eminent. Officials here had come to
the conclusion that the early reports
,, which misled the German government
as to the treatment Of German crews
here had been effectively dispelled
by the forwarding of complete de-
tails. AS this included the presi
Dental announcement that German
ships would not be seized now or in
the event of war and full information
about the fair attitude Of the govern
ment toward the German sailors
officials are wholly at loss to know
what kind of report could have so
suddenly changed Germany's attitude
Ask Hawaii to Report.
A query was at once cabled to the
governor Of Hawaii, the only section
where German ships are war-bound
where all the conditions are not
known. There is not the least
thought that any variation will be
found there in the uniformly cour-
teous treatment accorded German
vessels, but officials want detailed
account Of the status of the two war
vessels and the eight merchantmen
there in order to present final re-
port showing the conditions in all
American harbors. Such report al
ready has been received from the
Philippines and was included in the
blanket statement previously sent to
Germany.
Protest Reimprisonment at Once.
Eventual release of the Yarrowdale
prisoners is regarded as assured, but
an urgent protest against their re-
Imprisonment will be made at once.
A peremptory demand for the release
of these prisoners was about the last
instruction sent former Ambassador
Gerard. Though the boat came into
port December 81, it's arrival was not
reported for military reasons until
January 10.
Leak Probe FizzIes.
Washington.-A pail hangs over
the leak" investigation Saturday,
and there is a very good possibility
that it may be dropped soon.
A "crimp" was put in it Thursday
when Mrs. Ruth Thomson Visconti,
the mysterious woman informant from
whom Thomas w. Lawson got the
information which he hurled into the
capital like a bomb several weeks
ago, retestified that her information
came from 16-year-old girl. The
girl was the daughter of w. w. Price,
a newspaper man.
And the 16-year-old girl, it seemed,
got what little information she had
from family gossip.
Hence Lawson's great expose had
several pins knocked from under it
during the Thursday sitting of the
congressional probers.
Washington, for time all agog