Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-03-02
GERMANY NOT ANXIOUS
T0FIGHT, BUT WILL
IF SHE is FORCED
CONTINUED from Page ID

VIII not change his plans Tor dealing
with the German submarine situation
because OF the German plot or be-
cause OF the loss OF American lives
on ships that do moi fly the American
flag. He appreciates the gravity Of
the situation created by the death OF
the Hoys and also of other Americans
who are reported TO have been lost
in the crews OF freishters that have
been summarized without warning
and sunk by shell fire But he be.
lieves that the plan which he has ont.
lined TO Congress must be tried out
first. This ineiudes the perfecting
OF his scheme OF EARNED neutrality"
which includes the arming of the
American liners. and all other YES.
sells flying the American flag whose
owners want such protection.
Ii was accepted today that the
armed neutrality law will receive the
approval of both House and Senate
not later than tonight. The Presi.
dent has let it be known that he will
not accept the House bill, but wants
the Senate measure. which carries
with it complete authority TO deal
with any situation. which may arise,
and 10 take every step. short OF m
actual declaration of war, 10 protect
American interests. The President
will accept no half way measure,
White House officials declare, and
there seemed llttls doubt today that
he will get everything he asked be.
fore Congress shall finally adjourn,
at noon on Sunday.
The Cabinet at its meeting today
was expected to consider additional
evidence Of the German plot TO in
volye the United States with Mexico.
II is hoped that ii will be in posses.
sion of report from Ambassador
Fletcher at Mexico City, giving the re.
sui, OF his conference with First Chief
Carranza. While officials refuse to
discuss the manner in any way, it is
intimated that at this conference the
American Ambassador placed before
the defacto president OF Mexico evi.
dence Of attempted interference in
Mexican affairs by German agents OF
a most startling character. This ev.
dence is said here to be absolutely
conclusive in character. Whether
General Carranza will demand an ax.
PLANTATION from II. Won Eckhardt and
will expei from Mexico those respons-
ible is not known here. But 1t is Ger.
tain that he will receive strong N.
timation that further plotting against
the United States on Mexican soil BY
Germany will be resented.
Ofiicals laughed when they read to-
day the denials by Coun Won Eek.
hardt, German minister at Mexico
City. that he had never received the
zimmerman letter. The proof in the
hands OF the state department re.
garding the document carries it direct
~ from the foreign Office in Berlin
to this city and then to Mexico City,
to which point it was sent by spe.
cial messenger commissioned by
Count von Bernstorff himself. The
exact hour and place Oh delivery, to-
gether with the names OF the Mex.
cans who were approached by Won
Eckhardt are known to the depart.
ment, But because of the fact that
1t might result in the assassination Of
the men responsible, the facts discov-
cred are withheld.
Two U. 6. Sailors Die.
London Mar. 2.-Thc British bark
Galgorm Castle, whose destruction By
a German submarine may have cost
two American lives, was attacked
without warning, according TO dis
pr 'ches received here from Cork IT,.
day
The U-boat appeared as the sailing
vessel was nearing the Irish coast
and began to shell her Mrs, Cramn.
ton, wife of the captain, and one OF
the 70 survivors landed at Cork. de.
clared the submarine shelled two life
boats and was approaching the miss
Ing lifeboat when darkness settled
David Walker, of Baltimore, cook,
and William Jackson, of New York, a
seaman. were in the missing lifeboat
Harry Merritt, Of Beaver Falls. Pa i,
and Harry Richardson, Of Boston. who
were rescued after spending - hou's
in an open boat, expressed the belief
today that Walker and Jackson may
either have been taken aboard the
U.boat as prisoners or that their life
boat was towed to some lonely spot
along the coast.