New-York tribune., 1918-04-21
President. Proclamation
Puts Them on Same
Footing as Males
100000 Affected
Austro-Hungarians Will Be
Treated With Greater
Leniency

NASH1NGION, April ZU.-Gefmal
and Austrian women in the United
States were placed under the same re-
strictlons as have prevailed for enemy
aliens by proclamation issued to-day
by President Wilson under the re-
Gently enacted law including women
in the definition of enemy aliens.
These restrictions. applicable only to
women above fourteen who have not
been naturalzed by their own or
their male relatives declarations of
citizenship, are as follows:
German and Austrian women are
subject to arrest and internment if
they violate the laws or are regarded
as dangerous persons to allow at
large.
German women must register, as
German males have done. with police
or postmasaers on some future date
to be determined by Attorney Gen
eral Gregory.
German women are forbidden to
enter barred zones about water
fronts and warehouses without a
special permit, after date not yet de-
termined by the Attorney General.
German women must leave the Dis
trict of Columbia by next Monday
midnight, if they are transient, or
by May if they have lived in the
District since war was declared.
None may enter the District.
To Rid Country of Women Enemies
By these restrictions the govern
ment hopes to rid the country of a
number of women who are suspected
of having promoted German propa-
ganda even after their husbands or
other male relatives were interned
Until now the authorities have been
powerless to take any action against
women enemy aliens, because an old
statute included in this class only
males above the age of fourteen. The
recent law amends the old law by re-
moving the word males
In line with the Presidents policy
of lenicncy toward male subjects of
Austria Hungary, the women of that
nationality will be subject only to the
general danger CT being interned if
they prove dangerous.
The date on which German women
Will be barred from waterfronts will
be announced as soon as arrangements
can be made for women to apply for
permits and for a thorough investiga-
ton OF each applicant.
100000 German Women in u. S.
The number of German women in the
United States is estimated at about
100000, or 100000 less than the num-
ber of German males. A week will be
assigned later for the registration. and
women will be required to give full in
formation concerning their individual
records, their families and to record
their finger prints. Thereafter they
may move to another place of residence
only after obtaining a permit from the
registering agent. Police will conduct
the registration in cities of more thar
5000 population and postmasters in
smaller communities and rural dis
trcts.
The Presidents proclamation speci
fles that its provisions sl,al' apply &
natives, citizens, denizens or subjects
OF the enemy countries" Department
OF Justice officials look for the de
velopment Of many individual question
over the citizenship status of women
as was the case with males
The proclamation provided that "s
long as they shall conduct themseve
in accordance with law" women enem
aliens should be "undisturbed in tn
pedCelCl pursuit OF tnelr lives and OC
cupations. and be accorded the con
sideration due to all peaceful and law
abiding persons, except 80 far as re
strictions may be necessary for thei
own protection and for the safety O
the United States
The President also cautioned resi-
dents OF the United States to treat Ger
man and Austrian women with al
such friendiiness as may be compatibl
with loyalty and allegiance to tn
United States SO long as the wome.
observe the law
For some time the agents Of the De
partment of Justice have been watch
ing the actions of certain German an
Austrian women, and some may be ar
rested in few days. 1t was reporte,
tonight that some already had bee
taken into custody, but this was no
confirmed. Among the women sus
pected OF being dangerous enemy alien
are the wives of number of forme
German business men in New York an.
elsewhere, now confined in intcrmen
camps. Women relatives of a fey
prominent German musicians also ar
under suspicion.