F. - - . A l l i. .
THE WEATHER FORECAST.
Fair to-day, with slowly rising tempera-'
ture; to-morrow fair and warmer.
Highest temperature yesterday, 15; lowest, 3.
Detailed weather, mall and marina reports oA pago 11.
VOL. LXXXIV. NO. 166.
NEW YORK, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1917. Copjrlph:, 1917, 6y the Sun Printing and PuhlUMng Astoclatlon,
nM? f T 'n flreater New York, I Fhewhrre
UiNJjJ UEiiN JL Jersey Vlty ami Newark, I TWO CKNT8.
WILSON FLATLY REFUSES TO PARLEY WITH GERMANY;
BRITISH PATROLS FURNISH 300 MILE IMMUNITY ZONE;
KAISER'S HAND SEEN IN EMBARGO NOTE FROM CARRANZA
rmr a m r r r
i t '- am fZ2Ha"s-ro -p- T'mr 1 1 bniiNc ruts all
m aaam i i m m . v- , ... - matms i . iv v - a. a. i a. m a -- a w w i
t UUW I . . l r. 1 HtW'. AHC f i -
BRITISH GAIN
BORE OK ANCRE
They Occupy fiOO Yards of
Tranches in Night
Attack.
COl'NTBU CHARGES FAIL
Six Other Attacks Against Ger
man Tositions Arc With
out Success.
London, Feb. 12. Again British troops
tsTO ousted the Germans from positions
north of tho Ancre. Last night the Brit
ish captured 600 yards of a Oerman
trtnch near the Beaueourt-Putsleux road,
which run two miles went of Mlrnumont
So difficulty was encountered In taking
the trench, filr Douglas Hals reports.
In night and day statements Berlin he
littles the last few days advance" of the
British on tho Ancrc front During last
night British troops made six vain at
tacks on German trenches on a two mite
front north of tho river, many of them
wiirlne white clothing; almost Invisible
fiint snow. Tho Germans evacuated
ts "unserviceable" tronch line near
Berre, the statement says, referring to
the lighting In which 2W prisoners were
Uktn. )
Coonter Attack Repalsed.
According to the British official state
tent, however, tho Germans were anx
ious enough to regain this trench to
siake a counter attack early last night.
They were caught In the quickly laid ar
tillery barrage and by tho Lewis guns of
tho troops tn thn trenches and were
"esslly repulsed. '
The official statements Issued to-night
u as follows :
British We made further progress
list night north of tho Ancre, In tho
elghborhood of the Beaucourt-Pul-ileux
road, where as a result of a
small enterprise undertaken on a lim
ited front, wo occupied some 600 yards
ef hostile trench ' without difficulty.
We took a few prisoners.
Early In tho night th enemy at
tacked our new positions south of
"lerrelllll, but. caught by artillery bar
ne'e and machine gun fire, was easily
repulsed. The enemy's lines we.ro eu
tered by our patrols at a number of
(laces.
Southeast of Armentleros one of our
' raiding parties blew up a hostile am
munition dump and captured a few
prisoners. This morning an . enemy
raiding puty. observed collecting on
the enemy's positions northeast of
Nu!ll-St Vaast was dispersed by
ir artillery.
Successful bombardments were car
ried out by us during the day north of
the Sommo and In the neighborhood
ef Armentlerea and Ypres.
In the course of tho air fighting yes
terday one Herman, airplane was
r!un down, damaged. One of our
machines Is missing.
Calm on French Front.
French There was Intermittent ac
tivity by both artilleries in the region
ef Beinnge and some sectors In tho
Vofses. Ki try where else tho day waa
calm.
Belgian In the neighborhood of tho
Ferryman's House there was patrol
activity during tho courso of the night
In the direction of Ilct Sas this morn
ing bomb and grenade fighting oc
curred. The artillery was moderately
active at various points along the
front
German Array group of Crown
Prince Itupprecht: Kast of Armen
tler:s and south of Iji Uassee all tho
attacks which had been prepared by
lively artillery fire failed.
During tho day strong artillery fire
Was directed ngalnst our positions on
loth sides of the Ancre Jtlver. During
I the night English troops six times at
tacked our wrecked trenches from
Berre as far as I he river. All the at
tacks were repulsed. The enemy suf
fered severe losses In our dofenstvo
Cre and to the north of Berre In hand
to hand fighting. His hoops In many
hiMar.cea woie "snow shirts.''
The trench line southeast of Berre.
which had become unserviceable, was
evaluated. This was planned and
tanled out without any molestation
and before the English attacks were
launrhed.
The French afternoon statement says:
fa the rfg'oit of Berry-au-Bae tro
Vm up with ruccess two mines at
"A 108. In tho Chimpagne and the
ill nine patrols were active during
tto night. We carried out two sue
tejiful surprlso attacks which enabled
is to take prisoners one In the Ar
janno, tho other In the sector of Hill
l". Everywhere else tho night was
calm.
U Is confirmed that a German alr
Jl'f was brought down on February
JO In an aerial engagement. In the ro
pon or Etouvelles, In the Alsne. Last
nlnt our squadrons dropped bombs on
the railway stations at Btenay, Dun-tur-Meute
and Arhles.
ZERO MARK REACHED IN CITY.
Oaelal Mlnlinnm of Winter' Cold.
est nay la .1 Absn.
Vlnter rr'nnil Hia til inn In nn-
Jt yesterday, and out In the suburban
ireer hltlV. thfrnvimara wunt ilnwll to
"rp. Un l.n 111. Inr nf h V1llltint1
BulUIIng lh olllclal rernM At 'I0 A .
yt 3 above, tne coldest or the season by
degrees, it waa at midnight, and
jsr get down lo ytUrduy'8 tuluInMni
wore breakfast time. Tho forecast
. ii! ,or slowly rising temperature. .
, 1,f",:0"1 wve arrected A wias area.
Atlantic ottv aY,i..A- o
.v. Nortnfleld, Vt., bundled ur with
7"w, fittstiurg had 4 bolow, 8t I'nul
" w. Hloasant Vullry. seven mllt.a
Sti ft J'oughkecpBlc. belled Its name
. oeiow, and up in the AHlrondttcli
Jrion the mercury rapged from 89 to 41
"ww. with Ice our feet thick on the
ALLIES MET IN ROME
TO SAVE SARRAIL
Feared Attack by Creeks,
Bonar Law Telle Common,
and Solved Problem.
Lokdoh, Feb. 12. How to savo (len.
Harrall's ormy In Macedonia from at
tack In the rear by tho royalist Greek
troops of King 'Constantino was the
pressing problem tlmt allied leaders met
In Homo to solve. A,. Bonar Law, Chan
cellor of the Exchequer, said to-day
whlln speaking In tho House of Com
mons on tho new war credit.
There, was groat danger that tho Teu
ton nnd Bulgarians, rrenforced by
troops released by the capturo of Bucha
rest, would commence a groat nttack on
Gen. FarrnU's long front, nnd that the
moment that attack startod Constantlne
would order hla Greeks to "stab Barrall
In the back." Attacked front and rear,
the position of the allied army would
have been most serious.
The Homo conference, however, reached
a decision on tho policy to lie udopted
toward tho Government of the pro-Oer-man
King- of the HMlenen, nnd that
policy is now being followed carefully,
Bonar Iaw said. Its wholp object
Is to prevent nn nttack on Oen. Snrrnll's
rear, and to that end the transportation
of Greek troops and guns to the far off
Peloponnesus In being forced.
The allied commanders, he added, are
now satisfied that the danger of such an
attack is much less than a fow weeks
ago.
AMERICAN AIRCRAFT
TO RIVAL ZEPPELINS
"Manufacturers Assure Federul
Officials They Can Produce
tho Machines.
Washington, Feb. 12. Piomtses of
cooperation with the Government In ef
forts to develop a satisfactory Zeppelin
type of aircraft for the army and navy
were made by leading. American airplane
and rubber manufacturers at a confer
ence here to-day with Bear Admiral
David W. Taylor, chief constructor of
tho na-y and head of tho joint army
navy board Investigating the dirigible
problem.
A preliminary survey of the' materials
and' plants available was begun, Hrul the
manufacturers expro WM belief that hVc
aircraft similar to tho Gorman machines
could be turned out It Is regarded M
probable that some method of ccntrallX'
ln the work win "b. TnecVssan Tso that
thS &ll o7ai plots' which En aW
"lLrMhtotWM of the Connecticut
Alt?rn Com5v the Curttai ? Aero-
AaneaCompaTand the Goodyear. O-
?lch and United States Bubbcr compa-
ngWtotCTovrnSrrVd iS.
nauonat acxencc.
Officials view the ZDDlm TroDJtm T
?n cLl tKn a KtentlOe
morn as a commercial than a scienuuc
one. With the funds nvallablo nnd the
cooperation . of commercial plants thy
ftl certain of their uhlllty tn construct
ships that could duplicate the perform
ances of the Oerman craft In durability
and length of flight.
Xr.At. InfAMnfillnn t-nit hftn rpfplved
from England and elsewhere on to the
natiir tit Xannollns hrnncM down during
the present war. Fragments of th
frame of one destroyed near iiooaon
have reached the Navy Department,
showing the peculiar trussed girder con
struction of nn alumlr.um alloy to re
duce weight and yet secure rigidity.
FIRING ON BOATS DENIED.
German V-Boats Never- Did o aai
Will Wot. Berlin Says'.
Behmn, by wlrelesn, Feb. 12. Iteports
from British sources that tha lifeboats
of the British steamer Eavestone wero
fired upon by a German submarine aro
mentioned In on Overseas News Agency
announcement .to-day, which adds:
"As soon an the submarine reports all
the details regarding the question of
the Eavestone will bo given out Mean
while It is reiterated that no German
submarine ever fired at lifeboats, nor will
one1 do so In future."
P00D SHIPS LOST.
Ont of Ton Snnk Two Had Cargoes
of Provisions for England.
Bra MM. by wireless, Feb. 12. Of
even steamers and three sailing vessels
. i m. A ... t. Vt u "1 s m n BiiVimavlriA
Jl . ...Vh r.... kw.
Agency, two steamers carried metal and
' .rri.rt -oit nnA
three were laden with either corn, nuts
or provisions. Two of the sailing ves
sels carried victuals for England.
Benorts from Christian! say that the
7-;..Hn .t.nmrhln Korland was flrrd
at by two British torpedo boats while In
Norwegian territorial waters.
HELD AS HOSTAGE.
Yarrow dale Men's Statu EsnlaUed
by Zlmsaer n.
Biaj.tK, by wireless, Feb. 12. For
eign Secretary Ztmmermann, explaining
the Oerman Government's reason for
detaining tho" soventy-two Americans
brought In aboard the Ysrrowdale, said
to-day' Germany would not release them
until It was known positively that the
crews
or ucmiun iuii'b hi .fuircrii-au
n - . t., l
pori. had not been molested.
Vk - "
taken to be agreed to a week ago," said
Ilerr Zlmmermann. "Thoso men had
been taken off armed merchantmen snd
their status had been established. Thoy
will be .liberated just as, soon as we
learn the fata of the G.routi crews In
American ports,'
Kmnrror William In Vienna.
London, Fell. 12. Emperor William
has arrived In Vienna on n visit to Em
poror Charles, says a lleuter derjmtch
from Amsterdam,-quoting 11 Viennn tele
grain. THli ARKKNBsUBJt White Salpbu
HoHags. West Va. Id.) time for th cure.
Only one night from New rotk.Aiv.
GERMANY BESET
BY STARVATION
Conditions Have Changed
Greatly for the Worse in
Last 5 3onths.
MANY STAPLES MISSING
Potato Allowance Inadequate,
Cheese Is Gone and Meats
Prohibitive.
B Attociatfi Tress.
Stockholm, Jan. 20. Food condition
In Germany have changed greatly for
the worse In tho last five mouths. The
correspondent of the Associated Press,
who had been away from Germany since
the first week In August, has Just re
turned from a stay of three weeks In
Berlin.
Ho found that many staples of food
had altogether disappeared from the
markets, others had grown so dear that
they ate beyond the reach of any but
tho well to do, the dally allowanco of
potatoes had been reduced to ten ounces,
nnd that cither a shortage of Hour or
a disordered distribution of It among
tho bakers had resulted In long lines
of buyers standing for hours In front of
the bakorlew.
Maximum prices of tho foodstuffs con
trolled by the Government nro still very
low for potatoes and bread, and com
paratively low for meats. Potatoes
cost only 72 cents the standard bushel
of CO pounds and bread a little less than
S14 cents a pbund. But tho potato al
lowance Is lnsunicient for people who
have little but bread and potatoes to
eat, and lias lo be eked out with turnips.
No Cheese on the Market.
It had been hoped to allow one egg
per person each two weeks In Greater
Berlin, but the last one egg nllowancu
wns mado some rtve weeks ago nnd an
other l not promised until February.
.When th correspondent left Berlin In
AUguS it 'was still possible to buy
cheeiwrV Since the end of August there
has beon no cheeso on the market. It
is said that considerable quantities ore
bclnr imnortcd from Holland, but it
W" apparently to the front, except for
Hmalluantllles allowed the restaurants
i AnoTher'serlous reduction of available
1 foodstuffs has boen tho expropriation for
.control by tho Government of all canned
Vegetables. Four or five weekH ago the
Tr
I ... t Kti tu Anr nm
b
compelled to open each can be-
for selllnir It. so as to force tho buyers
10 rnnsumn It at onco and not hoard It.
Tho weekly allowance nf meat of all
kinds In the Greater Uerllu municipal!
ties runs from live and a quarter to
I eight and three-quarter ounces. The
rhoniiMt varieties cost about 60 cents a
pound, the dearest 7
One of the most .
cents.
serious deprivations
continues to be the lack of fats and olln.
The weekly allowance of butter und oleo
margarine together Is a little less than
three ounces per hpud. Oil Is so ex
pensive that It Is out of the reach of tho
great majority. Thn correspondent paid
13.13 for about two-thlnls of a pint of
hazelnut oil to be used for frylns.
Goose fat costs $4.80 per can of seven
teen and three-fifth ounces, nnd Is tho
only fat except vegetable oils, that can
be bought without a card.
Hungry Feeling All the Time.
This insufficiency of fats In the dally
ration chows Itself In nn nlmost con
tinuous feeling of hunger. Th corre
spondent, experiencing this himself In
the first days of his visit, remarked
on It
"I feel hungry nil tho time." said tho
person addressed.
Extending his Investigations, the cor
respondent heard similar expressions
from all sides. Tho bitterest complaints
come from soldiers nt home. When the
writer last visited the front In July tho
men's rations were ample In every re
spect and there Is no reason to believe
the came Is not true to-day. Tho Boldlar
at home thus notices the difference moro
keenly than do those who havo had
gradually to accustom themselves to one
1 deprivation after anothor.
Thtro is a deadly monotony about tho
mals In the average household. Break
fast generally consists of rolls, maima.
lads (often made or pumpkins), and a
decoction of toasted ncorns, rye, chicory
necociion 01 oasiea acorns, rye. cnicory
w wnai not vnai goes uy mo namo or
coffee. Thero Is no real coffee left
Home tea, at high prices Is still to 1k had.
but the poorer people drink a brew of
linden blossoms, raspberry leaves or
leaves of other-shrubs or trees. For the
"second breakfast" there Is dry bread.
The Dinner Menu.
Dinner generally consists of boiled
potatoes with salt some kind of bolted
vegetable, nnd, on perhaps two day of
the week, a tiny' piece of meat. Fish
takes the place of meat on other days,
unless one can buy 11 gooso at ii.lQ a
pound (they cost 2 n pound Just be
. . r 1
fore Christmas), a duck, nt fl.ti a
i . nn - ,
P'"'- Vol" to SI 0 1 pound ' Com.
little
markets, apparently going to the hotels
and restaurants,
Bupper is tho problem In the average
household. Generally thero arc no po
tatoes left over from noon, and If there
are there la no fat In which to fry them.
The usual a or man Bupper before the
war consisted of cold meats, sausngo,
cheese, broad and butter and beer. There
Is no meat, no cheese nnd no sausage,
no butter on four or flvo days; of the
week, no more bottled beer and many
saloon keepers refuse to sell beer tn be
drunk off the premises. Tho beer,
moreover, ! all but undrlnkable.
There remain then only bread and
Continued on Second Poqj.
SAFETY LANE TO
ENGLAND IS SET
300 Mile Funnel Shaped
Kontc Has a Great
Patrol.
ANDANIA BEPOItTS IT
Cunardcr, Just In, Had Xo
Troublo in Running the
Gantlet.
Losies of Shipping
Since February 1
Losses of shipping of jhe
Allies tad of neutrals since
February r, when the German
unrestricted submarine warfare
commenced, have been as fol
lows: Ships reported sunk yes
terday 5
Total tonnage reported
sunk yesterday 8,441
Total known tonnage
previously sunk. x-70,599
Total known tonnage
sunk since Feb. 1 179,040
Ships sunk since February x:
American x
Other neutrals 33
British 48
Other belligerents 7
Total ships sunk 88
With a 200 mllo funnel shaped lane
of armed patrol ships tho British Ad
miralty has taken extraordinary precau
tions to guard tho arrival and departure
from Channel ports and Liverpool of big
British passenger and freight steam
ships. This was divulged yewterdny by
officers and passengers of the Cunarder
Andnnla, In from Liverpool.
It Is Inferred that adequate protection
has not been extended yet to tho Gorman
prohibited xone to the west and north of
Scotland, otherwise the Anchor liner Cal
ifornia might not have been torpedoed
last week.
The Andanla hrought nine passengers,
including two Americans. Mrs. E. E. Flti
gcrahl of Buffalo and her young son. "P.
T. Fitzgerald, nnd llko the other voy
agcr they wero not disturbed nbout their
personal safety. Life proservcra wero
handy, hut no one wore them even In the
danger district Lifeboats were swung
out ready for Immediate launching.
Cnpt. Ni'lon was confident that ho could
bring tho liner through with the protec
tion afforded by tho light cruisers, patrol
bouts nnd armed trawlers that literally'
lined thn course for about 300 miles from ,
Fiistnct. J
Gnard by I'ntrol Boat.
Tho patrol boats were at times so close
to tho Andanla that passengers could see
them readily and they noted that they
wero sepuruted by less than half a mile
of sea In sumo places. Tho passengers
learned from tho officers that the lane of
I safety was so wldo at the western, or 1
sea end, that tho guarding craft were
Invisible from the bridge of the Andanfa.
The Andanla sailed from Liverpool on
January 21, the day tho German Gov
ernment, through Count von BernstorfT,
delivered Its note to President Wilson
declaring Its Intention to Innugnrato
ruthless warfnm on merchantmen of nil
nationalities In an urea that practically
I taken In one-fifth of tho Atlantlcborder-,
lng tho French and British coasts.
The British Admiralty, according to
Information obtained alioard the An
danla, knew weeks before the vcnt ex
actly what the submarine policy of tho
Germans was going to ho nnd had been
equipping a. large fleet of patrol boats to
protect tho liners, which now Include
many big freighters.
When tho Andanla went down the
Mersey her commander, Cnpt. G. W.
Nelson, was aware that he would be
protected 300 miles out tn sea from
Fastnet or within nbout 100 miles of
tho limit of tho danger area prescribed
for neutml steamships bound to ports
of the Entento allies. Tho skipper und
his otllccrs know pretty well that they
could expect llttlo mercy from German
submarines, even If they had departed
from Liverpool before tho period set for
tha beginning of U-boat barbarity. That
Is why extra lookouts were posted for
ward and nft and why the Andanla
zigzagged when she got out of the SOO
mile line. Hhe also took a southerly
course, seeing nothing of undersea craft
or raiders.
Inatnnt Precaution.
It was the Impression of tho An
dnnla's officers, as conveyed to pas
sengers, that tho Bafety lane had boen
established on tho very day of tho sail
ing of the Andan'a and tint It was the
anticipatory answer to Germany's note,
that tho Whlto Star linur ilaltlo passed
through this lano on her way to Liver
pool with an Immense cargo of war ma
terial and foodstuffs thero om be no
doubt, and' that thu Adriatic, also of tho
Whlto Star lleot, which sailed henco on
Kebrunry 3 and should bo In or close
to Liverpool tn-day, waa also guarded
through thrt S00 mile H'rlp Is pretty
certain. Whether or not nho had tha
luck of tho Baltic may bo known ta-day.
The logical conclusion of shipping men
!3 that the British Admiralty ileol.lod to
give Immediately tho limit of protection
to Its great cargo olid passenger ships
and Inter to afford as much protection
at possible to neutrals bringing food and
war mat,erlal to Urltlsh ports.
Officers of tho Andanla did not con
ceal their elation In evading enemy sub
marines, and thoy gtvvo a distinct Inti
mation that tho restricted sen. westward
of tho British Isles would be quits as
safe, It not safer, than It was before tha
Inauguration of U-boat ruthlossnen.
CARRANZA ASKS
U.S.EXPORTBAN
Bids Other Neutrals to Join
in Itefusing: Belligerents
Food or Arms.
GERMAN INFLUENCE SEEN
Suspicion of Use of Mexico as a
Huso in Event of Hos
tilities. Washington. Feb. 12. Secretary
Lunging received to-day a formal note
fioni First Chief Carranr.a suggesting
that tho United States nnd other neutral
nations net In accord to end tho Euro
pean war by stopping all merchant
traffic with the warring nations. The
proposal, couched In persuasive language
and setting forth nil tho unrumcnts
which the German Government luis been
repeatedly advancing, shows unmistak
able signs of Germany's growing ac
tivity in Mexico.
A pointed out in Titc Sur to-day, tho
attention of officials here has for romo
weeks been toeussed on painstaking ar
rangements which Germany has been
making to uso tha Carransa Oovem
treirt to Its own advantage tn cawj of
troublo with tho United States. Iteports
hc reached Washington concerning
tho progress of this German campaign
nnd tlw military authorities hero are
admittedly concerned cnor probable
serious trouble in Mexico coincident with
any outbreak of hostilities between tho
United States and the Gorman Govern
ment Began by Von Pnpeu.
Tho evidence of German activity dates
back to tlie outbreak of the European
war nnd shows that even then Capt von
Papen had laid the groundwork for Ger
many to uso Mexico as a basn of in
fluence In the event of emergency.
Tho Stato Department hero lias ob
tained possession of a letter which near
Admiral von Hlntze, German Minister to
Mexico, wrote to the Imperial Chancellor
von Bethmnnn-IIollwrg at tho outbreak
of the war In which he stated in part:
"Cant, von P.ipcn. tho Military At
tache nf the Imperial Legation, hoe been
hero slnco tho 23d of March. Il settled
down into the complicated situation
rapidly and easily and In a short titr.w
gained a sure Judgment of his own, and
In nceordnnco therewith he acted use
fully and without hesitation.
"llerr von Papen leaves on the 30th of
July for Washington. I would be guilty
of nn omlsnlon if I did not mention him
with commendation to your Excellency
on this occasion. I would, however, go
further and humbly mention to your
Excellency that I consider that the ser
vices of rapt von Papen during his ap
pointment hero warrant his recom
mendation to the favor of his Majesty
the Emperor and King."
lied Kngle Is Snt'Ke.trd.
It was suggested that the fourth c!as
of the Order of tho Red Eagle ba be
stowed Upon Capt von Papen for his
extraordinary services on behalf of Ger
many In Mexico.
For months after that, according to
reports received here, tho Influence of
Germany In Mexico was demonstrated
In a striking manner. Horst von der
Goltz, when captured by tho British,
made a sworn statement on February 2,
1910, In which he 'showed that Carranza
r.srt eieased him from his duties as
Major In the Mexican army in order that
ho might pursue his duties In tho fathcr
l.ind'n behalf.
In the acute ntnges of the crNls be
tween Carninza and tho United States
the tnflueneo of Gormmy In Mexico ap
pears, according to information received
heio, to havo been constantly and
adroitly exerted to prevent any full ad
justment of difficulties. Tho latest ad
vices Indicate that Germany has shown
a readiness to actuilly cooperate with
certain of Carranza's pollcle nnd to ho
of iisslstanco In any way possible.
Believed tn lie Inspired.
Taken In conjunction with this welt
known German activity, hleh has boon
very closely followed here, the Carranzn
note to-day Is generally regarded us In
spired by Germany and as Indicating In
directly that Germany and Mexico would
be united by a bond of sympathy In case
tlie break between Gcrmuny und the
United Slates leads to open conflict.
All the German argument In favor
of cutting off food and munitions! to the
Entento arn found In the Mexican com
munication. The note furtheimoro layi
stress on tho humanitarian nspvet of
such action and In Its phraseology seeks
to appeal to those in the United Slates
who havo sought to persuade President
W'lson to adopt the German viewpoint.
Tho timeliness of the note, too, la re
garded as significant
STARVATION IS URGED.
Carransu nrllevrn It the Only Way
o End the Wnr.
Washington, Feb, 12. Gen, Car
ranza has sent a note to tho United
States, Argentina, Brazil nnd Chllo, as
well as to all other neutral nations,
The communication asks the nations
to Join In nn agreement to prohibit the
export from tholr countries to tho war
ring European nations of foodstuffs nnd
munitions of war.
Tho Carranza note, handed to tho
Htnto Department by It, p. du Negri,
Chargo of the Mexican Embassy, tnvya ln
pari :
"Over two yenrs ago thero began (in the
old continent tho most gigantic nnnml
conflict which history records, spreading
death, desolation nnd misery among the
belligerent nations. This tragic strug
glo has deeply wounded tho sentiments
of humanity of nil the countries not tak
ing any paitlclpatlon In tho struggle, nnd
It would not be Just or humauo that these
nations should remain Indifferent before
such groat disaster. A deep sentiment
of human brotherhood therefore obliges
Continued on TAfrtt Pan:
Germany's Suggestion and Reply of U. S.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12. The State Department gave
out to-day the following:
"In view of the appearance in the newspapers of Feb
ruary 11 of a report that Germany was initiating negotiations
with the United States in regard to submarine warfnre the
Department of State makes the following statement :
"A suggestion was made orally to the Department of
State late Saturday afternoon by the Minister of Switzerland
that the German Government is willing to negotiate with the
United States, provided that the commercial blockade against
England would not be interfered with. At the request of the
Secretary of State this suggestion was made in writing nnd
presented to him by the Swiss Minister Sunday night. The
communication is as follows :
" 'MEMORANDUM.
" 'Tha Swiss Government has been requested by the German
Government to say that the latter is now, as before, willing to
negotiate, formally or informally, with the United States pro
vided that the commercial blockade against England will not be
broken thereby. (Signed) P. RITTER.'
"This memorandum was given immediate consideration
and the following reply was despatched to-day :
" 'My Dear Mr. Minister:
" 'I am requested by the President to say to you in acknowl- '
edging the memorandum which you were kind enough to send to
me on the 11th instant that the Government of the United States
would gladly discuss with the German Government any questions
it might propose for discussion were it to withdraw its proclama
tion of the 31st of January, in which, suddenly and without pre
vious'intimation of any kind, it cancelled the assurances which it
had given this Government on the 4th of May last, but that it
does not feel that it can enter into any discussion with the Ger
man Government concerning the policy of submarine warfare
against neutrals .which it is now pursuing unless and until the
German Government renews its assurances of the 4th of May and
acts upon the assurance.'
"No other interchange on this subject has taken place
between this Government nnd any other Government or
person."
'SANDBAGGED,'
SAYS GERARD
He
Says CJernmny's Attitude
Toward Him Assumed
tTliat Character.
Coras'HAfin.v, via London, Feb. 13
(3. to A. M.). The attempt of the Ger
man Government to negotiate through
James W. Gerard, who had retired as
Ambassador to Germany, desired con
cessions and pledges was of iv naturo to
lead Mr. Gerard to characterise It In
conversations with a Foreign Office rep
resentative as "sandbagging."
Ho refused even to transmit tho text
of the concessions desired unless he was
allowed to report In code a prlvllego of
which he had been deprived since tne
rupturo of relation.
GERARD REAL PRISONER.
Mnll nnd Wires Stopped Just Be
fore Depnrtnre.
Zuntcil, via Paris, Feb. 12. Mo.n of
the members of AmUassador Gerald's
party heaved a genuine sigh of relief
Sunday afternoon wtwm the Swlis border
was reached, for the strain of tha last
few days hnd told more or loss on tho
majority of tho travellers.
Tho strain of tho situation for the
Americans In Berlin had boen holtrhtened
toward tho end by the efforts of the,
German authorities to Induce Mr. Gerard
to open negotiations for an amendment
to tho Prussdan-Ainerinin treaty of 1799,
Ambassidor Gerard's telephone wires
wero cut. his mall and telegraphic privi
leges stopped so that he could not oven
Instruct the American Consuls and he
was. In his own words, a prisoner.
Delay followed delay and one excuse
was urado after another until Friday
night, wben the Inorclijn Office suddenly
announced Its willingness to pormlt Mr.
Geianl to depart on the following day.
Mr. Geranl's farewells wero Ald In a
friendly, though for.-r-al, manner. Many 1 formly courteous treatment accorded
Germans were In the throng at tho sta- Gorman vessels, but officials want a dc
tion, which consisted partly of Amorl- ' tailed account of the status of tho two
cans who had not received permission war vessels nnd tho eight merchantmen
io nep.iri on tno emnassy train una must mere in oraer to present a final report
await tho po.lco routine before bolng showing the conditions in all American
allowed to leave. I harlmr.i. Such a report has already been
Washington, Teh. 12. Official reports i rocohed from the Philippines and In
op tho arrival of Ambassador Gerard ! eluded In tho blnnket statement prcvl
ar.d hi suite at Zurich. Switzerland, 1 ously sent to Germany,
ip.ichod the Stato Department tn.Jay ; Eventual release of the Yarrowdale
from American Minister Ktovnl! at Hern Prisoners is reini-d.! .i nnrii
They added nothing to tho information , urgent proton against their reimprlson
nlreidy published. Minister Stovall's i mU will ho made at onco.
despatch, dated yesterday, follows : ' A peremptory demand for the rtleose
Ambassador Gerard with staff and ' of these prisoners was about the lairt
party have arrived at Zutlch and will , Instruction sent to former Ambassador
reach Bern 9 o clock this evening. All . Gerard. Though the vessel entered port
?nHr' nLi VV'blf'u,?,;."t 1 ln ("mn' December 31. Its arrival was
General of the Swiss army, especially
"csiMimieu uy me reoerai Lvuncil, wel
comed Men on bcluilf of the Swl-u Gov.
eminent."
BRITISH THANKFUL.
Hal four Exprrssrs Gratitude to
I'nge nud Gernrd for Wnr Work.
T.onpon, Feb. 12. A, s. Balfour, Sec
retary of State for Foreign Affnlif, In n
lioto to the American AmbnvKador nt
London, Waller 11. P.xgo, reuticsts him
to convey to his Government tho llmhks
of tho British Government for the action
taken In transferring British interest In
Gurntnny to tho Netherlands Minister nt
Berlin, nnd adds:
"I desire to tuko this opportunity of
expressing his Majesty's Government's
deep nppteclatlon of the care nnd dovo
tlou with which tho United States Gov
eminent has taken chargo of British In
terest!! ln Uerinniiy since tho outbreak of
the war,
"His Majesty's Government nro fully
consclou,' of tho Immense nmount of
CuMlliturtI on T7i(rd Paijr
JAILING SEAMEN
STIRS LANSING
Germany's Action in Yarrow
dale Caso and New Treaty
Reach State Pept,
Washington, Feb. 12. Formal noti
fication of the detention In Germany of
tho seventy-two American sailors
brought In as prltoners on tho prize ship
Varrowdale waa given to the State De
partment to-day by Dr. Paul Hitter,
Rwls3 MinlHter here, acting for the
German Government, together with an
Inquiry us to tho sUtus of the crews of
the German ships In American harbors.
Germany, Dr. Bitter said, had decided
to hold the Yarrowdalo prisoners until
she had hnd definite assurances that
! German crews In American harbors
would not bo held or Imprisoned.
This development, wholly unexpected,
was amazing to the American Govern
ment Officials hero had to como to the
conclusion that tho early reports which
misled tho German Government as to
tho treatment of German crews here
had been effectively dispelled by tho
forwarding of complete details. As this
Included tho Presidential announcement
that German ships would not'bo seized
now or In the event of war and full In
formation about the attitude of the Gov
ernment toward tho German sailors, of
ficials tire wholly at n loss to know whnt
kind of report could have so suddenly
changed Germany's attitude.
Onery Sent to Hawaii.
A query was at onco cabled to the
uovcrnor of Hawaii, the only place
where German ships aro warbound
wnero an the conditions are not known.
Thero Is not tho least thought that any
variation win no rounu there in tha unl
not reported for military reasons tin
January 19.
Following reports that there were
Americans 011 board three direct In
quiries were made, culminating In a list
of sixty-four American sailors held prls
oner In Wcstfalen mado publlo by tho
State Department only n few hours he.
forn President Wilson announced tlm
severance, of relations with Germany to
Congress.
Immediately afterward tho announce
ment of a piotest against tholr Imprison
Hunt and demand for their relvace wns
given out lit thu State Department. Tho
next day enmn word of their release nnd
It wns supposed until to-day that they
would go out of Germany with the other
Americans.
New Treaty Offered.
Germany's proposal for a reaffirmation
of tho old Prusalnn-Ameilo.nl ti initios of
179'. and 1S2S, with u lung list of added
clauses to model nlzu nnd extend pro
vlslii3 relating In tho treatment of
enemy residents In cnr.o uf war, hns been
transmitted formally to tho Stato De
partment by Dr. Httttr. Thin Is the pro.
1 .
Continued on Second Pane.
President's Quick Answer
Checkmates Move to
"Embarrass Him.
BERLIN'S SINCERITY
IS AGAIN DOUBTED
His Action Prompted by a
Message From Newspaper
Correspondent.
DR. GEORGE KIRCHWEY
AND BRYAN INVOLVED
Former Interceded to Get
Despatch Sent Telling of
Anti-War Sentiment.
Washington, Feb. 12. President
Wilson definitely nnd finally closed tho
door to-day to nil parley mid discus
sion of compromise with Germany na
long ns the Illegal submnrino decree
remains in operation. Ho told Berlin,
through the Swiss Legntion here, that
this Government "does not tool that It
can enter Into nny discussion with tho
German Government concerning tho
policy of submarine warfare against
neutrals which It Is now pursuing."
His reiteration of this Government's
position was mado by the President in
response to tho Intimation from Berlin,
transmitted by the Swiss Minister
hero to Secretary Lansing, that Ger
many was willing to negotiate with
the United States, "provided thut the
commercial blocUudo against England
will not bo broken thereby." Tho
German proposal wns first mado
known to this Government by tho
Swiss Minister on Saturday, us re
ported in Tub Sun. Sunday night a
formal memorandum wns delivered.
Tho text of tho German proposal, to-
gether with tho President's prompt re
ply, was given out by Secretary Lansing
to-day. It disposes of tho report that
Germany's reported movo was merely
part of tho German propaganda In tho
unuen Mintes instigated by Count von
BernstorfT acting In collusion with Will
iam J. Bryan and other pacifists.
Wilson's Checkmate.
It Is made clear now that whatever
embarrassmort this movo has caused the
Administration's policy und whatever
tendency It has had to weaken the bel
ligerent spltlt hero are due directly to tho
Im1terl.1l aerman Government Only the
fact that tho President has acted
promptly and with decision has check
mated whatever advantages Berlin hoped
to gain.
Officials here aro convinced tnat Ger
many has not counted upon this sug
gestion working anything but an un
favorable response from this Govern
ment The view they take Is that It wus
designed, like the German peaco pro
posals, to throw responsibility for hos
tilities between tlie two li.itions, should
they eventuate, upon this Government
Iteports Kent to Geiinany of the pacifist
sentiment in this country and particu
larly concerning the nrtivitles of Mr
Bryan are believed furthermore to havt.
hnd moio or Icfp to do with its Inspira
tion. Germany doi not expect to nvold
n clash with this country, but that she Is
counting much upon -i divided sentiment
here, which may rnue deliy valuable to
her plans, officials' here do not for 11
minute doubt.
Kor this reason thero s cjnldcrabln
feeling hern in oifielal circles against all
those Instrumental In prompting tho
Gorman more, which admittedly bases
all parley on complete surrender of tho
basic iirlnclp'.a which the President made
the reason for severing diplomatic rela
tions, in enect Germany assumes that
the stand taken by the United State l-i
not that which President Wilson 1ms out
lined and that this Government might I.
ready to repudiate it.
Close Srrutlii) 1 Taken.
Officials were naturally concerned to
know where Germany could havo ob
tained this Imprmolnu, nnd It !b In this
connection that the activity of Germans,
pacifists nnd certain neutrals here ban'
come under the clofo suutmy of the
State Deptrtment.
Whether or not Count von Bernstorff.
the dlnnli-sed German AmlwRMdor. in-
' spire! tho idei Is not definitely known.
1 It 'h trctty well oj.tnhllt.hcd, however.
I Hint Mr. Bryan, Dr. George Klrchwey,
former dean of the Columbia Law School,
and other peace advocate.', who got busy
. hero Immediately after thu break, con
ferred with Dr. Gonrgn Harthelme,
Washington correspondent of tha semi
official Cologne Oairlfe and a clowo
friend of Count von Bornstorff and tli
Swiss Minister.
Some of Dr. Barthelme's despatches to
the Cologne. Oatettc were held up bo
cause of tho Htrlngent Government su.
pervlsloti of navy wireless, which be
came moro severe Immediately upon the
rupturo of relations with Germany. Un
der there regulations the censors nt f-'ay-vllle
and Tuckurtnn blocked his des
patches nnd reported them to the Navy
Department which lit nun Informed the
State Department. There n .'H some ques
tion ns to whether Dr. narthelme. In
addition to being a German newspaper
correspondent, wns not an agent of th
German Government.
iioiil liv llr. It In.lnvri
II has now been nscortalnod that after
Dr. Bnrthi'lmn'H despatches had boen
held up nnd tho muter was still under
consldeintloti by the Siinte and Navy
departments i-'oorctary Daniels received
a call from Dr. Klrehnuy, a friend ot
Mr, HryanV, who asked that Dr. Bar
thelme be permitted ,o send through h.s
despatches.
Secretary Dan.els admitted to-d.lj
that he had received such a call from
Dr. Klrchwej, and tl.ut subbcqucntly
l-iyyfWicr
I mi