The sun. [volume], February 28, 1917, Image 1

About The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920

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THE WEATHER POMCAST.
Cloudy and colder to-day; to-morrow
cloudy, followed by snow or rain.
Highest temperature yesterday, 55; lowest, 37.
Detailed weather, mull unci marino reports on pace 12.
IT SHINES FOR ALL
VOL. LXXXIV. NO. 181.
NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1917. Copyright, 1017. By the Bun Printing and PubUihing Attociation.
ONE CENT
la OfMin New York,
Jersey City and Newark.
Elsewhere
TWO CENTS.
PRESIDENT REGARDS LACONIA SINKING AS A CHALLENGE;
SENATE COMMITTEE REPORTS A BILL SUPPORTING WILSON;
YARROWDALE PRISONERS HELD IN QUARANTINE BY GERMANY
LACONIA FOLK
HOURS IN BOATS
Hirli Seas Capsized One,
Exposure Killing the
Hoy Women.
SECOND TORPEDO FIRED
U-Bont Hailed Second Officer,
but .Made Xo Effort to
Aid Victims.
Jifcm! Vable De$iMtleh tn Tim Sex.
London-, Feb. 27. Twelve persons. In
chiding thrco American, perished In the
Laconla disaster, according to the latest
figures given out hy the Cunard com
pany to-night. The known dead are :
Mrs. Mart Hov, Chicago.
Miss Elizabeth Hov, Chicago.
Cr.rnic 1'. Ivatt, London, a naturalized
American.
WlLI.IAM I. ROBINSO.V.
Dr. Fortunat Ztndai-
WlLUAM i:VA.
Bix men of the crew.
Early to-day It was reported that
sight of sixteen American negroes In the
erew had perished, but In a bulletin Is
sued to-night Consul Frost at Queens
town said thnt all had been accounted
for. Fix persons, some of them passen
gers, are now In hospitals. Tho condi
tion' of none In regarded as dangerous.
Of the twelve persons lost five were
drowned and seven died from exposure
and were burled ut tea. Mrs. Hoy and
her daughter. It developed to-day. were
not drowned, but died from exposure
sfter the boat In which they were taken
from the laconla had been swamped.
They were picked up. but succumbed
after being taken Into another boat.
All who died from exposure had been
In the swamped lifeboat No. S, which
became separated from the others.
Thirteen of Its refugees were saved.
Cedrio P. Ivatt. a naturalized American,
who represented nn American firm In
London, was one of the exposure vic
tims. How Mr, liar nnd Daughter Died.
The Ilev. F. Dunstan Sargent was in
the boat with Mrs. Hoy and her daugh
ter. He nays the submarine flashed a
lltht on the stem of tho Laconla. ap
parently with tho purpose of Identifying
the steamer.
The boat leaked freely, having hit the
Laconla's stern In tho launching, break
ing several of tho side planks. Partly
filled with water, the boat drifted with
out oars or rudder for nine hours.
Everybody crowded Into the bow and
sttrn. The wave washed some of the
weakened occupants overboard. One of
the boat's crew also fell overboard and
could not be rescued. The bodies of
those who died In the boat were cast
Into the sea. as with the boat already
full of watiT "their weight would havo
mede thing!- more critical for those sur
viving," Mrs. Hoy and her daughter
were among those who died and were
burled In tho sea.
The Rev. Mr. Sargent related the pa
thetic ordeal of a young actress who was
among the occupants of the boat. She
was helped Into the boat by a young
London man who was In business In
New York. The couple wero engaged
and were returning to England to be
married. The girl had to bear the sight
of her Intended husband dying and of
hli foody being thrown overboard from
the boat.
Mrs. George Henry Boston, daughter
of Granger Farwcll of Lake Forest. 111.,
was rcwued an1 ken to Quecnstnwn.
Among the saved sio Is John Tucker of
Springfield, 111., a nntlvo Kngllthman
who had taken out citizenship papers In
the United States. Among the slightly
Injured passengers Is Dr. Benjamin 15.
Hawkes, who, according to one report, is
a resident of San Francisco, though he
la ItEted on the passenger list from Gait,
Ontario.
Second Torpedo lilt Ship.
According to the stories of passengers
the Laconla was torpedoed at about
11-30 o'clock Sunday night. Passengers
and crew had taken to tho boats when
a second torpedo was fired Into the sink
ing vessel Tho boats were picked up at
4 o'clock Monday morning. Many of the
survivor when taken Into Queenstown
were wearing only the scantiest clothing
and were suffering severely from cold.
All accounts agree that magnificent
discipline was. maintained by the crew.
1'nMlnted pralso Is given the women
passengers, whose coolness In the faco.
of death amounted In some cases to
heroism.
The bravery of Mrs. Frank n. Harris,
wife of a Lieutenant-Colonel of the
I'nlted States Cosst Artillery Corps at
Fort du I'ont, Delaware, was partlci
ltrly impressive. 8he was the last pas
"riser to leai. the ship, getting Into the
Mpt.iln'H boat When the llfoboatn
' .fhed QufeiiMown she was cheered
loudly bj her fellow survivors and by
Universal eousent van accordod the
honor of being first to land.
The embassy hero received the follow
'us leporl fiom Consul Frost lato this
Morning!
The Laconla was torpedoed without
warning sit 10:30 P. M. In a heavy sea
while the ship was making seventeen
knots The first torpedo struck on tha
Murbo.ird, side abaft the engine room.
The engines stopped and the ship
"unifd, listing to starboard. Most of
'lio boat were launched from tho star
board ilde
Twenty inlnuteR later, afler most of
'he boats were clear, a second torpedo
wan need, striking the engines on the
P"tt Mde, The ship sank forty-flvs
minutes after the llring of the first
TBrpfrln,
mini in, r,to I.T Inch Guna.
The ship whs armed Willi two 4 7
'"i'h mm The ship's whajw;
!!! in continual net Ion mitt, 'x h;
mitiut. Mix rockets also wer jv. -ufl
arid all the lifeboats were equipped
Continued on Second Page.
' DEPORTATION URGED 1
i TO STOP FOOD RIOTS I
Law Affecting Aliens Who
Teach Destruction of Prop
erty Is Recalled.
Washington, Feb. 27. Deportation
of aliens found guilty of destruction of
property, as provided In section li of
tho new Immigration law, was advanced
hero to-day as one means of putting n
stop to food riots und demonstrations In
New York, Philadelphia and other cities.
This section provides that "any alien
who at any time after entry shall be
found advocating or teaching the un
lawful destruction of property, or ati
vocatlne or teaching anarchy
shall upon tho warrant of the Secretary
of Labor be taken Into custody and de
ported." This provision. It Is said, if enforced
in one or two cases In New York and
Philadelphia, where the rioting Is con
fined largely to aliens, would effectually
stop the disorders and would Impress
on nllens In congested communities the
necessity of using lawful methods of
voicing their protests against existing
conditions.
BERNSTORFF PARTY
OFF FROM HALIFAX
Steamship Frederik VIII. Al
lowed to Sail After 11
Days' Detention.
Halifax, N. S., Feb. 27. The steamer
Frederik Yin., with Count von Bern
storft, former Ambassador to the United
States, and his party on board, sailed
at 7:i0 o'clock to-night for Copenhagen.
The Mine precautions which marked
the arrival here February 1 of the
liner attended her departure. She was
not moved from her dock, where for the
last few days she had been taking on
coal and supplies, until after nightfall.
Ah she steamed slowly down the harbor
she was convoyed by a swarm of patrol
boats with orders to keep all other craft
at a distance. In conformity with the as
surances of ife conduct made by the
Government of Great Britain to the
United States.
Tt wnn'Mrtderstood that some of the
British examiners were puzzled as to
tho maiked partiality shown hy Ger
mans for cotton pajamas. So many
pajamas Impressed suspicious officials as
being beyond the requirements of ths
average traveller, und as It is under
stood there Is a shortage nf cotton for
the manufacture of certain war sup
plies In Germany It was decided to re
duce the wardrobes somewhat. The
next articles to arouse suspicion were
rubber heels. There wero so many rub
ber heels worn by the party that It
occurred to the officials to put tho ban
on them because of the need of crude
rubber In Germany.
BeyonB reports of these minor inci
dents, however, nothing suspicious was
found on board the steamer, so far as
known, and after an Interruption of
eleven days Count von Bemstorff and his
party found themselves once more home
ward bound,
BRAVE U-BOATS FOR CANDY.
Boys Wko Deserted Datch Ship
Bribed kr It to Rstara.
Boston, Feb. 27. A 'boy's love of
candy may prove stronger than his fear
of submarines, Capt. Swart of the Dutch
steamer Ecmdljk successfully demon
strated to-day.
His youthful cabin boy and the cook's
mess boy deserted Monday rather than
face the hazards of a voyage to Rotter
dam. To-day Capt. Swart met them at
the Netherlands Consulate and having
first hand knowledge of their fondness
for sweets he talked candy rather than
wages. The boys, at sight of the quan
tity of confections displayed, promptly
agreed to return to the ship.
The steamer, which carries a heavy
cargo of grain. Is anchored below
Quarantine tn prevent further desertions
while an effort Is being made to bring
the crew to the required complement.
U-BOAT TRADE FIRM QUITS.
Eastern Knrvrardlnar Company,
Ascents of IJentrhlnrtd, Dissolves.
New London, Conn., Feb. 27. The
Eastern Forwarding Company of Balti
more, American agents for the German
undersea commercial line, has been dis
solved, It was learned here to-night. The
preliminary steps were taken February
15 when tho North German Lloyd
steamship Wlllehad, chartered for use as
a quarters ship for the crew of the sub
marine ueutscniana, war, turned back to
Its owners. The dissolution was com
pleted yesterday.
The merchandise brought here for
shipment on tho Deutschland Is being
sent out of town, possibly to Hoboken.
N. J.
BERLIN QUOTES PENFIELD.
OSIcla tgrner n.v He Doesn't Kx-
pret IJ. M.-timtrlnn llrrnk.
flniMN, by wireless to Sitvllle. Feb. 27.
"According to a telegram received here
from Vienna," sajn tho Overseas News
Agency, "Frederic C, Penflcld, the Ameri
can Ambassador, In u conversation ex
pressed optimistic vlewn concerning the
relations between tho United States and
Austria-Hungary, He declared himself
to be H friend of Austria, und mid he
was working hard In order to maintain
friendly relations between tho two coun
tries. "The Ambassador llnally asserted that
he did not expect them would be u
cliango In the relations between Germany
and the United States ( nn they now
stand."
Knslsjn Anarel, i:. w, , Dead.
Zurich, via Paris, Feb, !" Sl.s'mn
Pl "-.eK FltslPtelt Aj7; nfta wbh up
.'.f.l saiiii'-.T -Aval attache to the
.'.;. Sinbassy III Berlin last yenr,
r: irrlo was taken seriously in soon nr
ter his arrival In Berlin and was placed
In a sanitarium In Zurich, died last
night. He waa a rtlatlve of Ambassador
Gerard.
H0LLWE6 SAYS
U.S. AIDS ALOES
Submits to British Dicta
tion, He Tells Reichstag
in Explaining Break.
ACTION UNPRECEDENTED I
Chancellor Asserts Empire
Will Not Abate in Least Its
Policy of Jlutlilessncss.
Berlin (by wireless). Fob. 27. In
his address to the ltelchstag to-day
Chancellor von llethmaun-Hollweg, after
declaring that tho successes obtained In
the submarine warfare already had much
surpassed the expectations of tho Ger
man navy, made a long statement re
garding the breaking off of relations be
tween Germany and the United States.
Tho Chancellor said:
"One step further than taken by Euro
pean neutrals has been made as Is
known by the United States of America.
President Wilson, after receiving our
note of January 31, brusquely broke off
relations with us. No authentic com
munication about the reasons which were
given for his steps reached me. The
former United States embassador hero
in Berlin communicated only In spoken
words to the State Secretury of tho For
eign Ofttce of breaking off relations nnd
asked for his passports. Thin form of
breaking off relation, between great nu
lli.ru lltlng In peace It probably without
precedent la hUtory.
Rellea ou rvr Despatehes.
"All official documents being lacking.
I am forced to rely upon doubtful sources
that Is, upon the neuter (newB agency)
office's version of the contents of the
message sent by President Wilson on
February 3 to Congress. In this version
the President Is reported to have said
that our note of January 31 suddenly
and without previous Indication Inten
tionally withdrew tho solemn promises
made In the note of May, 1916.
"To tho United States Government,
therefore, no choice compatible with
dignity and honor was left other than
the way which had been announced In
her note of April 20, 1916, covering the
case If Germany should not want to give
up her submarine method.
"If these nrgumentH are correctly re
ported by Reuter, then I must decidedly
protest against them. For more than a
century friendly relations between us
and America have been carefully pro
moted. Wc honored them as Bismarck
once put it as an heirloom from Fred
erick the Great. Both countries bene
fited by It, both giving and taking.
Old Principles Overthrown.
"Slnco the beginning of the war
things have changed on the other side of
the waters. Old pi Inclines were over
thrown. On August '.'7, 1913, during
the Mexican troubles Piesldent Wilson In
n solemn message tn Congress declared
that ho Intended to follow tho best usage
of International law by a prohibition of
the supplying of arms to both Mexican
parties at war against each other. One
year later, In 1914, these usages appar
ently were no longer considered good.
"Countless materials of war havo been
supplied by America to the Entente, and
while the right of the American citizen
to travel without hindrance to Entente
countries und the right to trade without
hindrance with France and England,
even through the midst of the battle
field, even the right of such trade as
we had to pay for with German blood,
while all these rights were zealously
guarded, tho sumo right of American cit
izens toward the Central Powers did
not seem to be as worthy of protec
tion and as valuable.
Kntero Mrniig Protest.
"They protested against soino meas
ures of England which were contrary
to international law, but they submitted
to them. Under conditions of this kind
objection as to lack of respect makes a
strango Impression
"With eqnal le ollrrnc I must pro.
lest against the object Ion that we by the
manner la which t withdrew the astnr.
antes gWrn In the nntr nf May 4 nf.
fended the honor und dignity nf the
United States. From the irry beginning
we had openly nnd expressly declared
that thete insurances would be Invalid
under certain conditions."
The Chancellor then recalled the last
paragraph of the note of May 4, 1J16,
which ho read verbatim, the last clause
being: "Should tho steps taken by tho
Government of the United States not at
tain the object It desires, namely, to have
tho laws of humanity followed by all
the belligerent nations, the Oerman
Government would then be facing a new
situation, In wfV.ch It must reeervo to It
eelf complete liberty of decision."
"Conditions Fulfilled."
The Chancellor then continued : "As
to the American answer given to the
German note, it was so absolutely con
trary to what wn In our note had said
clearly and without nny possibility of
misunderstanding that a reply on our
part would havo changed nothing as to
tho standpoints mnlntulned hy both sides.
But nobody even In America could doubt
that already long ago the conditions
were fulfilled upon which, according to
our declaration, depended our regaining
full liberty of decision.
"England did not abandon the Isola
tion of Germany, but, on the contrary,
Intensified It In thn most reckless fash
ion, Our adversaries wero not madu to
rerpect the principles of International
law, universally recognized before the
war. nor made to follow the laws of hu
manity. Thn freedom of the seus which
America vrsbtcd to restore In coopera
tlfln with tin during the war Iiiih been
still more completely destroyed by our
adversary, and America has not hln
dried this. All this Is common knowl
edge. "Kven at the end of January Kngland
Issued a new Isolation declaration for the
North Hea, and In this period, since May
Continued on TMrd Pagt.
i
Losses of Shipping
Since February 1
Losses of shipping of tbe AU
lies and of neutrals since Febru
ary i, when the German unre
stricted submarine warfare com
menced, are as follows:
Ships reported sunk yes
terday 5
Total tonnage reported
sunk yesterday 1 1.593
Total known tonnage pre
viously sunk 375)030
Excess of total loss to
February 19 announced
by Sir Edward Carson
over total loss to that
date according to re
ports available in the
United States 70,304
Total loss to date indi
cated 4561926
Ships sunk since February 1:
American 3
Other neutrals 49
British 110
Other belligerents 19
Total ships sunk 180
Excess of total loss to Feb
ruary 1 g announced by Sir
Edward Carson over total
loss to that date according
to reports available in the
United States '. . . . ao
Total loss to date indicated. .200
BRITISH STILL
DRIVEGERMANS
Continue Gains on Both Sides
of Ancre River mid South
of Lens.
London-, Feb. 57. British forces nre
continuing their gains both north and
south of the Ancre Itlvcr In France and
south of Lens. The vllloige of Llgny,
southnest of Bapaume, In the Ancro dis
trict, has been occupied, nnd north of
tho stream the western and northern
defence of Pulsteux have been taken
from tho German", according to to
night' British otllclul statement.
According to the German statement,
the British succeeded yesterday In enter
ing the German lines at only one point
on the front between Ypros and the
Sraime, and were ejected from that posi
tion. A correspondent at British headquar
ters In Franco writes: "There was
sharper resistance all along the line of
the German retreat to-day than nt any
time since the movement began. Thero
la no Indication as et of a fixed pur
pose by tho Germans to make a definite
stand, but they are doing everything
possible to hold up ami interfere with
the British advance. To the rear out-
jiosts were immensely strengthened, and
thls led to stiff fighting with tho Btltlshl
forward patrols.
German Destroy llugouta.
The present objective of the British Is
a crest which overlooks the high ground
running between Achlet-lc-Petitt to
Baiiiuine, wheie the Germans may at
tempt to hold for 11 time. Pulsleux has '
not been so completely knocked about as
most of the other battle villages, lis1
standing walls offering -cover for the!
th
defending t loops.
Kvery bit of ground taken revenls
further evidence of th thoroughness of
the destructive methods adopted by tbe
Germans just prior to ictlrlng, Their
carefully built and long occupied dug
outs havo been convened Into 11 mass of
wreckage by explosives and fire.
Tlio British announcement follows.
Wo have made further progress
north and south of the Ancre. During
tho night we captured tho village of
Ijehnrquo To-day we occupied Llgny
and established ourseles In tho west
ern and northern defences of Pulsleux.
We raided tho enemy's positions this
morning southward .of Lens and de
stroyed 11 number of dugouts und ma
chine gun emplacements und tool: u
few prisoners. Another successful raid
was carried out by our troops during
the night east of Armentleres on a
front of a half mile. Three lines of
hostile trenches were, entered und con
siderable damage wss dono the
enemy's defences. We captured seven
teen prisoners ami brought back
searchlights and a machine gun.
Artillery activity has continued on
both sides north und south of the
Homme.
The French Statement,
The French night statement follows:
During the day 'quite spirited artil
lery fighting took place in the seclois
of l.'i:chelle-St. Aurln nnd Beau
vr.'ilnen isoutli of the Avro) and lit
the .Ukoiiiu! In tho direction of Vau
quols. In tho region of Vallly an encm
I'urpilse attack failed. We effectively
shelled German organizations In the
. Mallncourt Wood mid the sector nf
Hill 301. In the Vosges nil attack on
thu enemy lino soutli of Col Sto. Murle
enabled us to tako prisoners. Thorn
is nothing to report on tho rest of the
front.
CEDRIC SAFE AT LIVERPOOL.
rwhltr Star Mnrr Left .ir "York
February ,
The Whllo Star liner Cedric. which
sailed from this port February 12, nr-
l'hed nt Liverpool last Thursday with
n cargo of more than 10,000 tons of war
ni.itei'iul and foodstuffs and about 6 , 1 0 0
sacks of mall, most of which was orig
inally Intended for the American liner
St. Louis, Inld up here beciuso tho Gov
ernment has not yet decided to protect
American liners In their Might across
seas.
The Codrlc carried no passengers,
f ' f
Berlin Announces Infec
tions Disease in Place
of Ilesidcnce.
GIVEN AS CAUSE
FOR HOLDING MEN
Asserts Restriction Is Nec
essary on Travelling by
Foreigners.
ONLY A PRETEXT,
WASHINGTON VIEW
Situation Over Continued
Detention of Captives
Grows Grove.
Br.reM.v, by wireless Feb 27. Tho re
lease of U10 American prisoners brought
to Germany on the steamer Tarrowdale,
although ordered some time ago, says
the Overseas News' Agency, cannot be
carried out for tho moment, as an in
fectious dlseaso has been discovered at
the place of their residence.
As the outbreak of the malady neces
sitates a quarantine measure affecting
the number of persons about to leave
Germany, the Overseas. Agency states
that the delay In the departure of the
Amei leans is In the interests of neutral
countries. The hope Is expressed that
tho quarantine will be of short duration.
The American ctttzens, it Is announced,
are cafe and well.
VIEWED AS PRETEXT.
Washington Relieves Germany De
Iras to Hold Prisoners.
Washington, Feb. 37. Germany's
procrastination In complying with re
pealed American demands for release of
the Yarrowdale prisoners Is bringing the
controversy to u staBO of extreme grav
ity. The Yarrowdale case has been a
source of growing concern nnd indigna
tion among ofllclals, some of whom are
convinced that Germany's Intention Is to
hold the American seamen us hostages
pending a decision as to peace or war.
Such an act would be regarded here
as not only a flagrant violation of inter
national law nnd treaty rights but an
open insult to the dignity and good faith
of tho United Slates. Although 110 of
ficial advices reporting tho redetentlon
of the seumen had reached the State De
partment to-night another Inquiry re
garding them was sent through tho
Spanish Ambassador in Berlin as soon
as ofllclals saw news despatches saying
they would not be liberated at present.
In most quarters the reported cause for
redetentlon was regarded as only a pre
text. Once before the United States was ad
vised that the prisoners had been re
leased, following nssurancca that Ger-
man citizens in this country were rrot
being 111 treated. Full Information had
been sent to Berlin showing that the
United States was giving every consid
eration to German Interests here.
HINDENBURG BOOM
TO OUST HOLLWEG
! Movement Started to Make
Him Both the Bismarck and
Moltke of This Era.
.icial CaMt Despatch la Tin: St v
London. Fib. 27 The movement to
force von I'othinann-Hollweg to resign
the (icimaii Chancellorship nnd make
Von lllndenburg chief of State nnd nlso
of the urmles Is beliw watched with
acute Interest hero. It li Interpreted as
meaning that the Hohenzollerns 111 c side
stepping the disaster which Is believed
to bo inevitable: that they are willing to
let Von tllndenhurg be the national Idol
so that when the end cornea ho will be
In 11 position to bear the brunt of the
blame,
According to the plan outlined Von
lllndenburg Ik to become both the Bis
marck and the Moltke of this era. Ashe
Is an unflinching advocate of extreme
measures It Is predicted that should he
get complete power he would Increase the
dllllcultles of the situation by druwlns
the United (States Into actual warfare.
The lllndenburg propaganda Is being
organized systematically, hut it 1h ridi
culed by the Liberal und Socialist forces
In Germany.
Amsterdam, via London, Feb. 17.
Supporters of Admiral von Tlrfiltz, for
mer Minister of the Navy, Including
Count von Hoensbroesch, have held n
meeting in Berlin to discuss ",i change
in the ofllco of Imperii) Chancellor,"
with the Iriea of hiving meetings In all
tho Inrgo towns of Germany and obtain
ing the support of nowppapeit, for the
puiyjiwc of forcing a. chanao In the head
of the Government,
Socialist and Liberal 'newspapers con
demned this uctinn and it majority of
Admiral von Tlrpltz's supporters re
jected the proposed campaign ngnlnst
tho Chancellor,
PENSIONS FOR POSTAL MEN.
House Provides 9A1IU Yearly for All
I'lmployres,
Wasiiinuton, Feb. 57. Pensions for
superannuated poHtuI employees wers
rovered under special legislative privi
lege to-day when the Houso Rules Com
mittee reported a rulu on the bill Intro
duced by Kopiesentatlvo Daniel .1, Grlftln
nf New York making It the special order
of business.
The measure, which uffects n,000 letter
carriers In New York city ttfono, provides
it pension of 600 u year for iostu
clerks, rural mall carriers and city car
riers who have attained the age of (S
yearej and have served twtnty-flvo years.
MEASURE WOULD PERMIT
BROADSIDE GUNS ON SHIPS
Arming of Merchantmen Fore and Aft Author
ized, and Blanket Clause Is Retained
With $100,000,000 Fund
Washington, Feb. 27. The first step
toward granting tho President the
authority ho asked for to deal with the
submnrlna crisis was taken to-day In
Congress.
The Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations reportod favorably the Ad
ministration bill with several amend
ments authorizing tho arming of mer
chant ships and empowering tho Presi
dent to supply the vessels with defen
sive arms and tho necessary ammuni
tion and means of making use of them.
The blanket clause conferring upon
him further authority to "employ such
other Instrumentalities and methods an
may In his Judgment seem necessary
and adequate" was also retained In the
bill with an appropriation of J 100.000, -000
to carry it Into effect.
The House Foreign Affairs Commit
tee, In which the pacifist element ap
peared to bo more formidable, also dis
cussed the bill but without arriving at
a conclusion. It was evident, however,
when the committee Adjourned that
the Administration supporters with the
aid of tho Republican members were
In control and that a measure similar,
If not identical, to that reported to tho
Senate will toe agreed upon to-morrow.
Approved by President.
The bill as reported by the Senate com
mlttee meets with the complete approval
of tho President, It wns learned to-night.
The favorable action of the Foreign no
tations Committee does not, however, In
sure the passage of the bill by tho Sen
ate. Senator Stone, chairman of the
committee, had barely Introduced tho bill
before the opposition which It will en
counter mado Us appearance.
Senator La Follette, who Is opposed to
the arming of merchant vessels, objected
to the second reading of the bill. This
delayed the fonnal refeieucu of It to the
committee until to-morrow. Another ob
jection will put It over for another day
so that the Senate cannot take It up
before Thursday.
The fato of the measure hangs by n
slender thread. There were continued
threats of a filibuster to-night, and with
only three days and a half before tho
expiration of the Congress, during which
time other important .measures' must be
passed, a vote can easily bo blocked,
Hepubllcans In the Senate are divided
on tho merits of the bill. Some of them
persist In their opposition to the grant
ing of plenary powers to the President
to use whatever Instrumentalities ho may
deem necessary to protect Americans nn
the high Seas. Severnl Democrats of the
pac.ltist tyjie will also vote against the
bill.
There were Indications to-day, how
ever, that most of the Republicans, In
fluenced by the action of their colleagues
on the Foreign Relations Committee, will
.be brought Into line, and it Is expected
mat 11 a vote Is taken tho bill will be
passed.
Partleanshlp Absent.
There was no suggestion of partisan
ship in the deliberations of tho Foreign
Relations Committee to-day. Only one
Republican member. Senator Smith of
Michigan, opposed the measure. T'lreo
IVmocrats, Senators Stone, O'Gorman
and Hitchcock, appeared to be hostile,
supporting amendments designed to pre
vent thn arming of ships carrying muni
tions of war. Senator McCumber Joined
the three Democrats In an effort to strike
out the clauso giving the President un
limited authority to use any other In
strumentalities to protect American
rights.
The bill as reported by the committee
civet the President cvon more latitude
In the arming of merchunt ships than
he requested
Following the phraseology of the law
or ism it gives commanders and crews
authority to arm nnd defend their vessels
against unlawful attack. At the tug
gestlon of Senator Lodge the phrase
10m ana nn" was insertro. in addi
tion tho Presldont gets snecltlc authoritv
to provide the guns and ammunition and
tno means of using them.
According to recognized rules the arm
ing of a vessel for defensive purposes: is
confined to the mounting of a gun on the
aiier aeck. Tiie committee, desiring to
safeguard merchant ships to the fullest
possible extent against submarine attack.
decided to grant specific authority for
the mounting of a gun forward. In the
form In which the bill was agreed unon
tho hill Is held to give sufficient latitude
to vessel owners to mount broadside
guns also if they choose to do so.
tt Authorisation Needed.
Without this authority tho proponents
or tno nm assert the owners of vessels
will not lie able to arm for defence
against attacks of fuilim.it Ines. The act
of 1 81 S provided that the defensive arm
ament may not bo used against a "pub
lic vese." tlvtt Is n government owned
ship, In which class the German subma
rines would bo Included.
Republlcuii members of the committee
wero more xealous to-day In providing it
way for the arming of merchunt vessels
than In opposing the granting of blanket
authority to tho President to mint tho
emergency. They regard the arming of
the ships an tho only Intermediate step
tho President can take short of war, und
they bellove he will take It befoft ho en
ters upon n course of ucilon which will
lead to open hostilities.
When the House Foreign Affairs Com
mittee meets to-morrow morning Chair
man Flood will Inrorm his colleagues
that two Interviews with Postmaster
Grneral Burleson and one with President
Wilson havo failed to obtain from the
hitler any material concession In the
nature of the demands on Congress.
The commltteo will shortly thereafter
report u bill, the substantial provisions
of which will be almost Identical with
those contained In the Administration
draft Introduced last night by Chairman
Flood. At the same time the Republi
can members will serve notlco that they
are acting under protest and will seek
to make nn extra session necessary In
order to avoid tho absolute delegation
of power on which the President In
sists. Line 1,'p In Committee.
It seemed probnble from the align
ment of the committee on several counter
proposals made to-day that possibly not
more than six and probably not more
than four votes would be cast against
the Administration measure. Of these
two are almost certain to be those of
Representative Cooper, the ranking Re
publican member, and Representative
Porter of Pennslvanla, also a Republi
can. Four Democrats, Representatives
Ragsdule of South Carolina, Shacrtlerord
of Missouri, Huddleston of Alabama and
Thompson of Oklahoma, may vote
against the bill In committee, though
the probabilities nre that Thompson and
Huddleston nt least win sign tho ma
Jorlty report.
Party lines were wholly obliterated In
the committee's discussion totlay. At n
long morning session the attitude of a
majority plainly favored limiting the
blanket provision of the Administration
bill to the use of the naval forces of
the United States for tha protection of
American lives and shipping.
President Wilson's strongest support
era on the committee, Chairman Flood
and Representative Harrison of Missis
sippi, were willing to accept this amend
ment, which was etrongly urged by the
Republicans, led by Representative Rog
ers of Massachusetts. Representative
Porter, with the backing of Cooper and
the four recalcitrant Democrats, offered
amendments seeking to limit the pro
tection to ships carrying goods not pre
scribed by our contraband list or not
containing arms and ammunition or not
containing article which the President
considered contraband. K t
Chairman Flood then adjourned the
committee until after noon for the pur
pose of consulting the President on these
amendments. The death of Mrs. Wilson's
sister pi-evented an appointment, but the
President sent Postmaster-General Bur
leson for a conference with Mr. Flood.
In his first conference Mr. Burleson
refused to consider the Porter amend
ments, which were considered generally
its the outgrowth nf the German embargo
propaganda. He consented to tako up
the other ptopomlH at the Cabinet meet
ing in the afternoon.
President Stand Firm.
Following the Cabinet meeting Mr.
Burleson returned to the Capitol and
announced that the President would not
consent to any material modification or
to the elimination of the phrase author
izing him to employ "such other Instru
mentalities and methods" as he may
deem lit.
In the face of tide a meeting of th
committee projected in tho late aftei-
noon was abandoned and Mr Flood
agreed to present to the President th.
following proposals:
1. That the woids "should In his Judg
ment become necessary for him to do so ''
be eliminated from the section authoriz
ing the President to arm merchant ships,
and
. 2. Thnt the cnncludlnir nlinu. nt ih.
first section be amended by the Insertion !
01 -against unlawful attacks, while" so
as to read "to protect such ships und the
citizens of the United States against un
lawful attack while In their lawful and
peaceful pursuits on the high seas-."
Proponents of the first suggtMlon wero
optimistic of Its acceptance. Its purpose
I" In 11 veiy limited degree to Instruct
the Piesldent to make us., or the powers
with which he risks to be Invested. It
was understood that Mr. Flood will tee
the President tn-monow morning.
Virtually nil members of the commlt
teo were distinctly resentful over tho
President's choice nf spokesman in Post-master-General
Burleson. One member
of tin committee remarked when In
formed th.it tho afternoon meeting had
been displaced by a conference between
Burleson, Flood and Harrison
"After all. It seems not to be a matter
of stall', but merely one of postal regu
lation." A inajorlt.t of the commltteo bail
practically agreed to substitute author
ity "to employ the naval forces of the
I'nlted States" for the "other Instru
mentalities and methods" provision when
Burleson returned from the Cabinet
meeting with an absoluto veto of this
proposal.
"Tho President Is determined not to
hrte anything in the bill that een Im
pliedly sounds belligerent," waa the sub
stance of Burleson's inesiige, and was
Flood's explanation later for rejecting
th amendment.
"You will be safe In paying," said Mr.
Flood to Tut Si n correspondent, "thnt
the bill will be it-ported substantially
as Introduced."
FOUR MORE SHIPS SUNK.
Hill Tonnage of ll.ftllit I l.ntest
Toll nf IT-llnnls.
Li.snoN, Feb. 27. -- Three British
Me.imsnuis, a rrencn steamship and a
British sailing boat, of a total tonnnico
of 11,59:, comprise the latest toll of U-
bont depredations.
The Hlnkln-,' of the British steamship
Tltotila, t.llf. tuns, tho Ftench steamer
Lanientlii, 3,7Mi, and the British sailing
vrssei Hamuli Croudcll wure announced
In the oltlclitl report of the Ftench War
Oltlce to-night.
Lloyd's nnnotmee.4 to-day the slnkln
of the British ste.inwhlps Aties and tea
Gull, of 3,072 und Ml tuns respectively,
The crew of each was landed,
A Qtieenstnwti despatch last night re
ported the sinking of the steamer llrlee.
.No vessel of that name Is listed and It
wan thought the British steamer F.ros,
ot l,M:i tons, might bo meant. To-day's
announcement of tho sinking of tho
Aries warrants the conclusion that tho
Queenstown report referred to hsr. Tho
Aries was lust leported urrlvlng ut
Marseilles on January St from Barry,
Extra Session Looms Laflg
in View of Graver t
Situation.
REPUBLICANS SHOW
SIGNS OF SWITCH
3Iore Inclined to Back the
Executivo Than to Fight
Blanket Authority.
STEPS ARE TAKEN FOR
BREAK WITH AUSTRIA
Diplomatic and Consular
Officers Get Instructions
to Leave Empire.
Wabhin'oton, Feb. 27. Under the
Impetus 'of the sinking of the steamer
Laconla with the loss of American
live decisive action by tho United
States Government short of war to
meet the peril of Oerman submarines
was brought definitely nearer to-day.
The President after a conference
with Secretary Lansing mado It clear
that the sinking of the Laconla consti
tutes tho clear cut overt act for which
he has been waiting. It is looked
upon ns convincing evidence of the de
termination of tho German Govern
ment to carry on Its, mibmarino war
faro to the limit of ruthleesncss and a
challenge to tho United States to de
fend Its rights and protect the lives of
Its citizens upon the seas.
The Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations agreed to report a bill giving
tho President the authority which ho
asked even more than ho asked to
protect Amerlc-in rights upon tho high
seas.
Tho jneaaure goes beyond the Flood
Mil, Introduced in the House, in pro
viding for tho urmlne; of merohant
vesaels fore and aft In defenco against
unlawful attnek.
Slay lie a Vote ThurnU).
Tho bill has yet to run the gantlet
of the Senate, where a filibuster by
Senator La Follette Is threatened, and
the House, where tho pacifist and pro
German elements am still In a belliger
ent mood. But the ardor of their oppo
sition to-day cooled appreciably In the
face of the destruction of the laconla
and may disappear altogether before tho
fate of the bill Is determined A voto
In not expected on the measure before
Thursday.
KffnrtK mnde In the House Commit
tee on For. Ign UTalrx to emasculate the
bill by excluding from Its provisions
ships catryltig uminunltlnn noil I'nnlrn.
1 band of war were unavailing-. Chalr
I man Flood made the statement that tho
I bill would he reported virtually without
chang.
j As the bill agreed upon bv the Senate
, committee meets wiih the entice ap
I prov.il of the President, it Is probable.
I that tho Issue In Congress will bo tolned
1 upon that iiKMsuru In both houses.'
Pacifists in and out of
thoo whose sympathies an. ulii, n..-
Central Power 1, n.
lhelr aclhlties. The threats of rlliliuster
10 ioii:e an extra session of Cotieress
lire still made delli.titlv Wlllinm '
Bryan Is hastening to the ennli.nl tn.
night, from Florida with the .inuonticod
intention of lluoit.im on ,mlu, ,,,..
the balance to defeut the Intention of
the President
file possibility of an extra sexslnn
still looms large and pi .Mictions nre
made tin: .1 way will ! found to keop
Congress nt band. There are indica
tions, however, that the Republicans
who insisted upon lioldno, .heck upon
the Piesldent are wavering nil the con
viction that lie will take the Intermediate
step of arinlnr inetcliant ships Imfoiri
proceeding to more warlike movea is
growing. .More troublu is likely to be
encountered from tho pacifists, who are
exerting themselves to tho utmost to
prevent any action that nnght bo provoo
iitlte of war, even the aiming of mer
chant vessels for defensive, purposes if
ammunition carrying ships are not dis
criminated against.
President' Intentions,
Thero was no Indication to-night that
In view of the sinking of the Laconla
the President contemplates again going
before Congress with further sugges
tions of action to meet the submarine
crisis. It is regarded us probable, that
he will content himself with the arming
of merchantmen If Congress gives him
that authority.
Kven this couro Is looked upon with
some mleglvlng by naval oflicers, who
doubt Its effectiveness. If tho German
submarines aro able to single out their
prey under cover of darkness, us wits
done In tho case of the Cumrder La
conla, for the first time so far as tho
lecords disclose, uny number of guns
oil merchant vessels would nffoid no de
fence. If guns are mounted, moreover, their
value will depend on the promptness
with which they aro brought Into play.
Consequently the arming of the ships Is
regarded 11s a warlike move, made to
by circumstances de.plte tho traditional
right of vessels to protect themselves
against acts nf plrin
If Congress acts to uphold tho hands
of the President some tunc must olapte
before American shlpi nn be equipped
to run the submarine gnntlet. Tha
guns will be piovlded. but they must be
mounted. Tim providing of expert gun
neiw will draw heavily upon tho navy,
which stands much in need of thi tn.
Complete arrangement for the with
'iwiil of American diplomatic and con.
Hlilar olIlcorN fiom us" i-Hiiigiry
have been made l Ambassador I'eullvbJ
on Instructions from ine Slate l.iep.irl.
ment. It was learned to-ituv tliat the
Ambassador had been directed to t.iki
this step, tho belief ut the Depurtmeiv.
n