New Britain Herald Newspaper, February 14, 1917, Page 1

HERALD BEST OF ALL LOCAL NEWSPAPERS PRICE THREE CENTS. f NEW BRITAIN HERALD < / HERALD “ADS” MEAI BETTER BUSINES NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 191" —TWELVE PAGES. ESTABLISHED 1§ “WAR MENACE GROWS AS TEUTONS MAKE NO EFFORT TO CONCEAL HOSTILITY TO U. S.; PRESIDENT MAY GO BEFORE CONGRESS SOO ~ Accumulation of Evidence Showing Germany Ignores Feeling of America, and Not Specific Overt Act, May Be Used as Ba For Wilson Asking Authority to Protect Our Merchantmen---Warships on Errands of Mercy Ordered Not to Enter Tur ish Ports- SCANDINAVIANS IN ANGER AT WARFARE . BY SUBMERSIBLES Norway, Sweden and Denmark File Stifi Protest Against Blockade of Neatral Ships JOINT NOTE DISPATCHED TO BERLIN AND VIENNA Recall Previous Protests and Insist Present Naval Measures Are More Objectionable Because of Their Ex- tent ., and Gravity—Claim Neutral Ship, Not Bound For Belligerent Port, Is Immune. ‘ London, Feb. 14.—Reuter’s Copen- hagen correspondents report that Nor- way, Sweden and Dentnark have hand- # ed to the German ministers identical , notes protesting against the naval . measures taken by Germany and Aus- tria-Hungary and making all reserva- tions regarding the loss of life and the material damage resulting. The following communication been issued: “On Tuesday, the 13th inst., the Danish, Norwegian and Swedish gov- ernments handed to the German min- isters in their respective capitals notes identical in tenor, protesting against the barring of certain sea zones an- nounced by Germany and Austria. The hote begins by recalling the fact that | during the war the governments have | several times found themselves obliged to formulate formal protests against serious {nfringements of the rights of neutrals involved by measures of var- ious belligerent powers. It then em- phasizes the facts that the govern- ments, whose action on these various occasions were as always inspired by | the spirit of the most perfect loyal im- | aDbartiality, confined themelves to de- fending the imprescriptable rights of neutrals. i “After pointing out that the govern- ments have on previous occasion pro- tested against measures of belligerents tending to restrict the free use of the seas by reutrals the note proceeds to -.emphasize the governments on this oc- casion are all the more bound to main- | tain, in taking the same point of view, that the obstacles placed in the way of _neutral navigation are now more con- siderable in both extent and gravity. Blockade Hlegal. “The note draws attention to the fact that the only rules of interna- tional law which might be ihvoked in support of measures having as their ~Object the prevention of all commerce * " and all navigation with the enemy are | 1hose relating to a naval blockade. The note affirms that no belligerent Tas the right to prohibit peaceful ravigation through zones, the limits of which are very distant ffom many coasts which are considered blockaded cnly in legitimate manner. | The governments recall the univer- sally recognized law on navigable blockade namely, that a neutral ship cannot be captured if it is not main- taining any attempt to violate the blockade and that in the event of a ship being captured it must be bLrought hefore a prize court in con- . formity with the general regulations. “ “The governments declare their pnxiety in regard to the measures which have been announced is ag- gravated further by the fact that the zones declared dangerous will, it ap- pears, be watched exciusively by sub- marines, whose activity involves great danger for neutral subjects, as has been shown by experience on’various in the course of the war. v, the note points out that the measures announced will be all the more contrary to the principles of international law, if. as the Ger- man communications of the imperial governments scem (o indicate. they are to be applied without distinction to all chirs entering the zones de- ceribed anl to these not bound for enemy ports but on the way from one neutral port to another. “On the ground of the considera has WILSON FORMALLY DECLARED ELECTED Final Standing Gives Him 977 {0 264 Tor Hughes CONGRESS CANVASSES VOTE Ceremonies at Brief Session Without Unusual Incident—Dignity of Pro- ceedings Forbids Demonstration On Part of Spectators. ‘Washington, Feb. 14.—President Wilson was declared re-elected for- mally and officially today when con- gress in joint session, approved by the senate, canvassed the electoral vote of the states. As presented and certified the offi- cial returns give Wilson and Marshall 277 electoral votes; Hughes and Fair- banks, 254. The canvassing of the vote today, as always, was conducted with much cer- emony. The senate took a recess and preceded by two page boys bearing the official returns marched over to the house chamber, where Vice Presidént Marshall presided, sitting behind Speaker Clark. Vice President Marshall announced that, in obedience to constitution and laws, . the senate and house were in joint session’ for the purpose of ascer- taining and counting the electoral votes in the election for president and vice president of the United States. He then called upon all members, pre- viously selected, to come forward and Senators Kern of Indiana and Clapp of Minnesota and Representative Rucker of Missouri and Representative Mapes of Michigan took their places at the clerks’ table. No Demonstration Permitted. When the tellers were ready. Vice President Marshall cautioned congress and spectators against applause or manifestation of approval or disap- proval during any stage of the pro- ceedings, stating that it was mnot | deemed proper nor in accordance with the ‘“‘decorum ' which should mark so important and solemn an occasion.” He. then opened and placed in the hands of the tellers the election certifi- cates in alphabetical order of the states and ordered them to examinz, count and announce the vote, stat> by state, as they should be called. In due course a list was submitted to the chair showing that Wilson and Marshall had received a total of 277 votes and Hughes and Fairbanks 254 votes. The report was then read aloud by the vice president, after which he declared: “This announcement of the state of the vote by the president >f the senate pro tempore shall be deemed a suffi- cient declaration of the persors clect- ed president and vice president of the United States, each for the term begin- ning March 4, 1917, and shall he en- tered, together with a list of the votes on the journals of the serate and house of representatives.” With this done the joint session was dissolved, members of the senate filed out of the chamber and the speaker, resuming the chair, called th2 house to order. THE KAISER EXPLAINS Germany Claims Swiss Minister As- sumed Initiative in Opening Nego- tiations to Avold Hostilities. London, Feb. 14.—The German offi- cial version of the proposals made through the Swiss minister at Wash- ington for a conference of submarine questions given in the following official telegram, Reuter’s Am- sterdam correspondent: “What lies at the bottom of this re- port is the following: “A telegram from the Swiss minis- ter in Washington was transmitted to Germauny by Switzerland, in which the minister offered, if Germany was agreeable, to mediate in negotiations with the American government about the declaration of prohibited areas, is says ias thereby the danger of war between (Continued on Elevenih Page) ¥ 1 \ \ Germany and the United States might be diminished.” PATROL FLOTILLA OUTHITS U-BOATS Hundreds of Small Crait Comb- ing German Submarine Zone PROTECTING MERCHANTMEN Washington Estimates 2,500 Vessels Could Be Called for Mosquito Fleet Off American’ Shores to Spy Out Un dersea Prowlers. New York, Feb. 14.—Travelers from Europe arriving here on British ships speak of the extreme activity of the British patrol boats which they say, swarmed about them during their Jjourneys through the submarine zone. war Passengers on the Laconia and the Ascania, which arrived yesterda: testified to the fact that armed trawl- ers and other patrol boats accom- panied them part of the way in re- lays. Officers of the British merchant ma- Tine are more earful, particularly in regard to the new and strange course they now follow in the eastern Atlan- tic in order to avoid the old estab- | lished steamship lanes. It is un- derstood that British skippers, before sailing, receive sealed orders from the admiralty which they open before tak- | ing their noon observations and fol- | low the courses laid down by these or- | ders unless they are changed by wi less. In this way, it is said, the Brit- ish admiralty knows the approximate location of every merchantman on the high seas. The Ryndam of the Holland-Amer- jcan line reached her dock at Ho- boken this morning. She sailed from this port for Rotterdam on Jan. 28 but turned about when within four- teen hours of Falmouth and came back, her captain deciding not to risk | the lives of his passengers in the blockaded zone. The Ryndam carried twenty Americans. The French line steamer Espagne, with passengers and cargo, left here today for Bordeaux. The liner car-| ries a defense gun mounted astern and | among the passengers are geveral Americans. The White Star line steamship Adriatlc, the first British passenger vessel to leave New York after Ger- many’s unrestricted submarine war- fare began, has arrived safely at Liverpool, according to a cablegram | received here today by the Interna- | tional Mercantile Marine. 2,500 American Patrol Boats. Washington, Feb. mately 2,500 power craft of various | | types are available for duty as scout | patrols about American harbors, ac-, cording to department figures. Of these 250 boats have been veyed and formally new scout patrol service, 1,000 others are known to meet the.full require- ments of the service and the remain- der are designated as second rate but nearly all of them could perform some wartime duty. The department expects to complete plans this week for two new types of boats to be used as submarine chasers. They will be big and fast enough to form the outer line of pa- trol, maintaining themselves at sea for two weeks or more. They will ® be constructed of wood. It is estimated that within two months after work begins vessels of this type can be turned out completed at a rate of probably twenty-five or thirty boats a day and with the production in- creasing. 14.—Approxi- navy sur- enrolled in the Claims Campaign Mas F Feb. 14, 5:10 a German sibmarine campaign has so | | to | iled. Paris, m.—The been accordir the Echo De exceptionally far ineffective, Marcel Hutin Raris, who is usually well informed. As I'rc Hutin says that on Monday 112 French or ineutral ships entered’ French ports. editor of | United |in a few days. Von Bernstorff Pessimistic Regarding Chance For Reaching Berlin Alive BERNSTORFF DOUBTS WHETHER HE WILL EVER REACH BERLIN; EXPECTS WAR WITH AMERICA AUSTRIA UNMQVED BY STAND OF U. 3. No Concessions in Face of Losing Friendship of America HURT BY OUR . ATTITUDE Did Not Expect Washington Would Radical Step Against Germany—U-Boat Warfare Have Taken Such Will Be Continued. London, Feb. 14—The following semi-official statement from Vienna regarding the relations of Austria- Hungary and the United States ap- pears in the General Anzeiger of Dus- seldorf: ‘‘Negotiations have been taking place between Count Czerin, Austro- Hungarian minister of foreign affairs and I'rederic C. Penfield. the Ameri- can ambassador at Vienna since the rupture of relations between the States and Germany, on the of the future relations of United States and Austria-Hun- in view of the fact that Austria- y associated herself with Ger- many’s declaration of intensified sub- marine warfare. ¥ On the American side a desire has been shown to avoid a rupture with Austria-Hungary because Washington shrinks from severing all relations with the central powers. Berlin, too, would prefer that this last bridge was left unbroken. “The opinion prevails in Vienna and Berlin that the decision to embark on an intensified submarine warfare did not constitute an action which should have forced the United States to such a policy as has been chosen by Washington towards Germany. No Concessions to U. S. “The central powers have no inten- tion of cancelling the new submarine | warfare. No concessions could be | made to the United States, \vhi(‘h“ would render negative the nature of | the new submarine warfare, not even | for tha sake of the highly-valued friendship of the United States. “It therefore remains with America to find methods which will permit the maintenance of normal relations, ac- cording to the American conception. “The negotiations between the Austro-Hungarian foreign office and the American ambassador have up to now led to no result, but a negative or positive settlement may be reached Count Tarnowski, Austro-Hungarian ambassador to the United States, has not yvet presented question the ¢ his credentials, but has already had a conversation with Secretary Lansing. U. S. SHIP SUNK London, Feb. 14, 5 p. m.— The American schooner Lyman M. Law was sunk by a subma- rine on Monday, according to a despatch from Stefani agency of Rome. The crew including eight Americans, is reported to have been landed. | smilingly acknowledged the greetings ' | pauges necessary The Lyman M. Law, captain Chatficld, was last reported on |, her departure from Stockton, | | Maine, for Palermo,. Sleily. || She was owned by the Bene- dict-Manson Marine company of New Haven, Conn. Her gross tonnage was 1,300. She was built in 1890 at West Haven, Conn. | N e WEATHER. L | Hartford, Feb, 1L—For Hartford and inity: Tonight cloudy and warmer: Thursday, probably SDOW. ! e Says It Will Make No Dif- ference Whether He Goes to His Death—May Retire Permanently. Hoboken, N. J., Feb. 14.—The spe- j clal train carrying Count Von Bern- storff, formerly German ambassador to the United States, and his suite from Washington arrived at the rail- road terminal here at 6:56 a. m. The train was surrounded by a guard of police and government secret service men and no one was permitted to approach without cre- dentials. Count Von Bernstorff and the members of his party remained in their state rooms for half an hour after the train stopped about two blocks from the dock of the Scandi- navian-American line steamship Fred- erick VIIL on which they were to sail for Copenhagen at 2 o’clock this afternoon. Later the count and countess surprised the group of news- paper men and others who had been permitted to pass the police lines by appearing on_.the rear ,platform of their car. The former ambassador | of several persons he knew. He re- | fused, however, to submit to an in- | terview. “I am sorry” he said, “but I have nothing to say. It was all sald yesterday. I am under orders.” | Fleet of Autos Ready. At 7:32 o'clock the count and countess stepped into a closed auto- mobile and were conveyed to the pier. They took breakfast with several of their immediate friends on board the Fredetik VIIL Fifteen automobiles were on hand! to transport the former ambassador and his party to the steamship pier. Prince Von Hatsfeldt-Trachenberg, counseller of the German embassy preceded the former ambassador aboard the steamship. . No effort was made to transfer all the members of the party at the same time. The train made no stops between Washington and Hoboken except for transfers from the ljnes of the Pennsylvania railroad, | first to the Erie railroad at New Jersey Junction outside Newark and thence over the Shore Line railroad to Hudson and Fourteenth streets, Hoboken. The nineteen city blocks between the Erie yard at Weehawken and the end of the journey here were picketed with police. A New York police boat guarded the north and south sides of the pier. Collector Malone of the port of New York with ten officials of the custom house spent the night on the Freder- ik VIIL ready to receive the former ambassador when he came aboard. In addition to Count and Countess Von Bernstorff the Frederik VIII. will carry high officials of the German em- bassy and a number of consular offi- cers from different parts of the coun- who have availed therselves of this opportunity to get safely home. The Frederik VIIL will carry 400 passengers in her first and 250 in her second class cabins, the largest num- ber she ever booked. Among them is the Baroness Zwiedenek, wife of Baron Erich Zwiedenek, who was designated charge d'affaires of the Austrian em- bassy after the digmissal of Ambassa- dor Dumba. Another passenger s Wolf Von Igel, who was arrested in connection with alleged plots to blow up the Welland canal and who was permitted to leave the country, al- though under $20,000 bail on pending indictments. o Letter From Crank. After the count and his party had boarded the ship no one was pertitted on the pier, not even relatives and friends of the passengers, unless they had obtained proper credential As Count Ven Bernstorff stepped from the automobile to the pier. a voung man tried to approach the par- 1y and was seized by detectivis, who hurried him to police heddquarter e said he was Alfred Hopkins, nir teen years old of New York and had heen given a. letter by aman in that city who instructed him to hand it fo the ambassador. A letter was found on him, together with a horoscone a-d writing of :strology and astronomy. (Continued on Eleventh Tage) Efforts Being Made to Re-open Communi tion With Ambassador Elkus at Consta nople Heretofore Shut Off From Send Message to Washington—Many Americs Held in Asia-Minor. Washington, Feb. 14.—A definite sentiment gai ground in administration quarters today that an accunj lation of acts indicating a disregard for American rig will have as much to do with shaping the policy of United States as any overt acts which may be commit! against American ships. ] While it has been indicated at the state departm that there can be no legal objection to the governm furnishing guns to American merchant ships, Presid Wilson is understood to be disinclined to take any s which might give Germany the slightest ground throwing responsibility for any future trouble on United States. Vigorous denials were made today of reports of split in the cabinet over the question of furnishing g for American ships. Naturally, it was said there may differences of judgment but it was declared that the md bers of the cabinet will stand solidly behind the presid in any decision he may make. American Warships Held Up. It developed today that the mnaval collier Caesar, loaded with a quarter of a million dollars worth of food supplies contributed by Americans for Syrians and Armenians, and the cruis- er Des Moines, with a cargo of medi- cal supplies, both bound for Beirut, have been ordered held at Alexandria indefinitely by the navy depsartment. After the break with Germany of- ficlals here decided it was essential to keep the two v cls from entering a Turkish port untl sufficient guarantee had been obtained that they would come to no harm. Much surprise exists here over the shutting off of all communication with Turkey and Bulgaria where the United States is responsible not only for extensive American interests but also is representing some of the bel- ligerent powers. The plight oi the Americans, whs have been detained more than a year by the Turkish military authorities, despite assurances of the Turkish for- eign office that they would be r=leased, is arousing alarm here because the whole section is largely destitute of food and is known to be infected with disease. Intimations also have been received that the Turks intended to hamper or totally prevent detention of the Caes- er relief supplies if they could. The Hours Draws Near. President Wilson is expécted now to defer a decision on the question of furnishing guns to American merchant ships until he decides whether to €0 before congress and ask for additional authority for the protection of Ameri- can ships and lives. It was indicated in authorit sources that there has been no chanze in the policy of the government up 19 the present time and that mone is in immediate prospect. . The accumulation of incidents in- volving violations of American rights since he diplomatic break is generally believed by administration officials to be hastening the approach of the hour when the president again will go be- fore congress. The re-detention.of the severty-two Americans brought in on the prize ship Yarrowdale is regarded as an- other acute indication of Germany's disregard of American rights. i° in fact, a vigorous protest has not al- ready gone forward it will be sent in the near future unless Germany promptly releases the men. Break With Others Near. A break in diplomatic relations the other Central powers seemed rea er today. Ambassador Elkus at Con- stantinople has been instructed to as- certuin whether Turkish submarines are operating under the same orders as those of Germany. No word has been received from him or from the Ameri- can consul gencral at Sofia since the break with Germany and an effort is being made 1o discover why commun- jeation has heen cut off The Turkish government is now de- {aining more than 1,000 American refugees at Beirut. Among some of the offici: it was suggested that the United States’ next step may be based on Senator Saulsbury’s bill to throw open American ports to warships of the Entente allies, thus aiding t their fight on the illegal submg campaign without actually. en the war. WARSHIPS IN DAEGER German Press Publishcs Ins Article as Warning to Amee garding Convoying Merchant § London, Feb, 14, 8 a. i amsterdam despatch to Reuter's that an obviously inspired articld been published in a majority of German papers dealing with the voy of neutral ships through barred zane. The article states convoyed or not, Merchantmen i restricted region will be exposed 4 the possibilities of intensified marine warfare. It adds that marines would not attack neutral vessels acting as convoys but that vessels would enter the prohil zone at their own risk, in view o danger from mines, 16 CHILDREN KILLED Alleged Bombs Into Crowds British Aviators to Thrown Youthful Skaters at Bruges, Berlin, Feb. 14, (By wireless| Sayville).—A despatch from Bi to the Overseas News agency says sixteen children were killed last urday by bombs dropped by B aviators in a crowd of skaters. Secretary Lansing Notific ¢ Their Cause Even If Succes W 14.—Sec Lansing sent to the Cuban peoply ashington, . [eb. day that could not be recognized by the Ui a warning that any governi| might be established by r¢ reported that Col. Bandox mayor of Marinano, whi caid. to have commanded the which engaged in a fight with guards, 40 miles from Havana Y8 day had been killed and Major Enrique Loynhaz Declastillo, has wounded. FINANCES COMPL Berne, via Paris, February 4:30 a. m.—At the moment when many began unrestricted subm arfare and the rupture with United States occurred the final the break marked cannot be said that America precipitated a movement on the bourse. ] ATEDY WARNING 70 CUBAN REE Revolu| ists United States Will Not R situation of the empire was more ¢} plicated than ever bhefore the war. j