North Carolina Newspapers

Li irm vnn ctrtr it 1 r PAGES 1 U TODAY : : j . I iX ill iULfK IN THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. IPS SO il mm PUBLISHED AT "CHARLOTTE, THE METROPOLIS OF THE CA ROLINAS" PRICE FIVE CENTS. CHARLOTTE, N. C. SATURDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 17, 1917. ! FOUNDED 1869 9 m FIRE ID PERSONS ARE DEPARTMENT STREET GAR Condition of Three of the Fire men Who Were Hurt Is Serious. ANSWERING FJRE ALARM Truck Was Turning Onto South Boulevard When the Col lision Occurred. Eight members of the Charlotte fire department and two passengers aboard a street car of the local street railway system were injured, three of them seriously, in a collision between a street car and a motor truck of the fire department at the corner of Park avenue and South Boulevard at 12:30 o'clock Friday afternoon. I At a late hour Friday night, very i little hope was entertained for the recovery of Fireman George Spittle, and Firemen W. F. Simpson and James Morris were also reported in a serious condition, as the result of in juries sustained in the accident when the big six-cylinder American La France truck of the Charlotte lire de partment collided with an in-bound Fourth ward car. Firemen Robert Barnes, Wade Phillips, Reid Barkley, Calvin Grier, Raymond Long and J. V. Duncan, who were also on the truck, were slightly injured, and Miss Georgia Albright, stenographer for the South ern Cotton Oil Company, and Julius Norman, a negro employed at the home of W. N. Foreacre, were slight ly bruised. Miss Albright and the , negro were on the street car. Hospital Reports. Reports from the Presbyterian Hos pital, where Simpson and Spittle, were rushed after the accident, were that Simpson sustained the fracture of a rib on the left side, the broken rib entering a lung, and that Spittle was suffering with a fracture at the base of the skull. Morris, who was taken to his home, was said to be in convulsions from hurts about the head, late In the af ternoon. His condition was unim proved at the last report. The accident happened when the downtown truck company was rush ing to the location of Box 86, on Worthlngton avenue. ' An alarm had been telephoned into headquarters. Fireman Duncan answering the tele phone. The voice at the other end of the wire asked the firemen to "Come to Parkwood and Lindale avenues." Duncan attached an alarm disc to the Indicator, and thinking the fire was in Dll worth, rang in Box 86. The two trucks downtown and the truck from the Dilworth station answered. Going out South Tryon street, the two trucks turned to the left . up Park avenue, crossed the railroad and the first truck succeeded in crossing the street car tracks on South Boule vard. The second truck Is said to have been about a half a block be hind it. The street car, Fourth Ward No. 52. was coming Into town on the oppo site track, and from the most accu rate reports obtainable, had stopped to allow passengers to board It. The car was in charge of Motorman D. C. Morgan and Conductor J. W. Mock. The three passengers were Miss Al bright and Lacy Seawell, a resident of Dilworth, and the negro, Norman. First Truck Crossed. After the first truck had crossed South Boulevard, officials of the Southern Public Utilities Company say, the motorman did not know the second truck was coming, not being able to hear Its bell or the noise of the exhaust, because of the noise made by the first car. The street car had started up. and was approximately tnree-fourths of a car length across the Intersection of Park avenue when the big truck crashed into the rear end and was completely reversed, by the power of the collision, changing ends. Captain: Simpson was In the front seat of the truck with Robert Barnes driving. The six others were on the rear platform and running boards. The version of how the- accident took place as given by Barnes was as follows: "I saw the street car standing still, or running at such a slow rate of speed that it looked as if it was go ing to stop every second, when I got where I could see the corner good. Our bell was ringing, and we were not runntng fast, as I had been forced to slow down at Park avenue and the railroad crossing. "When I saw that the street car wasAcrossing Park avenue, it was too late for me to stop. I realized that if 1 tried to go around the car, the truck would side-swipe the back end and kill the men on the left side, and so I locked my wheels and took It head-on. "The second it struck, 1 was lean ing to the right, and It knocked me clear of the steering wheel and to the street. The next thing I knew, I was helping pick George Spittle up from beneath what was left of the truck." Versions of other firemen who were able to tell of the accident were prac tically the same, Motorman Morgan and Conductor Mock both declared that they did not hear the truck on account of the noise made by the first one, and could not see it until it was right upon their car. Car Not Damaged. The street car was not badly dim- aged, In spite of the terrific force be hind the blow of the heavy fire trunk. There wasn't a single window glass shattered, and the only damage was a small hole crushed In the side. The conductor and motorman im mediately - notified police headquar ters, and under the instruction of Chief Horace Moore, ambulances and automobiles containing ' doctors were rushed to the scene. At first it was thought Firemen Spittle and Simp son had been killed outright, and that the injuries sustained by the others were worse than they later turned out to be. The firemen thought to be .the worst Injured wera rustled to the) Presbyterian Hospital while Fireman I Morris was taken to his home. I In the meantime, while the acel-1 dent was happening tfta firemen left 1 - (Continued on Pag Two.) -- INJURED VJHEN IIOR TRUCK RUN TOGETHER RESOLTOOX PROPOSES TO CREATE XEW STATE Charleston, . Va, Fcfc. lfc A resolution mam fntradared fa the West Virginia Hone of Ifcftrgatea today create a new State fraa the. counties of Ohio. Brooke, Han cock and Marshall, whb a view of thereby proiidinc nOk-irac mre nue to pay the Y irginia debt jadg ment. The foar coanfMB bare aa area of 58 square ssiles. The res olatlon provides that tlae foar counties known as the panhandle counties, pay the $12.MjM debt Judgment by a bond tint la con sideration for separate Stafeefafn. ALL OF RESOURCES S Placed at Disposal of Govern ment, in Event of War. Fairfax Harrison Heads Commit tee to Co-Operate With Adminis tration, If Occasion Arises. New York. Feb. 1C. The railroads of the United States today informed President Wilson that the resources of their organisation are at the dis posal of the Government in the evert of war. Officials of eighteen roads were ap pointed a pecial committee of Na tional defense. President Fairfax Har rison, of the Southern Railway, being chairman. He was the ehajnran of the committee formed by the rail- i roads last Fall to expedite the trans portation of troops to the border, which will be supplemented by the committee named today. W. V. Atterbury. vice president of the Pennsylvania Railroad, sent the telegram to President Wilson notify ing him of the action of the railroads, j The committee was named today I at a meeting of the American Rail way Association's executive commit tee, and will act under the direction of President Wilson's National coun cil for defense. Daniel O. Wiliar. president of the Baltimore A Ohio and a citizen member of the council in charge of transportation and com munication, will act in an advisory capacity both for the new committee and for the council in the railroads' preparedness measures. Geographical division was made of the countr)'. corresponding with the four army departments, and a sab committee of railway heads was ap pointed for each territory, the head- Quarters of each to be in or near the city where the commander's head-1 In the Southern Department, W. B. Scott, president of Soothers pa cific lines in Texas and Louisiana, is chairman; B. F. Bush, receiver of Missouri Pacific and C. E. Sehaff. re ceiver of Missouri. Kansas A Texas, are his assistants. At a meeting today, there was no discussion of the work which the Government might call upon the roads to do. The new committee will meet in Washington as soon as the council for National defense wishes. It was stated, prepared to assure the Federal body that the roads will carry out instructions faithfully. NET PROTECTS HARBOR ... AGAINST U-BOATS Norfolk. Vs.. Feb. IS. As fully half of the big steel net bring placed in the entrance of Hampton Roads as a guard against undersea boats, has been placed in position. Rear Admiral McLean, commandant of the fifth nrxvai district, today warned ship masters of the harbor entrance men- ace. e itieu inructw. tnai oe- fore attempting to approach the Ju of buoys holding the net In position He issued instructions that be- ship navigators should sigaal the de-J """ : await orders before proceeding. . Searchlights at night will play apon the buoys to wrm shirs. i . mm asss, URubra l UtMAKU I U ENLARGE COMMISSION 1 m Washington. Feb. 16 Plans to put through the Senate tomorrow night the bill already paseed by the House for enlarging the Interstate Commerce Commission from seven to nine mem- , bers were made today after Com mi- sioners Clements and Hall bad nrged the Senate committee hand ting the measure to expedite it as much as possible. The commissioners declared tne pressure oi poameas bum ids en largement imperative. FATHER TO SOX. Berlin. Feb, 1. Via SayviUe. Aajgereus fields of ice In the upper official communication says Emperor , Chesapeake and tributaries. The sail- William has telegraphed the German .logs of both Baltimore liners and! Crown Prince, Congrats latins bim false the Washington steamers were i and his troops for their snccesrfnl j cancelled. Daylight runs may be! attack against the French in Cham-1 made tomorrow in order to relieve ; pagne. 'whic h he says maintained their the freight congestion. j reputation for smart execution ' The tug Southern, with three 1 barges la tow, arrived today after be- j Growing Charlotte Must Have More and Better School Facilities. CROWN PRINCE'S ARMY j DRIVES FRENCH BACK ON CHAMPAGNE LINE Ground Captured to Depth of Han a Mile Seven More Ves sels Sunk by Submarines. Striking at the French line in I Champagne, midway between Verdun1 and Rheims, troops of the German 1 -a depth of a half mile on a front of a mile and a half. The attackers! ?JZrn icu,"d,nR 21 . The Crown Prince had. not been - active since his partly successful at tack on French positions northwest of Verdun on January IS. The latest ' thrust in Champagne comes a few "days leas than a year after the be ginning of the attack by him on the outlying fortifications of Verdun. i South of Kipont, between Tahure -and Cernay, was the scene of the German success. Most of the ground .gained was contained in the Maisons ,de Champagne farm and on Hill No. 114. which lies about one-third of a ; mile south of the farm. The latest i French official statement mentions only artillery activity in the vicinity of Maisons de Champagne, and de clares there was no infantry activity there. Berlin's supplementary report mentions no further activity in Cham- Except for raids by British, French and German troops at various points along the front in France, and two small engagements in Galicia, there has been no important infantry fight ing on the other of the battlefields. Official communications report much aerial activity on the western front. Shipping totalling at least 9,536 tons has fallen prey to the German submarines, according to the latest reports. All the seven vessels sunk, which include a sailing vessel and a trawler, were of British registry. Of the five steamers sunk, the tonnage of one, the Kynusti, is not available. The Hopemoor, of 3.740 tons, was the largest victim reported. INDUSTRY THREATENED WITH SHUT-DOWN Hardwood Manufacturers Ask Interstate Commerce Commis . sion to Intervene. Memphis. Tenn., Feb. li. Resolu tions adopted at a meeting here today of the directors of the Southern Hard wood Traffic Association, called to consider action regarding the existing embargo in effect on Northern and Eastern railroads, declare that "the transportation system of the country has failed at a time when the Nation is facing a critical period in its his tory. The resolutions ante the Interstate Commerce Commission to take such Immediate action, however drastic, as may oe necessary in in juugmcni u all or 4 prompt relief and insure to the American public a transportation sys tem adequate to meet the commercial and military necessities of the Nation. The membership of the association represents 124 manufacturing con cerns shipping normally over 250.000 cars of forest products annually, and employing approximately 19,009 la borers. The directors at the meeting today said complete shut down must occur unless relief is given very soon. DECLARES BRITISH HAVE CAPTURED DEUTSCHLAND Returning American Declares ft and 186 Other U-Boats Are Tied Up at Plymouth. Baltimore. Feb. 1C. William Pal mer, second engineer of the American transport liner Mongolia, which ar rived here today from Plymouth. Eng land, via New York, said he saw the merchant submarine Deutschland and ISf other German underwater boats In Plymouth harbor. Palmer asserted that the British had captured 400 enemy U-boats and that III of that nam her were chained together in Plymouth harbor. Captain Koenig and the Deutsch land s crew, are in English jails, the engineer said. Palmer formerly was employed by the Chesapeake Steam ship Company, which operates steam ers between this port and Norfolk. He said he did not learn how the Deutschland was captured. 4 HALF THOUSAND FEET OF FILM MADE HERE FRIDAY Xetoon A. Harris, of New York, gen eral film director of the Dixie Film Com, who h charge of the Urorkof reproducing the scenario, , ,a -n. with . ..- of charlotte Thespians, made over it feet of mm Friday arter- noon in jjyers Park, much of it at the residence of Zebulon V. Taylor. This feature will be completed in about a k if good weather prevails in the swaawtliwa Tha nriUlllMIAn M nltTrArf.. u uyi Tof appearance on the screen of a goodly number of Charlotteans. VI r Mxnrta M niM of the ahlM film directors In the country, and has es- tabhshed developing and printing rooms oa the third floor of the Broad way Theater build.ng. wjiere the films are developed and "proved" within a' very few hours after their completion. NORFOLK BAY TRAFFIC I AT COMPLETE STANDSTILL Norfolk. Vi , Feb. 16. Bay traffic t ..... VAr..lk im lmM oAmnlAtAlv ' til tnni.hl nrin, tn Hon.. lag tceboucd off Annapolis for three days. - - .- - ; I MINORITY REPORT ON ' PROHIBITION MEASURE' Washington. Feb. 14. Another mi nority " report from the House Judi ciary Committee on the proposed con-, titatioaal amendment for Nation wide prohibition was filed today by Representative Walsh, of Massachu setts, who protested against what he termed aa effort to convert the Consti tution Into a mere criminal statute. Mr. Wafc4i said it was possible to sM-ure Nation-wide prohibition' The dentist is a paradox. Even thj:hleg'..i.!&tlw"'er.acliiienl "andtsTiea he Is most cheerftfL he carl look Federal and State enforcement. : down la 'the mouth. jUIE FORCE OF; iTunnuc Mm n P IIIUUI J mui ID ipmpipt nrnrip! Hh n nrnnn 1 Cabinet Member Takes Charge of Operations in Camaguey. OTHR ' PROVINCES QUIET, According to Cuban Official Statement Denial That Amer ican Marines Have Landed. Havana, Feb. 18. Official an nouncement was made tonight that quiet prevails In, the provinces of Havana, Pihar del Rio, Matanzas and Santa Clara, and . that a large force of troops is in the province of Cam aguey operating against the insur gents Aurelio Hevia. Secretary of Government, departed todsy for Santa Clara Province where he will direct all military operations, i The school ship Patria sailed today with 600 men on board. William E. Gonzales, the American Minister, today issued a note in an swer to many petitions for him to urge clemency for military prisoners who were likely to be shot. The note assured the petitioners that the Min ister knew it was the intention of the Government to "follow the usual legal course." A sensational report was in circu lation today that American marines had been landed at Santiago de Cuba. This was denied. The statement issued at the palace tonight says: "Quiet prevails at Pinar del Rio, Havana, Matanxas and Santa Clara. In this latter province several bands are still at large, but continue to be closely pursued by detachments of the army. "Troops numbering S00 landed early this morning on the southern coast of Camaguey, and by noon were at Central Stewart, some eight or ten miles from Ciengo de Avila, headquarters of the insurgents. Two other columns, numbering nearly 2, 000 men are converging on the same point and fighting must be in prog ress at this moment, though, owing to the wires being cut no official re port has been received. "Several eye-witnesses of the events at Ciengo de Avila reached Havana today. They stated that Jose Miguel Gomez is at the head of the rebilllon there. He has only about 100 de serters from the army and three or four hundred men hastily recruited from among the civilian element. "Camaguey will be in the hands of the Government before 24 hours have passed. TThe eye-witnesses referred to above say that not a single sugar mill has stopped grinding, the rebels hav ing given them five days in which to finish up the cane already cut. As this period of time expires on the eighteenth and the Government will be in full control by tomorrow the seventeenth, it is very probable that the mills in quesUon will be able to keep on grinding." AMERICAN COMMISSION MAY REVIEW RETURNS Washington. Feb. 16. A sugges tion that an American commission review the returns from Cuba's presi dential election, over which an armed revolution hi developed. Is under consideration at the State Department as one possible solution of the situa tion. Although reports received here do not indicate the revolting Liberals have much headway, the United States Government Is deeply con cerned lest the movement assure a more definite form with the voting February 20 in Oriente province, where the deciding votes in the presi dential contest may be cast. The suggestion grew out of a dec laration by Orestes Ferrera and Ral mundo Cabrera. Liberal representa tives In New York, that their party would regard such a step with sat isfaction, and would abide by the re sult. It was said there had been no Indication that the conservative party might not resent that form of as nistance. Officials here have no knowledge of any landing by American naval forces at Santiago as reported in a newspaper story published In Ha- vana.- it was said at tne Navy De partment that the story seemed un likely, although the Petrel's com mander na disrrei.'nnarr authority to take any steps necessary to pro tect American interests. J0-J0 SAYS j Fair, sfcd warmer; Sunday. ' probably rain Fedr5l ATTENTION OF SENATE IS AGAIN TURNED TO INTERNATIONAL CRISIS Many References to German Sit-! I a! rv e i t-, i i ' uauon uunng ueoaxe on Dili to Curtail Activities of Foreign Agents. - Washington, Feb. 16. The Senate turned Rs attention to the interna tional crisis again today, a debate on the Administration bill to curtail ac tivities of foreign agents developing many references to the situation with Germany, and drawing from Chair man Stone, of the Foreign Relations Committee, a bitter denunciation of. newspapers which circulated false statements in order to create a senti- i ment for war, "There is no shadow of doubt In I the mind of any fair thinking man,") said Senator Stone, "that there is a . cabal of great newspapers in this country seeking to create a senti- ment and coerce the Government of the United States into an attitude of -hostility with one of the belligerent Powers. I believe anyone who makes sucn i a ise statements is a puonc ene- my, and that he should be punished." j The foreign relations chairman ! made this statement in discussing a -section of the bill which would make . it a crime to wilfully or knowingly i under oath make an untrue state- ; ment Intended to influence the tneas- i ures or conduct of' a foreign Govern- ! ment in relation to any dispute or con troversy with the United States. He argued that the same punishment should apply to any person, lncludin editors or publishers, who knowingly or wilfully made such statements, not i under oath. Senator Cummins objected vigorous ly to the section which would author ize the President to use the army and navy to seize or detain munitions of war or ships carrying them where they are designed to be used to vio late American neutrality. He pro posed to amend the provision so that armed forces could not be used "at a time or in a manner that would make it an act of war," Senator Sutherland and Senator Fall opposed the amendment, the former declaring it "would be tying the hands of the Executive," citing many provisions of law which he said already gave authority to use the army and navy to preserve neutral ity without such restrictions. Senator Cummins finally withdrew his amendment In order to perfect It. He probably will reintroduce it tomorrow. GERMAN SUBJECT IS ARRESTED AT NOGALES Charged With Violating National Defense Laws Former Vice Consul in Mexico. Nogales, Ariz., Feb. 16. Fred Kais er, said to be a German subject, was arrested here today on a charge of violating the National defense laws. He was specifically charged with en tering a warehouse Illegally and was alleged to have been obtaining mili tary information. Kaiser resided in Nogales. Kaiser, who was released tonight on $2,000 bail, is said to be a former German Vice Consul a Manzanillo and Collma, Mexico, Government agents charge Kaiser, slnce arrival of troops here for border service, has "cultivated the ac quaintance of the military officers at Camp Little and lavishly entertained them." Attention of the Department of Justice agents, they say, was directed to Kaiser by questions he is alleged to have asked concerning equipment and other military details. SEGREGATION CASE IS BEFORE SUPREME COURT Ordinances of Several Southern Cities Will Be Affected by the Decision. Washington, Feb. 16. City Attor ney C. R. Pollard of Richmond, to day presented a brief to the Supreme Court commending race segregation S"0,1"110!'-0 kJ1?: -Ul!lU: Baltimore and other cities as a means of promoting the Interests of both ne gro and white citizens. The Louis ville ordinance is before the court and if declared void, similar measures In other cities will be affected. Photographs of negro residences, schools, churches and banks In Rich mond were incorporated in Mr. Pol lard's brief as evidence tjiat restric tion upon Intermingling of whites and blacks does not curb the negro devel opment As the ordinances also pro hibit white persons from residing in negro residential sections, it was ar gued that there is no unconstitutional discrimination against the colored race. The case will be reargued next month. e ORDINANCE HELD VALID BY KENTUCKY COURTS Louisville, Ky., Feb. 16. The Louis ville segregation ordinance now be fore the Supreme Court of the United States has been held valid by the ! State courts of Kentucky. It provides that no white families shall move into any block In which the majority of inhabitants are ne- j British sea control, would have lttle groes and .prohibits negroes from i or nothing available for export to moving into blocks in which white ormany this year and the Germans persons are in a majority. niUBt pun in their belts a notch tlght- In event a house in any block where er and reconcile themselves to hold both races are present becomes vacant , lng out on pregent allowances. The It can be occupied only by persons of j food expert of New Cologne, one of the race predominant in that block. tn municipalities of Greater Berlin, The ordinance does not restrict either , 8tateJ reeentlVf in fact that the cur. race to any particular section of thejrent ,owan of meat, fat, bread c,tT' 1 and potatoes was inadequate for PRESIDENT P0TEAT WILL SPEAK HERE ON SUNDAY President Edwin M. Poteat, of Furman University, is announced to speak at the Y. M. GA. Sunday after- noon at 4 o'clock. Doctor Poteat has spoken in the city frequently under me ausDices oi ine i . m. v. a. ana . . -. . i.., Ifto ZWL m5 mark. He Is one of the most dramatic speakers in the South and never fails to delight his audietffVsas well as In- Itruct them. While Doctor Poteat la coming to Charlotte expressly for this engagement at the T. M. C. A., efforts are beinir maae to nave mm bp a ih. unit Kannat i nuren huiiut morning. Special music will be provided by those tn charge of the service and the meeting is expected to be most at tractive. ATT' Tnerr'are -trorfllarry-tn vited to be present GERMAN SUBMARINE CiPAIGO tun EFFECT Oil SEVEN MORI BOATS SUNK BY GERMAN SUBMARINES Seven more vessels were sunk by the German ti-boats, according to yesterday's rcvort. They Include a sailing vessel and trawler, all of British registry. The names of only three were given out. The record of vessels destroyed since the submarine campaign was In augurated February 1 follows: REPORTED SUNK YESTERDAY: Ship. Tonnage. Netherlee, British 4,227 Hopemoor, British 3,740 Kynusti, British Others, names not given, brought total tonnage for day up to 9,638 Previously reported 212,223 Total sunk 221,758 Summary of ships sunk? Ameri can, 2; other neutrals, S3; British, 62; other belligerents, 7; total, 104. niiu DISCUS IFOOD SITUATION T IMPROVE Even If It Doesn't Grow Worse, Is Outstanding Feature Of Problem Confronting German Empire Shortage of Labor Is Serious Feature. Geneva, Switzerland, Feb. 16. via London. The food situation in Get many may not grow worse, but it scarcely can become better. This Is the outstanding feature of Germany's great problem. The German people as yet are not starving, and they still have provis ions in adequate quantities to sup port life, while In the case of further decreases in available supplies, there is still the institution of compulsory "soup kitchens," the most economical method of making all foodstuffs go as far as possible to stand between Germany and any forced termination to the war through an absolute lack of food. Lit for the civilian popu lation of Germany on the present scanty allowance of food however is far from pleasant though the Ger msn newspapers are fond of refer ring to conditions this Winter and last Winter as exceptional They also say that the short rations are due largely to bad harvests and like to intimate that normal crops of grain and potatoes in the coming Summer may end the principal food difficul ties. Many agricultural experts believe that the Central Empires did quite as well in both years as could be ex pected, 'and that the populations of Germany and Austria-Hungary must reconcile themselves to getting along during the coming harvest year on no greater allowance than In the past The problem as frankly discussed in agricultural circles and as outlined In a recent circular of the Prussian Ministry of Agriculture, is not one of more land for crops, but one of la bor and fertilizer to cultivate the land already available advantageously, Even the normal supply of potash a fertilizing material indigenous to Germany in great quantities will not be available the coming season, owing .to the labor shortage. The many fac tories producing nitrogen from the air will not he able to produce enough nitrates by far, in view of the am munition requirements to replace the nitrates normally imported from Chile for agricultural purposes and other imported fertilizers. The decidedly short supply of la bor, even by working every available prisoner of war and the inhabitants of occupied districts is not enough for the Intensive cultivation which made Germany a world leader in big crop farming. Taking all these factors Into con sideration, it is highly improbable that there will be any Increase in gen eral crop production ' over 1916 and 1915. Weather conditions may, as in 1915, produce a bumper potato crop and a poor grain crop, or the re verse results as In 1916 but the gen eral result probably will be about the same. No Outside Help. Very little help, Adolph von Ba tocki, president of the food regula tion board, stated in a recent ad dress, can be expected from outside sources in tne tnture. zseignoonng counti les, he said, being undor the , steadily increasing pressure of the working men engaged in heavy labor land that men so employed required o supplementary allowance wnicn. however, the factories managed ' ii.uallv to sunnlv In order to maintain ! nroiiieion ! a f, ih. n-nnia nt r.rmnv are t-fioldfng out Weri, though with a greatf i At v.ii' i ,i,k.n an ; augtrial regions, where conditions are . m, . t.. i ... .m i worn, l lie veniiu ytwyitj a.i o euu well disciplined and for the present t ,n v to DrM.ur. ! are. "ot Pi X,5 .1- tfo J ifSXZZ j f"d t0 aand?" vth J?nD hf nhow.fee th af!,,tfnn?n Tl, their backs to Uy w 11 w ternatlve except to fight out the strug- has had no u....u. trouble of moment in keeping citizens to the mark aid "food riots" reported from time to time In the foreign press are either inventions or exag gersted nw wwwts-yef awtmportant demonstrations. 1 STATES Consideration Given All Phases That Have Developed.' NO STEPS DECIDED ON But it Is Admitted Present State of Affairs Can't Be Allowed to Continue Indefinitely. Washington, Feb. 16.-The ruth- , less German submarine campaign and . its effects upon the United States were discussed late today by Presi dent Wilson and the Cabinet The meeting lasted an hour, and after- v ward It was said no new steps bad been decided on. ' Arming of American merchantmen, and the economic effects of the par- . tial tie-up of shipping out of Ameri can porta, were the subjects on which the Cabinet centered attention. Sec retary McAdoo is compiling a list of vessels held in port, and Secretary Rediield is making a comprehensive -analysis of the inroads submarines are making on shipping generally, ? Consideration is given by the Gov ernment to all the different phases; of the situation that have developed . since the break In relations with Ger many, including the detention of the" " Yarrowdale prisoners, the crisis with Austria, the plight of Americana in Turkey and Belgian relief. High of- , flcials took pains today, however, to emphasize that the great fundamental ' -problem before the Nation Is the u legal submarine campaign itself. Against this campaign, the United States has made the most vigorous i protest possible short of war, but the Administration realizes that so long, as it permits American ships to be' held in port for fear of attack by submarines, it In effect is aquiesclng in the German policy. The state of affairs, it is admitted, cannot be per, mltted to continue Indefinitely. - What and When? , "A What the United States must do to end It, and when, are the only ques- -tions. The President is understood to have a very definite opinion as to what should be done, but he has not ( decided that the time to do it has come. - " ' - Press dispatches from Berlin an nounclng that the 72 American sea men brought in by the Yarrowdale.. had been released caused the demand that the men be freed to be with held pending oRidal advice on the subject. ' A cablegram vm sent to the Span?' Ish Amhassi ilnr at Berlin asking whether the loport was true. It is not doubted, as it has been assumed . from the first that Germany would, not hold the men after rumors reach in gthere of the imprisonment of German sailors In the United States had been cleat ed up. Another Inquiry was sent to the Spanish Ambassador to ascertain the cause of delay in the departure of the American train x from Munich, which Mr. Gerard previously had re ported would leave "some day this week" with 86 consuls and their fam ilies and an unknown number of other persons. An earlier dispatch from the Span ish Ambassador said Germany has promised to facilitate the consuls de parture as much as possible. It is understood, however, that for mili tary reasons the Germans insist that the remaining Americans all go out in one tralnload, and that, there has been delay in concentrating- them at Munich.? No doubt is felt here that they will arrive at Berne shortly. Britain's Moves. - Two important moves by -Great Britain to meet the submarine men-, ace were announced during the day. A new danger tone was proclaimed,' seeking to block practically the whole route of exit towards the' Atlantic of the German U-boats from' their basea in Germany and Belgium. : With the English Channel practically closed by an elaborate system of nets, mines and patrols, the means of exit for the submarines has been through - the ; route north of Scotland and down the Irish Coast The new danger zone designed to close that way out Is un derstood to have been liberally strewn with mines. , Details of plans for changing the port of call and examlnatlon'for boats . between this country and the north ern European neutrals from Kirk wall to Halifax were made public. The idea Is to allow the vessels to avoid the German submarine sons by swinging around Ireland and Scot land and down the Norwegian coast. Instead of touching the British Isles A second port for the examination of southern commerce may be eatab lLshed .later, at the Bahamas, or. Ber- . muda. "Letters of Assurance." American Importers will still be af forded the opportunity of securing "letters of assurance" from the Brit ish Embassy here that there goods are not consigned directly or tn- . directly to England's enemies. The British blockade and the "rationing" of Holland and Scandinavia will con tinue as before, and a new list ot ar ticles which cannot be imported Into England will be published shortly. - The falling oft In the rate of dally destruction by submarines to a few thousand tons has made a great im pression here, and given rise to specu lation as to whether the return of tubmnrine fleets to base or the sue ceis of British precautions la chiefly responsible. Dispatches from AtnbsjMador-Pen field, at Vlonna, ate awaited with particular interest because of press reports saying the Ambassador naa "broken off negotiations' with the . Austrian Foreign Office and Amerl-' cans had been ordered out of the country. There has been no official confirmation of either of these re ports. So far as the State Depart ment knows, the Ambassador still U presenting the views ot the American Government in regard to Germany' submarine policy, to which Austria has adhered, although a final report from him showing a break with Aus- trta.te be-iaevttaUa-U arpaclad. at, any time. .? '