i THE WEATHER PARTLY CLOUDY. .THE ASHEILLE CITIZEN CITIZEN WANT ADS BRING RESULTS VOL. XXXIII, NO. 10." ASnEVILLE, N. C, MONDA V 'MORNING, FEBRUARY 5, 1917. PRICE FIVE CENTS MM BY W ALL NEUTRAL NATIONS ARE INVITED TO SEVER RELATIONS WITH GERMANY AMERICAN DIPLOMATS ARE INSTRUCTED TO REPORT ON RECEPTION OF THIS IDEA President Would Have All Neutral Nations Follow the Lead of the United States in Severing Diplomatic Relations Wiih Germany, This Being the Only Important Move Made Dur ing a Day of Tense Waiting , -'r- HOUSATONIC PROPERLY WARNED BY SUBMARINE MWHM Itf I UUUI U I LI I I Ul Steps to protect American Citizens and Properly Against Action of Foreign Sympathizers Are Being Carried For ward Swiftly and Secretly. WASHINGTON', Fob. 4. Besides breaking oft' diplo matic relations with Germany, President Wilson has made a bold st roke to Taupe the moral force of all other neutral countries along with that of the United States in the interest of peace. The president, has suggested to all the other neutrals that they break off diplomatic relations with Germany as the United States has done and has instructed all Ameri can diplomats in those countries to report immediately how the suggestion is received. The opinion in diplomatic (jiiarters here is that European neutrals, at the very door step of Germany, threatened by her military power, will hesitate to take such a step. The effect of the suggestion in other countries is being eagerly awaited. Only Development. This was the only known development of lirst im portance which came out of a dav of tense waiting which followed the actual announcement yesterday of the break with Germany. News that the American steamer Housatonic had not' been sunk without proper warning and that no lives kadi been lost dispelled a cloud which threatened the storm to follow the first overt act' against the United States under the new war zone order. Still hopeful that Germany will not ruthlessly sacri fice American lives or rights, the administration is await ing developments, but leaving undone nothing to pre pare the country for the eventuality of war. Austrian Situation Unchanged. The situation as to Austria is tonight unchanged. There is no doubt, however, that diplomatic relations will be broken with her when she announces her intention to adhere to Germany's course. The president's invitation to neutrals to follow his action was contained in instructions to American diplomats to announce the break with Germany to the governments to which they are accredited. It was contained in the fol lowing note: "You will immediately notify the government to which you are accredited that the United States, beacuse of tke German government's recent announcement of its intention to renew unrestricted submarine warfare, has no choice but to follow tke course laid down in its note of April 18, 1916 (the Sussex note). "It has tkercfore recalled the American ambassador fnm Berlin and kas delivered passports to the German ambassador to the United States. Will Protect Americana. "Say also that tke president is reluctant to believe (icrmany actually will carry out her tbreat against neutral commerce, but if it be done, tke president will ask con gress to autkorize use of tke national power to protect American citizens engaged in tkeir peaceful and lawful errands on tke seas. "Tke course taken is, in tke president's view, entirely in conformity witk tke principles ke enunciated in bis ad dress to tke senate January 12 (tke address proposing a world league for poace). "He believes it will make for tke peace of tke world WORD WIDE BREAK HMEMBLR, VJ000R0W, JM with you ! Wilson Has Suggested Tkat All Neutrals Sever Rela tions With Teutons. BERLIN RECEIVES ' PRESS DISPATCHES Has Not Received Official Confirmation of Action by United States. Germany fices the possibility of li ning trie greater part of the neutral ' , LEGISLATORS TO THY TO SPEED UP ALL LEGISLATION Hope by This Means to Avoid Rush During Last Few Days. SPECIAL ORDERS ON SCHEDULE FOR WEEK PARTISANSHIP IS CAST ASIDE AND CONGRESS PREPARES TO BACK UP WE PRESIDENT IN EVERY MOVE HE MAKES Calmly Awaiting Developments in the Diplomatic Breach With Germany, the Legislative Branch of the Government Prepares to Supply the Necessary Equipment In Case of War and to Guard, by Stringent Laws, Against Conspiracies. Election of School Boards, . Woman's Suffrage and Other Measures Up. ' WASHINGTON. Feb. 4 Congress. aroused to patriotic support of the president, calmly awaits developments world sever diplomatic relations with i in ,he diplomatic breach with C.' i - ner over Her submarine policy. Presi dent Wilson has made the suggestion to all neutrals that they follow the example of the I'nlted States, saying he believes It will make for the peace of t he world. Official Germany ss yet. has said nothing with regard to the fevering; by the l'nitd States of diplomatic (Continued on Page Two.) WATCHING FOB NEWS OF RECEPTION OF SEIfERflNCEBY GERMANY News of Rupture is Warmly Received by the British ' People. THINK IT MEANS WAR. 4CONTIKUXD ON PAGE TWO.) LONTXXV. Feb. 4 Ix.ndon ha been engaged today in watching the successive editions of the Sunday papers for news as to how Germany takes the severance of diplomatic re lations with the I'nlted States, but so far as any word from Berlin was con cerned, the Knglish people were dis appointed, no dispatches appear to have been allowed to leave Berlin or Vienna, except official communications from military headquarters and a brief message to the effect that press dispatches had been received in the German capital announcing the rup ture. There Is no gainsaying the fact that the news of the rupture U warm Iv welcomed by the British public. The -evident'' swift decision came as an extreme surprise to the people of I-ondon who Judged that another note to Berlin would precede any decisive action. And it Is the general belief here that the president's action will be equally surprising to Berlin- Great tributes are paid to the presi dent's dignified and restrained tone in addressing congress and the opinion of the generali public ia that, the mp- iure ui reiMiionn means notning less than war and there Is much curiosity as to how hostilities will be provoked. In some quarters It is thought the seizure of Oerman auxiliary cruisers In the I'nlted States may be regarded by the Germans ae a warlike act. but whatever may prove a casus belli. It Is assumed that Germanv must have fully Judged and been prepared for any outcome. The greatest Interest Is being shown in all details of the naval strength o' the I'nlted States, which here la considered a great factor la the situation. many Ready to act quickly and ade quately in anv emergency, adminis tration leaders are in constant touch with executive departments. While hopeful that the break with the im perial German government will not. force the I'nlted States Into war, lead er,, already have cast partisanship aside, legislative squabble over minor matters have been tempered and the legislative branch is standing by to respond to nnv demand for protection of the nation In the International crisis. Important Measures. Important measures bearing on tho -ituation already are under consider ation In both houses, among them the annual naval appropriation hill, car rying more than J350.O0O.000 fur na val maintenance and construction. There Is a prospect of Its passage be fore adjournment Tuesday night. An amendment will be offered to appropriate an additional 11 19.000. 000 for the immediate completion of Hi war vessels heretofore authorized and now In various stages of construc tion In government and private yards. Another suggested by Secretary Dan iels would empower the president to commandeer private shipbuilding yards and munition plants whenever In his opinion the Interest of the coun. try requires such action. Speaker Clark and other house leaders tonight said they believed that the amend ment would be adopted. For More Submarines. In addition to the regular appro priation bill there Is ponding In the senate with growing sentiment In fnvor of It pnssage, a special bill by Senator Polndexter, providing for Im mediate construction of 100 subma rines In addition to seventeen carried In the regular appropriation bill. The critis also finds the houpe mili tary rnniniltteo ready with the current army bill carrying $27S. 000,000 sub ject to any change that exigencies may demand- I'nder existing law the president has authority to Increase the regular army to full war strength of 286.000 In case of war or threatened war. lie also bus authority to call on the na tional guard, now having some 150,000 available men. The guards' full strength, 400.000. can not be acquired until the expiration of four years. Champions of universal military ser vice are renewing their advocacy of pending legislation on that sufrvlect, hopeful that present conditions may bring action In the near future. Statute Strenjrthrncd. To safeguard Interests of the nation, against conspiracies, conslderstjon Is being rushed In the senate of meas ures suggested brv the attorney-general to strengthen the statutes under which prosecutions may be brought against offenders within the I'nlted States who further the Interests of foreign government. While awaiting developments, how ever, both houses are exported to k up a drive on general legislation and to go about regular business as calm ly as possible. The senate will con tinue with the agricultural appropria tion bill and tomorrow afternoon will proceed to vote In an attempt to pass the Immigration bill over President Wilsons veto. The house overrode the veto last week. Administration leaders hope to pre vent discussion of International Is sues, but fear agitation from the pa cifist element in congress. Efforts to arouse sentiment against American participation In the war are expected to come from the so-called "Bryan" or ' pacifist" gro'0 and Mr Bryan's presence In Washington and utter ances on this subject yesterday and today, together with the arrival to night of Henry Ford, have served to Increase apprehension In this regard. Air. Bryan, who has some following In both branches of congress, has been urging various alternatives, In cluding a referendum on the question of war with Germany. fiXOW AT WILMINGTON. WILMINGTON. N. C Feb. 4 Ac companied by a forty-mile gale which began blowing early tonight, snow be gan falling at midnight, following a downpour of rain. The storm Is the first of Its kind for this city In many years. No serious damage has been reported on account of the wind. Citizen's Bureau, . , Raleigh, N: C, ' f February '4V f By W. 3. Martin.) With the' constitutional sixty flays' limit already more than half spent the general assembly Is to speed up con-1 slderably during the remaining weeks, If the leaders have their way. In the hope of averting a mad rash In the last days. ' . There are numbers of 'Important special order scheduled for this seeJt. t Those In the senate are scheduled as - ronows. ... ... ,;, February T--enato- Kelly's Wrt to create a game commission for North' Carolina and provide for better pro tectlon of birds and game: the bill, by Senator Warren to Increase the num ier of Superior court Judges and Ju dicial districts with Judicial rotation In each district and the court weeks so adjusted that there will he always two of tho Judges without' appointments) and subject to assignment by the gov ernor to hold emergency courts con templated by the constitutional amend, nients. County Examiner. February 9 Senator Davenporfa iniii to autnorize tne corporation com mission to examine the accounts of county officers and to appoint count examiners. February 9 All the senate bills-In volving the appointment or election of county boards of education. Proba bly the Turner bill to provide a cen- (Continued on Page Two.) CROWDS IN PARIS BRAVE RECORD-BREAKING COLD DAT TO KjO. BULLETINS President Wilson's Picture and Stars and Stripes Bring Cheers. AUSTINS ARRESTED FOR DEFACING VESSEL Charged With Conspiracy to Destroy a Vessel American Waters. in CREW OF THE HOUSATONIC IS LANDED AT PENZANCE Housatonic ad Crew Being Torpedoed. Was Warned Saved Before ERICANS BY RAIDER RELEASED Germany Accedes to De mands For Release of Seventy-Two Prisoners. MUCH SATISFACTION. PEVSAOOL.V Fla.. Feb. 4. War rants charging a conspiracy to de stroy a vessel in American waters anA violation of immigration laws were sworn out here today against The Captain Ivaneich and nine members of the Austrian steamer Lucia, which has been tied up here eince the war began. The charges were made by Bruce Weeks, collector of customa. who after an investigation declared that engine room equipment, of the steamer. Including valves and pipes had been broken and damaged to such an extent that they could not be re paired within less than three months. Captain Ivaneich and six members of his crew, were arrested on board the Luca tonight but because of high LONDON. Feb. 4 The crew of the American steamifhlp Housatonic ha" been landed at Penzance. 'England. Housatonic was warned by the BERLIN. Feh. 4 (Via London, Feb. fi.) Germany today acceded to the American demands for the imme diate release of the seventy-two Oerman submarine which sank her. Americans taken from ships aunk by according to John O. Stevens, Ameri can consul at Plymouth. Mr. Stevens today sent the following telegram to the Associated Prssr.: Total crew of thirty-seven of Housatonic landed at Pensane Satur day. Vessel torpedoed by a Oerman submarine 12:30 Saturday. Warned. Crew towed ninety mlnutea by subma rine toward land." . Mr. Stevens telegraphed today to PARIS, Feb. 4. Word began to go about Paris In the early forenoon that the United ifttates had broken with' Germany. Bulletins marked "Wash ington official" were posted at the" newspaper offices announcing that the Oerman ambassador. Count von Bern atorfT. had been handed his passports and that Ambassador Gerard had been recalled from Berlin. It was the coldest day In many winters in Paris, yet crowds stood i around the bulletin boards, with the. thermometer registering five degrees above xero, eagerly reading the scraps ;of news as they filtered through. the people stamped their feet In the cold and talked of the possibility that mid-summer might see It over, and df absolute and quick victory. President Wilson's portrait and the". .Stars and Stripes were flashed on many screens and Sunday afternoon assem blies In the moving picture houses all over Paris cheered. Great satisfaction at the action of the United States Is felt among leading. Frenchmen, but there is no disposition! to comment formally on events. TV.- A ..... i n 1, - , ... the raider dn the Atlantic and brought !Iook -f,.r Oerman Interests at to a German port aboard the ateamer i o'clock yesterday afternoon, under ln Yarrowdale. structlons from Washington. One of the la, things to be don. L &X VorZlSX by the I nited .states government be- Americans on the point of departure fore severing diplomatic relations with to defer sailing. German was to demand that the Americans taken by the German raid er from British steamers Georglc. Mount Temple and Voltaire and who Robert P. Skinner, the 'American were being held In German orison seas In the harbor only four of them i consul general, that the Housatonic" camps be released. A Washington were brought ashore. Customs Col- I was halted by a German submarine at dispatch Saturday said- there were lector Weeks put men aboard the noon snd that, after being warned. 1 sixty of these men. Germany, in hold. steamer to guard ner. The captain tne crew took to tne ooats. -jne and members of his crew will be given Housatonic was then torpedoed ana a preliminary hearing Monday before sunk and the submarine towed the ' Tha nawa vu recadvjtd tnvfllltv IS the Americans at the headquarters et the field ambulance service. THE WEATHER. nlted States oommlsaionar. ' 4oats to a point off the English ooast, munlty. WASHINGTON". Feb. 4. Forecast for North Carolina: Partly cloudy Unna. annv S 1 1 y-ri mm .Inn. tK. m.m. ing tnem, nad conienuea that as paid I decidedly colder with cold wave ex members of tho crews of armed enemy I cent extreme west portion, northwest merchantmen tney were due u- galei gales, strong on the coast. Tuesday tfsir wiUi rising tanuer;ni, . a..

Page Text

This is the computer-generated OCR text representation of this newspaper page. It may be empty, if no text could be automatically recognized. This data is also available in Plain Text and XML formats.

Return to page view