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# NAY ARM ALL SHIPS AND CABINET INDE ED ABOUT NEW STEP REPRISALS ARE FEARED President Considers Asking Congress for Authority to Arm Ships, But is Au&iotis to Avoid Perils to Ameri cans Now Held in Germany— Question of Policy. The situation confronting the United States with regard to Ger many grows worse constantly. The particular problem before the presi dent is the advisability of furnishing arms to American merchant ships to enable them to resist German sub marine attacks. The news that the American sail ing ship Lyman M. Law has been sunk by an Austrian submarine un der circumstances that may lead this government ‘'to* conclude that it is useless to be patient longer with Ger many and her Teutonic ally. What will be done In the Law case will depend ,on the facts. If it is ^shown that the rules of international *Jaw were not observed it will be for the administration to . determine whether relations should be broken with Austria-Hungary or whether an even more drastic course be taken. The little that is known so far about the Law case suggests that rules of international law and hu m£n**y were not violated by the at - tf submarine, but the Incident at b emphasize that the situa dull of danger and may lead tcjViash at any moment. KjK of the Important phases to which President ‘ Wilson is giving earnest attention involves the matter of determining whether he shall go before Congress at an^ early day to seek advice and counsel or ask for authority to furnish government armament to merchant ships. . The president's consideration of this question'la the outgrowth of the discussion at Tuesday’s cabinet meet ing over the advisability of granting the request of Vice President P. A. 8. Franklin of the American Line that the steamships of his company re ceive government armament. As was staljd In a Washington dispatch the cabinet was In complete agreement as to the right of the gov ernment to furnish arms to merchant ships at this time, but In view of the possibility that such action might bring repilsals by the German gov ernment against American seamen under detention In. Germany and other Americans now In that country. $lt was decided that the matter of de termining what should be done should be left In the hands of the president alone for the time being. More of what occurred at the cabi net meeting was learned Wednesday. The main question debated was one of general policy that might be stat ed in ^hls way: Should the liberty of Americans in Germany be Imper- filled by the action of the I'nlted States government in arming mer chant ships, or should the ships be armed to resist attacks by subma rines regardless of this possibility? The opinion was expressed that If the government gave arms to the lin ers there would be reprisals against American citlsens in Germany. But. It was asked, is it not more impor tant that American ships should have a chance to protect themselves than that Americans In Germany should be deprived of their liberty? If Germany proceeds against Americans in this country the worst that can happen to them will be In ternment until the conclusion of hos tilities. But if an American ship is sent to the bottom through inability to p»*^rt herself from a submarine, the Jk of those lost could never be com*^nuted for. The opinion was general that if ^ danger to Americans in Germany were not involved. American mer chant ships should be armed by the government.* This action, according to the general view, would be ‘likely to lead to war. The question then arose. It is understood, whether the fact that war might result did not make it essential for President Wil son to lay the situation before Con gress. Congress is the sole war-making power. If the furnishing of govern ment arms to merchant ships is an act of war; Congress might feel that it had the right to insist upon being consulted in the matter before the arms were given to the ships. There was no doubt in the minds of the president and the cabinet as to the right of the government to furnish armament to merchant vessels, but the point at issue was whether the president ought to take action until he had placed the facts before Con gress and obtained its sanction. When the cabinet adjourned the matter was left in that shape. The means at his disposal to protect the |A|fi flHNFIVMPNT YVAB lives and property of American etfi-. HAIl, WPInUtni IfcAll zens on the high seas. With that authority obtained he would be at liberty to employ war-] ^ ships to convoy merchant vessels fly-' ing the American flag through the British CTilef Declares German Front German danger zone. It is a rather 1 general view in Washington that a convoy policy would bring a hostile clash which would be the prelimi nary to war. The president would Will Be Severely Broken at Many Points. Certain French war correspond- GERMAN OVERTURES REJECTED -WILL NOT COMPROMISE then go before Congress again and ents have been received by Sir Doug- recite Germany’s act of hosttlity. I las Haig. The following are some of which doubtless would result in a the statements made by the General: declaration that a state of war ex-| “Our two most serious preoccupa- isted. — | tions at present are railway and ar- The indictment against Germany tl l Ier y- We have had t0 construct grows. Feeling is strong in some vrlthin the last few months in the quarters that the president may not rear of our line8 over 350 kilometer! find it necessary to wait for some railway lines, and recently I sent single overt act of great importance l° r Ike managers of the greatest rail- to justify resort to more radical • wa r com P aniw ln En S land - I ahow- measures. The attitude of the pres- i ed them ° n the spot what had been idefnt and the cabinet indicated that done and what remains to be done, there was no disposition to shirk the : They understood the urgency and ex- issue. The situation is so delicate tent of the task, that the administration feels that it “As regards munitions, we have, owes it to the nation to proceed with realized the maximum. At this mo tile utmost caution, but opinion is cae^t we can supply our allies in ex- rapidly growing into conviction thati ce88 their needs. We must, how- it will not recede one iota from its ever » have more artillery, especially WILSON’S ANSWER BLUNT stand for American rights no matter what the outcome. heavy artillery. The point is not merely to be equal to the enemy, but to overwhelm him. with the whole of Much depends upon the attitude of atrpntrth •* the German government toward the; 011 *^ j^rnalists asked whether American prisoners whose release * The was promised but not effected. It ?__ o 1 ?. vL whether Sir Douglas .thought the German lines would be pierced. The Tesident Bays No Parley Possible While Germany Continues Its War Upon Neutrals - Swiss Envoy In forms Berlin That Only When Bub Warfare is Restricted Can Inter changes Be Opened. As quickly as it was possible to do it, the United States govern ment has rejected a suggestion ap parently intended to draw it Inte an arrangement with Germany w hich would amount to a compro mise of the principles involved in the action of President Wilson in severing relations with that gov ernment. ON MEIICAN UMNO NEGRO HELD FOR HANSON would not be surprising to observ ers if the president went before Con-,^^ . .. .. *re 8 s any day to tell why he thought Ge ."wSo w ll comn.enre merchant ships should be armed by ^ 110 wiU commence the government. The navy department is it, the French, the Germans, or ourselves, that matters little. If the enemy assem-: commence8 either in the north or bling guns and ammunition at strat- south in salients which appear to him egic ports along the Atlantic coast, favorable or on the former fields of The concentration of guns and am- battle, we are ready to receive him, munition at New York and other ira- a jj(j bis effort will cost him dear, portant ports is declared not to be have armies trained and fully merely for supplying armament to equipped, so that at no moment will merchant ships, but for the object there be a possibility even in the of being ready to equip auxiliary, rear that he can be able to rein- naval vessels as well when necessary, trench himself. Neither the state department nor! *’You ask me whether we shal the navy department would indicate break the German front. Most cer whether the government would fur- talnly we shall, and severely and'at nish guns to American trading ships, (many points. The Germans to de- At the state department.lt was de- fend themselves behind their front dared the question was now before have a very powerful network of rail the navy department, but it was ad-; ways. The first attacks of the gen mitted that the ultimate decision eral offensive may find themselves, would He wttfr Prestdent "\rnsoii. | defeated at some points. But we sbal It is understood that.the navy de- Btr1k ® w|lh f un forc ® untn we partment has taken no action with at ’hleve the total destruction of VM regard tq requests from American German army.” ship owners for guna, but everywhere being asked whether that there was the Impression that the wou,d tak e place this year or not he moment waa approaching when the rtpHtd problem must be solved end the gov- 1 "The yeer will be decisive in the ernment must take a stand oh the • eDB€ that on « wUI b€ 1* the metier, which has assumed the pro- portlons now of an International question. Some diplomats aeeert that the delay in announcing the government's decision has put Amer ica. In the eyes of the German gov- sense that qne will see take piece on thw battlefields the decision of the war. that ta to say. the event after which Germany will be shown to be beaten militarily. It may be that tke year of decision la also the year of ernment. In the position of hesltat-! Ing because of doubt as to the legal ity of the step International law experts asserted that there could not possibly be any question of right as to the furnish ing of nrms and gunners also to American merchant ships, and srgu < * uty of preparations for the next war. everything in our power to bring about the desired resnil. "Peace tan only come with abso lute victory, which will be attained by the force of our arms. The Allies must not allow themselves to be de ceived by Germany's suggestions. In offering peace Germany only thinks If i. . # we unfortunately yielded to the per the*rnrlramssf inuin ih#m fl<llou# a PP* a l* The drama would re- go eiwment so to ^utp^hem commence | n three years. The sol dlers, with their good sense and in stinct. understand that. Those on ^ #K . whom it depends with their blood meat* and * of the fOv* r *~-j v t a h to create a peace by victory. I In this respect I have the entire con What is causing President Wilson fldence of our troops Their morale and his advisers to pause is a ques- i B above all suspicion. With regard tion of policy, not of right. The state to peace we are all 'squarely wed.' department let It be known that by which I mean the Indomitable wll there would be no change from lu To fight until the end." announced position set forth in a memorandum dated February 6, con cerning advising American lines eith er to send out their ships or to hold ships to protect themselves against that they could defend themselvi The key to the defense of the Ameri can merchant marine, it was assert FACTORY WALL FALLS ■ P° r, t “»• memorandum On. Woman Killed a. Buildin K OS failed to put this government deft- nltely on record as regards Its own share In the arming of American merchantmen. There are Increasing signs of the lapses Near S| tartan burg. The collapse of Fairmont mill, on Tiger river about eight miles west of growing irritation of the shipping * Spartanburg, which occurred Thura- jlnes, but evidences of dissatisfaction da y morning at six-thirty o'clock, re- and concern are forthcoming also suited In the death of one person anl from various business Interests, who the Injury of eight others, most TJt are as Immediately affected by the them slightly. The property damage long-distance blockade of American has not been estimated, but the nftl ports by far-operating submarines hs * wi ll probably be closed for some are the ship owners themselves. The time. The , bne person dead is Mrs. enforced idleness of American ships Phillips, thirty-five years of age, is costing American exporters, and. w ho was an employee in the spinning indirectly all American producers, enormous amounts of money, and ex perts on economy declared that to room. The cause of the accident, It is thought, was due to the bursting or permit it to continue would disas- the % flume which carried the water trously affect American markets. ♦ ♦ VILLA PARTY PLEASED Action of Government at Columbus, N. M., Is Pleasant to Bandit. Announcement that the port, of .. . .... . Columbus, N. M., would not be closed 1 building, and many were from the dam above the mill to the wheel under the mill. . Soon after the employees went to work some unusual vibration were heard anc, messengers were sent to warn those in the milhthat something was wrong and to advise them to leave the mil This timely warning saved other lives, it is said, because jthe em ployees immediately began to leave out main problem is whether the presi dent will ask for Congressional authority to arm merchant ships or give the order himself. If Germany should release the sixty-four Ameri can seamen now held as prisoners of war and all Americans who cared to leave should get out of German ter ritory, the problem would be greatly simplified. The president, it is believed, hesi tates to prepare for carrying out the arming of merchant ships mainly be cause his action might cause the Ger man government to undertake re prisals against Americans in Ger many, . At the same time he appar ent)^ Jgsirep to avoid any course that C.ef if Villa troops occupied Palomas, the border port opposite Columbus, caus ed much rejoicing at El Paso among Villa partisans. It was taken as an indication that the United States would not interfere in the internal affairs of Mexico and if Villa forces occupied Juarez the El Paso-Juarez port would remain open. It was stated by « high govern ment official at El Paso that tlje United States was not expected to take any action" against Villa should he succeed in capturing Juarez un less there was firing across the bor der. PATROLS SEA LANES “—•~ T ~ — ~ Une of Vessels Extending 300 Miles From England. when the wall collapsed. NO NEWS FROM CUBA Rebels Occupy City of Santiago But Make Little. Gains. Failure to receive reports from Cuba Thursday^ showing market growth In the Liberal rebellion caus ed administration officials to regarc the situation there with less appre hension. Minister Gonzales’ reports confirmed press dispatches telling o ’ the dispersal of various rebel bands. They also told, however, of the occu pation of Santiago by.Gen. Fernan dez, commanding more than a regi ment of regular troops, who joinec him in revolt. By direction of the president, Seo retary Lansing notified the Swisi minister that the informal proposal of Germany submitted on Saturday by the minister inviting exchanges to arrange a modification of the Ger man submarine blockade policy could not be accepted until the blockade order was withdrawn and the Ger man government renewed its broken pledges to sink no neutral merchant vessels without warning and witlvput provision for the safety of passen gers and crews. The response of the United States was short and to the .point. There was no effort on the part of the sec retary of state to Indulge in fine writ ing or to elaborate the attitude of his government. In a straightfor ward business-like wsy the German government wss told through the Swiss minister that-its suggestion was not acceptable to the United States for the reason* given * If there la basis Tor the surmise thst the German proposal was in tended tp place the United States in an embarrassing position by com pelling- it to reject whst seemed to be an effort to prevent war, the ruse was successful In that in produced the rejection. But opinion in Washington is In clined to put the feather in the cap of the administration in announcing boldly that It would not compromise on the principles laid down in Presi dent Wilson's address of February S, in which he notified Congress that he had directed that relations with Germany be severed. In s note to the Swiss minister who on Saturday presented orally the German proposal. Secretary Lan sing said the United States "does not feel thst It can entsr into any dis cussion with the German govern ment concerning the policy of sub marine warfare against neutrals which it is now pursuing unless and until the German government renews its assurances on the fourth of May ithr Sussex note) and acts upon the assurances." The state department made public the secretary's reply, together with s memorandum which at Mr. Lan sing's suggestion Dr. Bitter, the Swiss minister, had prepared, setting down in writing the suggestion origi nally transmitted orally. Previously officials had declined to confirm the announcement by the Associated Press Saturday afternoon that such a proposal had been delivered by Dr Ritter. The state department gave out a statement as follows: 'Tn view of the appearance In the newspapers of February 11 of s report that Germany was initiat ing negotiations with the United States in regard to submarine war fare. the department of state makes the following statement: "A suggestion was made orally to the department of state late Saturday afternoon by the minis ter of Switzerland that the Ger man government is willing to ne gotiate with the United States pro vided that^the commercial block ade against England would not be interfered with. “At the request of the secretary of state, this suggestion was made in writing and presented to him by the Swiss minister Sunday night. — ‘‘The communication is as fol lows: ‘‘ ‘Memorandum: “ ‘The Swiss government has been requested by the German gov ernment to say that the latter Is now as before, willing to negotiate, formally or informally, with the United States, provided that the commercial blockade agrinst Eng land will not be broken thereby. (Signed) OongrrmimAii Thinks the Interests the State and Nation Require His Retention. * Representative J. W. Ragsdale of South Carolina fired the first gun in the forthcoming senatorial campaign in Sonuth Carolina when be issued a statement that he would not be a candidate for senator If Senator Ben R. Tillman was again a candidate. He would support Senator Tillman, he said. He did not say that he would not be a candidate if Senator Tillman was not. His statement fol lows: "A number of my friends hare urged me to enter the race for the United States . Senate in 1918, and many gentlemen from my district those of Andrew P. Peterson, H«fh have recently asked me whether or Accord and Burton Jensen, were not It Is mjr Intention to be * candl- found , ate Thunder by Lem Spills- date next year to succeed Senator . . ' . w Tinman bury, the Pershing scout, on# mile "A while back when Senator Till- west of International monument Ho. man's health was very much impair- 53, situated three miles west of the led he made a speech in which he c orner ranc h on th e Mexican aide of stated that because of his physical condition he did not intend becom ing a candidate for the Senate to succeed Liimsplf ‘‘Many of Senator Tillman’s | Columbus camp, Lieut. Col. J‘. C. Salazar Bends Ranch Foreman tn Americans iWith Message Threat- . . . 1> ^ ening to Kill His Wife Unless He Returns—Breathes Warning ot At tack Upon Another Border Town. Three bodies, later identified the border. Acting, under instruction# from Col. F. C. Sickle, commanding the friends and supporters were very I ^ a ^ erman 1° charge of Hatchita, or dered all available troops into the Corner ranch section. The troops left for their new poets Thursday night. The bodies of the three Amerio much distressed to learn this and 1 am sure that they will be very much pleased to know that Senator Till man's health is now better and that he is stronger than he has been for several years. I am quite sure that I were found about fifty feet apart, ac- if Senator Tillman had been In the cording to Spillsbury. Each had bees physical and mental condition that shot many times in the head, he now is, when he made the speech I Hugh Accord'd head was mutilated saying that he would not be a candl- with a machine, according to Bpllla- date to succeed himself, that state- bury. All the bodies were stripped ment would never have been made of clothing, hats snd shoes. Bpllls- and 1 am equally sure the people of bury found the raiders’ trail early South Carolina will welcome the | Thursday and came upon the news of his present condition of health and will insist on him serving them again. AH who knowiA>f the present friendly relations between. Senator Tillman snd myself will not need any statement from me (hii In the event of his being in the race, as 1 confi dently predict, thst I, not only will not be in the race against him. but I expect to-be one of his warm friends snd supporters “Senator Tillman s long service here in Washington has made for doned bodies late in the afternoon. He waa convinced that the three men had been taken into Mexico from American soil and then killed. A government agent reported to Washington that the Mexican# under Prudenclo Miranda were eating ner at a ranch house on the Ac can side when Peterson. Jensen and Accord rode up unarmed. The Ameri cans were msde/prisoners. His re port also confirmed previous reports of the Corner ranch raid. From^lter advices to military offl- hlm s wide circle of friends snd ac- cers the reported raid on Lang's quslntsnces. snd this with his power ful position ss chairmen of the Sen ate committee on naval affaire at this particular time when the navy means so much to our country snd gives him far greater Influence than ranch and the killing of two Ameri can ranchmen was believed to he baseless. Ed (Bunk) Spencer, the American negro ranch foreman for the E. K. Warren and Boas' Interests, who we could expect any new senator to reached the border late Tuesday with attain la a long period of service "Whst he can do for our country and the State he repreeents in this crisis would Justify his re-election aside from the debt of gratitude that is due him for all that he has done for Bouth Carolina and the Demo cratic party in the past.'V TO RETURN’§UARD? Orders Lend Color to Story That Mil ft la Is to He Released. Acting under Instructions from the war department, Gen. Funston Tuesday advised all National Guard organizations on the border not al ready designated to go borne, that "all officers not accountable for pub lic property, and all enlisted men on lesve or furlough, or who may be I evening Salazar's damand for five th< dollars in gold, also brought with him an oral statement which he de clared Salazar made to him at OH* toe. Chihuahua, the purport of which was that Salazar Intended to raid SB American towa on the border which would surpass Villa's raid at Colum bus. N. M . and la which all "maw of gringo land will have to taho earn," but that woman and children woald be protected. While Spencer made the trip to tho border from Ojitoe to dellvor Sala zar's demand for the ransom, hie Mexican wife was held as a hostage at the Ojitoe ranch and Spencer said he was told by Salasar that she would be shot if he did not return by sunrise Wednesday. After deliver ing his message to the general over seer of the Warren ranches. Opeoecr returned to Mexico late substantially granted tame, will be ordered to report .to their home de partment commanders for muster out.’* The order also provides that leaves and furloughs be granted only under exceptional circumstances from now on. Although official comment waa withheld concerning sentence of the order, it was construed In military According to Spencer, Salazar gave him the following message to take te the border: ''Tell the Ajnerlcan people that Jose Inez Salazar Is going to visit them shortly and distribute a few pounds of lead in their midst. Ju#t as soon as the forces I am eipeetiag reach me, I shall strike some Ameri can city or town and no Americas circles to mean that the government lorce or Carranza army will prevent intends sending all remaining state me from carrying out my plana Co- troops home from the border as Mu mb us will be nothing compared to quickly as possible, with the excep-1 my strike. tion of the Texas National Guard. “During my stay I will make every The order excludes the Texas troops. I effort to protect American women According to officials at baad- and children but the men of 'gringo quarters, the homeward movement I land’ will have to take care." of state troops in progress should be practically finished by February 20. This would leave the way clear for additional units to be designated for release.’ The Warren ranch interests are understood to have agreed to pay fif teen thousand dollars ransom for Spencer and his wife. Spencer re turned to Salazsr after meeting hie employers. The Mexicans had threat- ed States has taken the most vigor-1 ened t0 the woman If he failed ous course possible short of war to 1 t0 come back. denounce the ruthless submarine While close observers of the bor- warfare, officials of the government der situation professed to see aoth- regard the German proposal to nego-1 alarming in Salazar's threat, a tiate while the campaign is in pro- ma {° rit y °* population waa ag gress as utterly insincere. From the J prehensive. It was recalled that Villa first the move has been looked upon I before his raid on Columbus seat a P pj^ er " ’ of reports that President Wilson was TAKES AMERICAN RANCH r M LuHTff Salazar Occupies American (h%ne^ .Cattle Ranch in Mexico. Jose. Ynez"^ajazar with his Villa coinmgpd occupied Ojitos, an Amen ta Mexico. ‘‘This memorandum was given immediate consideration and the fol lowing reply was dispatched: “JMy Dear Mr. Minister: ." T am requested by the president to say to you, in acknowledging the memorandum which you were kind enough to send to me on the eleventh instant .that the government of the United States would gladly discuss with the German government any questions it might propose for dis cussion were it to withdraw its proc lamation of the thirty-first of Jan uary, in which suddenly and without previous-intimation of any kind, it canceled the assurance which It had given this government on tfie fourth of May last, but that-It does not feel that it can enter into any discussion with the German government con cerning the ppllcy of submarine war- A funnel-shaped sea lane of armed patrol boats, which extends three j hundred rtiiles from the British Ijdes i westward, has been established by n.iiilft construe as an inten-* the British admiralty, according to tlonii^tfffront designed to force vrar. passengers arriving in New York on The opinion Is expressed that Oer-,the Cunard line steamship Andania -many Is looking fora chance to put from Liverpool. Light cruisers, pa- can-owned cattle ranch WE" 1 . 1 * 8 ***** the oou ‘ 0 V™‘ Tl* 1!! d • rmed Y**!*" u * r - fort5-ff?* mlle. «, u .h T e.t of th« Ojr-1 f.r, ,i.| n «, Veutr.U 'WhUh lTii iiw - lined- the MHirye Uken by the nerTUnch. Wedowdey One Amerl- nurmuin. ubIm. end unt.l th" r.er- The belief «is prevalent among ( Andania from Paatnal until she was can negro is being held there for ■ who know of the situation that gafely out of the war zones, it ransom and three American Mormon If the president should take this im- said. .* • cowboys who were captured during it matter before Congress he, The patrol boats were at time* so the raid on tho Corner Ranch also #t tho same time reHts G*r- close to tho Andania tb*t her pas- are believed to •eioits srv- the eeagere said they appeared to be sop- at Ojttoo, ol nations and human!'* and arated by [ for nplfcnrtRp in omploiuaU gag tn Mom pursuing unless and until the Ger man government renews Its sssur- snees of tho fourth of May aad acts upon tho aauuraaco' "No qthwr da designed to becloud the Issue and put the United State* in a false posi tion of belligerency. In some respects the answer of the administration to the German suggestion is regarded as a document warning that he was coming. It became known that tho flvo thousand dollars Salasar demandod not only included the ransom of Spencer and his wife but also carried with it a threat that unless It woo as important as the Address of Proa-1 0De thousand head of cattle at Ident Wilson notifying Congress that ORtos would be confiscated, tho relations with Germany had been rancb buildings burned and all prop- broken. The main importance lies I ^ destroyed. Salasar was said to in the fact that the answer disposes | have five hundred men ot Ojitoo. - — — T MAKE JOINT PROTEST looking for some way of compromis ing the critical trouble between the United States and Germany so as to prevent the entrance of this govern-1 Scandinavian Countries Join in Hole ment Into the great war. I "No com promise” is the position on Submarine arfare. of the i^sld^t. GecMiany mnst After a Joint consultation in Stock- I * -'■ole week ,h. Scjb- dinavi&n governments have handed submarine warfare or remain on bad terms with the United States, with all that this severance of relations means to the Kaiser's government. Even if Germany should abandon the new policy, the United States government would not be willing to resume friendly relations until it had received a renewal of the pledge given on the.demand of the Presi dent .after the Channel liner Sussex was sink last year.. The action of the United States D not giving encouragement to those Who have been seeking (o put the president In the position of not hav ing meant what he said in his Con gressional address of February S Opinion Is divided as to wbsthor ihs present eonditlon of broken will lead to war. but tbs ■ to the German ministers accredited to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden an identic note protesting against tbs submarine blockade, refusing to rec ognize It as legal, and making all reservations with regard to loss of life and to material damage that may result. Among the people of the three countries the fact that the notes are identical has caused the greatest sat isfaction as demonstrating once more that the war has drawn the peoples of Northern Europe very closely to gether. rubs Is about ta attract with a revolution The ( sited has given seme f~r * si 4