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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 5, 1917)
ilson Asks Neutrals Break With Kaiser The Omaha Daily Bee Want-ad Service Night or Day Tyler 1000. THE WEATHER Cold SINGLE COPY TWO CENTS. VOL XL VI. NO. 198. OMAHA, MONDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 5, 1917. STEAMER'S CREW WAS GIVEN FULL WARNING.REPORT American ConsuKat Plymouth Hears German Subsea Pro vided for Safety of Men Aboard Housatonic. BRITISH BOAT SIGNALLED If True, Washington Says One .Immediate Overt Act to Cause War Removed. RESCUED ARE LANDED Washington. Feb. 4 The Ameri can steamer Housatonic was given full warning by the German subma rine before being sunk ami opportun ity was given for the safety of the crew. A dispatch received at the State department today from Ameri can Consul Stephens at Plymouth, England, announced this. No further details were given. It is not known how the information reached the con sul, unless, perhaps, the British ship which rescued the crew put into his district. Consul Stephens' dispatch, later made public, reads: "American steamer Housatonic, loaded with a cargo of wheat for the British government, torpedoed by German submarine at 12:30 February 3. Vessel warned and total crew of thirty-seven rescued by submarine and towed for ninety minutes towards land. Submarine fired signal to Brit ish patrol boat, which subsequently landed crew at Penzance." If the report is borne out, dis patches from Washington say that it will remove the one immediate overt act which seemed to render actual hostilities between this country and Germany inevitable on the basis of President Wilson's address to con gress yesterday. London, Feb. 4. The crew of the American steamship Housatonic, sunk by a German submarine, was landed today at Penzance, England. Investi gation is expected to establish before many hours the circumstances of the sinking. Germany Feels -Wilsoon Views Note Far Too Seriously Uerlin, Feb. 4. (Wireless to Say ville.) Press dispatches have reached Berlin, according to which diplomatic relations between Germany and the United States have been broken off, says the Overseas News agency. No official confirmation has been received, "In case the news is correct," adds tiic agency, "the general feeling in Germany is regret that the American president gave to the German note an interpretation which was not intended by Germany. The German measures are not intended to damage neutrals, but were caused by the necessity of defending Germany against hostile measures which are contrary to inter national law. Germany's enemies, therefore, being charged with the whole responsibility." London, Feb. 4. Reuter's Amster dam correspondent telegraphs that up to 1 o'clock this afternoon no news had been received there from Ger many relating to the American-German relations. The censor has pre vented the sending of German news papers across the frontier to Holland. Stockholm, Feb. 4. Private advices from Berlin say the announcement of the rupture of relations between the United States and Germany was re ceived with comparative calm by the people. "Judging by the news received from the United States the feeling there against the Germans is incomparably more bitter than the feeling here against Americans," says a dispatch from Berlin. Cherokee Indians Offer , To Volunteer as Fighters: Tulsa, Okl., F'h. 4. The Cherokee j Indian nation has volunteered its services to the country in the event j of war. A telegram signed by W. C. ; Rogers, principal chief of the Chero- j kces. has been sent to the War de partment asking the privilege of or-1 ganizing a regiment "to defend the flag when needed in the great crisis ' now. before us." j The Weather j For Nebraska Cold, IVmpcrmturtti at Omaha Ytrrday. Hour. I'pr. 9 p. m 7 p. in Comparative Lorul Record. 117. 1910. 115. 1114. Itinhf.st ypxterdtty. . . fl :M 4: 36 Ijowpst ypsterday. . . 10 '1 ::i u Mpn temperature. .. ! n r.t; 24 Prm-lplutlon 12 .24 .17 .00 Temperature and precipitation departures from the normal: Normal temperature 21 Deficiency for the day 28 Total exceae since March I... 14b Normal precipitation 03 Inch Kxceaa for the day 09 Inch Total rainfall atnee March 1 17.42 lnchea Deficiency aince March 1 12.60 lnchea Deficiency for cor. period, 1915. .43 Inch Deficiency for cor. period. 1914.. 1.79 lnchea Ij. A. WELSH, Metcoroloalat. cooler jjjCi a. ni ..... 9 i fc 9 p. m 1 1 7 p. in 0 SOLDIERS GUARDING NEW YORK BRIDGES Extraordinary Precautions Are Taken by Authorities to Protect Harbor. GOVERNOR IS IN CHARGE New York. Feb. 4. Major General O'Ryan, commander of the state Na tional Guard established his head quarters in the municipal building this morning and took charge of the mobilization of the militia. Governor Whitman, who came here last night from Albany, also remained in the citv in close touch with the situation. The National Guard and the naval militia of this state were ordered out last night by the governor upon the request of Mayor Mitchel, who asked that such detachments of the guard be ordered out "as may be necessary for the purpose of aiding the civil au thories in the maintenance of law and order." The mayor's communication opened with a review of acts of vio lence directed against property within the last year. Police Reserve on Duty. Double reserves were ordered on duty at every police station. It is ex pected that the first division of the National ' Guard, numbering 17,000 men, will be ready for service in less than a week. At 11 o'clock- a battalion of naval militia took charge of the Williamsburg bridge, relieving the po lice. At noon similar guards were placed on Brooklyn, Manhattan. Queensboro and Hell Gate bridges, all connecting with Brooklyn across the East river. One hundred men were assigned to each bridge, divided into three reliefs. Strict Guard on Bridges. Their orders were to "observe card fully and search, if needful, suspicious vehicles or suspicious foot passen gers," and to notify all persons cross ing the bridges by foot or in convey ances that they would not be allowed to Halt while on the bridges. The orders also called for an increase in the illumination of the footways and driveways and especially of the an chorage of the suspension bridges, "and at any other points where the discharge of a small quantity of high explosives might lead to the destruc tion of the bridge." Between the bridge piers on both sides of the river one and three-pound cannon were posted accompanied by machine guns. Announcement was also made pro hibiting all vessels except those in public employ from apwotching within fifty feet of the bridges "save in case of great v emergency." The guards were provided with mega phones to warn boats off. Reason for the Action. It was pointed out in the announce ment that the fall of the East river bridges would cither cut off the navy yard from the main ship channel or block the interior line of communi cation from Hell Gate. Governor Whitman, after confer ences here today with National Guard officers, said part of the Tenth regi ment had been assigned to duty in the Hudson river counties and the First regiment in the central part of the state. He received word that the Hudson river bridges at Poughkeepsie and Albany were being closely guard ed by railroad detectives and city po lice. The governor asserted 19,000 guardsmen could be mobilized in this state within a few hours, if necessary. Extra Care Taken For Guarding Against Disorderly Acts Washington, Feb. 4. Machinery of national, state and local governments sprang into sudden activity today to take precautions against any acts of German sympathizers threatening damage to the country from without or within. Preparations for national defense by army, navy and the in dustries which support them showed a quick response to the stimulation of the break with Germany. Many manufacturing concerns sent word of their willingness to put gov ernment work ahead of private con tracts. Early this week the senate is ex pected to act on measures prepared by the Department of Justice to cover unneutral acts committed within the United States. The treasury building in Washing ton and its branches, tuints and assay offices in other cities will be guarded by increased squads of armed men. The White House grounds have been closed to visitors and extra police sta tioned at all gates. x Admission to the State, War and Navy buildings, where thousands of important public documents and rec ords are kept, is now by official pass only. Nebraska Guard Has No Special War Orders, Says Hall Adjutant General Hall said last night that no special orders had been received by hint from Washington, nor had he issued any to the Nebraska Guard. He has ordered extra vigi lance in guarding the state arsenal and military warehouses. Recruiting will proceed as usual, at least until special orders are received from the War department. He had received word from Llano Grande that the Fifth Nebraska regi ment left there at 1:30 on Sunday aft ernoon, and will probably reach Fort Crook on Thursday. Beyond this he has no word as to the muster out of the regiment. It is possible, he said, that word may be had from Washing ton today in regard to these matters. MONEY TO MEET EMERGENCY MAY EASILY BE HAD President Talks With Chair man of Senate Finance Com mittee About Possible Needs. I SUSPENSE AT CAPITAL J Government Waits for Word I as to Effect of Break With Germany. GOING TO A WAR BASIS Washington, Feb. 4. President I Wilson this afternoon sent for Cliair- man Simmons of the senate finance i committee. The committee will play an important part in providing addi i tional money for the government in j the present emergency and is now considering a revenue bill. Senator Simmons discussed with the president the raising of sufficient money by congress in the event that hostilities with Germany begin. A definite sum was not fixed upon, hut Senator Simmons recalled that at the outbreak of the Spanish-American war a bond issue of $500,000,000 was immi'HiatpIv authorized. Hp frit rer- I tain congress would act promptly when necessary. In his talk with President Wilson Chairman Simmons gained the im pression that the State department's official reports on the sinking of the Housatonic have dispelled fears of war over that case. In Period of Suspense. The United States and a large part of the world today entered a period of suspense, not knowing what the German-American rupture may bring forth. All agencies of the govern ment turned to the problems of de fense against possible hostilities. In Berlin, American Ambassador Gerard was preparing to hasten home with his staff and all American con suls now stationed in Germany; in Washington, German Ambassador von Bernstorff had his passports and will leave the country as soon as arrange ments can be made. Officials agree that the first overt act of Germany in violation of what the United States maintains are its rights on the seas can haidly fail to lead to war and details of the sinking of the American steamer Housatonic in the new submarine war zone yes terday were sought anxiously. Waiting Word From Neutrals. Word from other neutrals is await ed with keen interest in response to fhe United States' open invitation for them to join in resisting Germany's aggression if they feci their rights are violated. The Spanish ambassador at Berlin will represent the United States in continuing the demand, presented shortly before the breaking of rela tions, for the release of sixty Ameri cans taken by the German raider from British vessels in the south Atlantic and now held prisoners in Germany. To combat German sympathizers in this country whose depredations are forecasted, it is believed, by a number of petty acts reported in the last twenty-four hours, congress has set to work to frame new laws covering such conspiracies. National Guards men may be used extensively to guard manufacturing plants, bridges and public buildings, it is said. Secrecy as to Navy. Movements of navy vessels, pub lished daily until yesterday, are now not divulged and ordeTs have been is sued by the War and Navy depart ments to bar visitors from all mili tary reservations and navy yards where damage might be done or secret information obtained. The question of arming American merchant ships or of convoying them through the submarine blockade zone is before government officials and a decision may be expected before long. Issuance of passports for travel to Germany has been suspended by the State department. May Limit Inaugural. There was considerable talk in Washington today of the possibility of abandoning plans for elaborate in augural ceremonies for the president and vice president and it was thought the functions may be limited to the simple administering of the oaths one month from today. Belgian Relief Work Is Suspended for the Time Washington, Feb. 4. Operations of all transportation of the Belgian Re lief commission have been suspended and ships in American, Argentine, In dian and European ports have been ordered to remain there until further notice, Herbert Hoover, chairman of the commission, announced today. Hoover hopes operations may be re sumed soon and members of the com mission in Belgium have been ordered to remain at their posts until other wise advised. Mexicans Cheer Germany Across From Brownsville Brownsville, Tex., Feb. 4. There was a small demonstration by Ger man sympathizers in Matamoras, op posite here, tonight when a report from Mexico City was published that Germany had declared war against the United States. A small crowd paraded the streets shouting "Vive Alemania!" (Long Live Germany). Unusually heavy guards were thrown around the United States ar senal at Harin&en Tex., tonight on instructions from the War department. I I I ln I if i I INTERNED SHIPS ARE UNDER GUARD Crews of Boats at Hoboken Reported to Have Put En ' gines Out of Commission. GERMAN BOAT IS ON FIRE New York, Feb. 4. The crews of the German ships tied up at Hoboken are reported to have put their engines out of commission. A German sailor on the Kaiser Wilhelm II, asserted as he was abandoning the vessel today with others of the crew that the engine on his own and the other ships had been damaged beyond repair. Hoboken police headquarters an nounced it was expecting the arrival of United States' marines to take charge of the vessels, seventeen in number. It was understood that both the German ships in Hoboken and those in New York, numbering more than a score, were to be seized by the cus tom bouse authorities. First evidence of activity in respect to the German ships was the arrival at upper West Side piers, where five of them are berthed of 100 police. The crews of the ships were forbidden to leave. The police said they are await ing the arrival of Collector of the Port Malone. The departure of the crews from the ships moored at Hoboken also was stopped. Germans Burn Boat. Honolulu, Feb. 4. The interned German gunboat Geicr is burning in the harbor here. It was set on fire by its crew, according to the local au thorities. The Gcier of 1,604 tons was interned here shortly after the war began. It was built at Wilhclmshaven in 1894. Crews Damage Engines. Manila, P. I.. Feb. 4. It is reported that virtually all the machinery and engines of the twenty-three German steamers lying in Philippine ports have been damaged by their crews. Seventeen of these vessels are in terned at Manila, three at Cebu and three at Zamboanga. The damage in some cases is said to have been done thirty-six hours be fore the first report of the break in the relations between the United States and Germany. The Filipino crews of the steamers here have been discharged. The crews of the steam ers at Cebu have been excluded from the engine rooms. The government has redoubled its precautions concerning the ships, hut there have been no seizures. The American squadron has re turned to Manila from target practice and is patrolling the bay. Six Men Found Dead From Escaping Fumes St. Joseph, Mo., Feb. 4. Six men were found dead in their rooms here today, asphyxiated by gas escaping from small heating stoves. Four of the men, packing house laborers, were found in one room in a hotel where they were staying over night. ' Two others died in a boarding house. The Recruiting Sergeant -ii Gerard Will See the Kaiser Today London, Feb. 4. James W. Ger ard, the American ambassador, says a Berlin message received at Geneva and transmitted by the Ex change Telegraph company, saw Chancellor von Bethmann Hollweg late last night. According to a re port received in Geneva from Munich, the ambassador may have an audience with the German em peror on Monday. iASK GOVERNORS ! PROTECT CONSULS (state Department Makes Re j quest That Authorities Take Action. NO WORD AT LINCOLN Washington, Feb. 4. The State de partment has telegraphed the gov ernors of thr states asking them to protect the consulates of the central powers in their states. Department officials explained to day that they did not anticipate that any violence would be offered the con suls, but it was thought wise to guard against the possibility of demonstra tions, especially in the event of hostili ties. Germany's consular representation in the United States. Porto Rico. Hawaii and the Philippine islands comprises thirty-four men. "I have received no word from Washington on this matter," said Governor Neville over the telephone last night. "I do not think any espe cial action will be needed in Nebraska to protect the citizens of other lands. The adjutant general has just in formed me that the F'ifth Nebraska regiment started home from Texas this afternoon. It may be that some messages from Washington, of which I know nothing, have arrived for me." There arc no consulates of the cen tral powers in Nebraska. The nearest consulate is in Denver. Hans Hoser, 2R'J Davenport street, a bookkeeper for the Standard Oil company, is correspondent of the tier man government here, lie said last evening that he had received no ad vices from the German consulate de partment, inasmuch as he is not an agent of the government, but merely a power of attorney correspondent. There is also a correspondent at Lincoln. Carranza to Be Neutral In Case of German War Mexico City, Feb. 4. General Car ranza was notified last night by The Associated Press of the rupture of diplomatic relations between the United States and Germany. He de clined to make any statement, but an immediate member of his official fam ily announced that he was preparing a declaration of strict Mexican neu trality in case of war between the two countries. SUNDAY'S BLIZZARD COVERS WIDE RANGE Hurricane With Snow Rages From Mountains East, Caus ing Great Troouble. OMAHA IS FAVORED SPOT Another blizzard struck northern Nebraska, western Iowa,' South Da kola and the southern portion of yotning, Saturday. Indications last night were that it was more severe than the one of last week. Tempera tures are running all the way from zero to fifteen and twenty below. Trains running through the storm zone have been annulled, or arc run ning hours behind their schedules. So far as central and southern Ne braska is concerned, the high wind prevails, hut there is no new snow r.nd hardly enough of the old snow to drift. All Sunday the wind blew a gale, continuing into the night. Disagreeable Sunday For Omaha. Oman experienced a most dis agreeable day. The morning started cold anil windy. The temperature was nine degrees above zero and continued at about this point until along in the atfernoon, when the drop commenced anil at 7 o'clock last night, the mark ing was at zero. The government weather office run up the cold wave flag at noon and not long thereafter the cold wave ar rived. The office sent out the pre diction that this particular cold wave was sentering up in the Rocy moun tains and that it would overspread the plains states, with the cold extend ing down into Kansas and across into Iowa and up into Minnesota and the Dakotas. In Nebraska late last night reports indicated that the wind was high everywhere, and light flurries of snrw over the cast and south sections, with heavy stiow farther north. Severe Storm In Iowa. Dcs Moines reported the worst storm of the season, in fact, many of the old timers asserted that it was the most severe in the history of the state. All through the state a high wind blew, prostrating telegraph nd telephone wires, new snow falling and drifting badly. In some localities it was reported to have piled up in drifts five and six feet high. Tempera tures ranged from zero to ten below. iSoux City was hard hit early in the day. Snow fell throughout a good portion of Saturday night, when the wind commenced piling it up. In the city, street railway and other traffic was suspended, or greatly demoral ized. The weather was so bad that men could not work on the transpor tation lines, the snow being driven along by a tifty-per-mile wind and the temperature down to. fourteen below zero. South Dakota Snow Bound. Pierre, S. D., reported the worst storm in years. There was a heavy (Continued on I'M" Two, Colnmn Two.) NEUTRALS BIDDEN TO JOIN AMERICA IN GERMAN BREAK r- President Wilson Instructs Diplomats to Invite Ail Not at War to Dissolve dip lomatic Relation. NO OTHER CHOICE HERE Close Neighbors of Teutons May Hesitate at This Actio a, STILL TRYING. FOR PEAfE Washington, Feb.M. Bi'dc's break ing off diplomatic relations with Ger many, President Wilson has made a bold stroke to range the moral forces of all other neutral countries along with that of the United States in the interest of peace. i 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 American diplomats in those countries to report immediately how the suggestion is received. The opinion in diplomatic quarters here is that European neutrals at the very doorstep of Germany, threatened by its military power, will hesitate to take such a step. The effect of the suggestion in other countries is being eagerly awaited. This was the only known development of first import ance which came out of a day of tense waiting which followed the actual an nouncement yesterday. First Cloud Dispelled. , News that the American rteamer Housatonic had not been sunk with out proper warning and that no lives had 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 sacrifice American lives or rights, the administration is awaiting developments, but leaving undone nothing to prepare the country for the eventualities of war. The situation as to Austria is to night unchanged. There is no doubt, however, that diplomatic relations will be -broken with - her. when she aw nouhces her intention to adhere to Germany's course. The president's invitation to neu trals to follow his action was con tained in instructions to American diplomats to announce the break with Germany to the governments to which they are accredited. It was contained in the following order: No Choice for U. S. "You will immediately notify the government to which you are ac credited that the United States, be cause of the German government's recent announcement of its intention to renew unrestricted submarine war fare, has no choice hut to follow the course laid down in its note of April 18, 1916. (The Sussex note.) "It has therefore recalled the Ameri can ambassador from Berlin and has delivered passports to the German ambassador to the United States. "Say also that the president is re luctant to believe Germany actually will carry out her threat against neu tral commerce, but if it be done the president will ask congress to author ize use of the national power to pro tect American citizens engaged in their peaceful and lawful errands on the seas. "The coarse taken is, in the presi dent's view, entirely in conformity with the principles he enunciated in his address to the senate January 12. (The address proposing a world league for peace.) ' Still Hopes for Peace.. "He believes it will make for the peace of the world if other neutral powers can find it possible to take similar action. "Report fully arjd immediately on the reception of this announcement and upon the suggestion as to similar action." Thus it becomes apparent that in the shadow of war the president has not abandoned his effrost for peace and as the first step has moved to di rect the moral forces of the neutral world to compel Germany's return to an observance of international law at sea. The danger that broken diplomatic relations between the United States and Germany will develoo into a state of war is by no means minimized by President Wilson's course and neither he nor other officials of, the govern ment are abating their preparations for any eventuality. Steps to protect American cities (Continued on Pnno Two, Column five.) Many opportunities are listed in today's Want-Ad Section. Read them carefully, but if you fail to find what you want, try a small Want-Ad of your own. Call Tyler 1000 You are as close to The Bh Want-Ad Dept. as your phone is to you.