The San Antonio Light (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 37, No. 29, Ed. 1 Saturday, February 17, 1917 Page: 1 of 8
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FOUNDED 1881—VOL. XXXVII—NO. 29.
ALL GUARD TROOPS WILL GO HOME
UNITED STITES
NOW BLOCKADED
BE SUBMARINES
U-boat War Directed at En-
tente Cuts Off American
Shipping Effectively.
PROTESTS POURING IN
Messages Urge Government
to Relieve Situation —Pres-
ident Before Congress.
WASHINGTON D. C. Feb. 17.—
What has virtually become a block-
ade ot American ports by Germany's
ruthless submarine campaign was re-
garded by officials today as over-
shadowing the collateral issues ot
the situation.
That President Wilson soon will
go before Congress to announce
steps to relieve the situation was the
generally accepted view but no time
has been set for his action.
Hundreds of telegrams were re-
ceived by government officials today
urging that something be done to
relieve the freight congestion. Of-
ficials recognize that the holding ot
the majority of American and other
ships in port fast is becoming in-
tolerable. Piling up of freight ou
railroads while believed to be large-
ly due to weather and other condi-
tions is nevertheless looked upon as
in part the result of the inability o'
exporters to clear American parts
of freight.
Secure Congress' Approval.
Means of protecting American
ships against the submarine danger
still are under consideration. Many
officials believe the president has
the power to direct the Navy Depart-
ment to furnish these vessels with
guns and gun crews nevertheless
the possibility that a clash with
uermany might result is expected to
cause the president to go before
Congress before taking such action.
Full information on the departure
of former American consuls from
Germany was delivered to Secretary
C.ansing today in a note by the Swiss
minister. No details were given out.
It is understood however that ev-
ery arrangement for facilitating de-
parture of the 86 former American
officials and their families has b<u
made. .
No reports of indignities by search
and detention to Americans leaving
Germany have come to the State De- j
partment since its protest against
such practices as stripping men and
women was sent to Berlin just be-
fore diplomatic relations were
broken off.
The full text ot the explanatory |
and supplemental clauses proposed j
bv Germany as a protocol to the |
Prussian-American treaty of 1<»»|
were made public today at the State
Department.
Briefly the protocol amplifies the
treaty so as to place Germans in this
country and Americans in Germany
in case of war on exactly the same
footing as to all property rights
freedom from detention concentra-
tion camps and sequestration of
property that are applicable to other
neutrals.
No Time Limit Fixed.
Nationals of either country might
remain fully undisturbed in the
other country as long as they please
and not for the nine months pro-
vided in the treaty. Merchant
ships of either nation might not be
seized or driven to sea unless under
a safe conduct to their home port*
through all possible enemies and
their captains and crews may not
be made prisoners.
Officials here have pointed out
that while Germany's violation of
several provisions of the treaty may
be taken up by this country to have
vitiated the convention the United
States will continue to live up to
its spirit. Two proclamations al-
ready have guaranteed that Ger-
man ships or private German prop-
erty will not even in case of war
be seized and used by this govern-
ment.
Little interest is shown by the
State Department officials in the
German proposal.
1
LUMBER AT STANDSTILL.
Minnesota Camps and Mills Tied Up
By Car Shortage.
VIRGINIA Minn. Feb. 17.—8e-1
cause of the worst car shortage in j
the history of the lumber business '
on the ranges this industry practi- I
rally is at a standstill according to
a statement made today by Edward
H. Hines president of the Virginia '
and Rainy Lake Lumber Company j
' Lumbermen are confronted with
* a lack of boats in the south and
in the east it is embargoes" said Mr. j
Hines.
SHIPS TO BE AVAILABLE.
'Owners and Agents to Help Clear
Freight Congestion.
- I
NEW YORK. Feb. 17.—Owners <
end agents of ships declared today
they were ready to do their part 1
in relieving the railroad freight con- 1
gestion. They predicted that export- )
ers would have no cause for com-
.plaint that they could not find ves- ;
'seis to carry their goods. .
Railroad men were inclined to ;
agree that the new submarine cam-
paign played only a small part in the e
freight situation. The most impor- t
♦ant factor in the situation they
THE SAN ANTONIO LIGHT
said was the weather which had
been the worst in many years. Twen-
ty-one merchant ships arrived here
yesterday promised greater cargo
space than the port of New York
has enjoyed for some time.
Transportation conditions west of
Buffalo and Pittsburg to the Mis-
sissippi river are chiefly responsible
for freight congestion throughout
the country and not partial paraly-
sis of shipping resulting from Ger-
man submarine activities. E. B.
Thomas president of the Lehigh
Valley railroad asserted. He said
that road now is in better condi.
tion to handle freight than at any
time since last winter.
The executive committee ot the
American Railway Association meet-
ing here today announced that the
freight situation has been placed in
the hands of the organization's car
service commission which has been
co-operating with the Interstate
Commerce Commission for months
past.
CONDEMN THE RAILROADS.
Southern Hardwood Dealers Send
Petition to Washington.
MEMPHIS Tenn. Feb. 17.—
Resolutions adopted at a meeting
here Friday of the directors of the
Southern Hardwood Traffic Associa-
tion called to consider action regard-
ing the existing embargo in effect
on northern and eastern railroads
and addressed to the Interstate
Commerce Commission went forward
to that body by mail last night. The
resolutions declare that “the trans-
portation system of the country has
failed at a time when the nation is
facing a critical period in its his-
tory."
The commission is urged in the
resolutions to take such immediate
action however drastic as may be
necessary in its judgment to afford
prompt relief and insure to the
American public a transportation
system adequate to meet the com-
mercial and military necessities of
the nation.
The membership of the association
represents 120 manufacturing con-
cerns in the states ot Kentucky Ten-
nessee Missouri Arkansas Missis-
sippi Alabama and Louisiana ship-
ping normally over 250.000 cars of
forest products annually and em-
ploying approximately 15000 labor-
ers. The directors said complete shut-
down must occur unless relief is
given very soon.
TAKE THE DEUTSCHLAND?
(German Submarine Captured by
British Ts Report.
BALTIMORE Md. Feb. 17.— The
merchant submarine Deutschland
has been captured it is asserted here
by William Palmer second engineer
of the American transport liner
Mongolia. Palmer said that the
British had captured 400 enemy sub-
marines and that he had seen 187 of
them including the Deutschland
chained together in Plymouth har-
bor in the center of a huge network
of chains attached to buoys and
wharves.
Catpain Koenig commander of
the submarine freighter and his
crew are in English jails said Pal-
mer.
The Mongolia left Plymouth Janu-
ary 27. Photographs of the
Deutschland wrapped with the
chains which held her to others in
the harbor were on exhibition Pal-
mer continued and it was generally
known in shipping circles that the
freighter had been captured. Where
Captain Koenig and his crew were
detained he did not know. He did
not learn how the Deutschland was
captured.
Sus|»end Money Orders to Cuba.
WASHINGTON. D. C„ Feb. 17.—
Suspension of money order service
between the United States and al!
postoffices in Cuba except the city
of Havana was announced today by
Postmaster General Burleson at the
request of the Cuban government.
This action will prevent Cuba rebels
from receiving financial support
from the United States through the
mails.
THE WEATHER
TEMPEKATTRKB
FEB. 16. 2 a. m. M
3 p. in. ...... 58 3 m. m 53
4 p. m 58 I a. in 53
5 p. in 58 5 a. m 54
6 p. ni 5k 6 a. ni »6 ।
7 p. in 58 7 a. m 57 I
8 p. m 56 8 a. ni 58 |
9 p. ni 55 9 a. ni 59 :
10 p. ni 53 10 a. in 62
11 p. »n 53 11 a m 63
12 midnight.... 53 12 m 64
FEB. 17. 1 p. ni 65
1 a. m 53 2 p. m 6S
WEATHER FORECAST.
For San Antonio and vicinity: Tonight
increasing cloudiness Sunday probably
rain; colder.
HOME WEATHER FOR TOURISTS.
(Forecasts by The Light.)
ST. LOUIS: Temperature. 44; clear: 28-
mile wind from the south west; colder: low-
est temperature In last 24 hours. 44; high-
est. 52.
CHICAGO: Temperature. 42; clear; 24-
mile wind from the southwest; fair and
"older; high northwest winds; lowest tem-
perature in last 24 hours. 34; highest. 34.
MILWAUKEE: Temperature 38 cloudy.
»6-mile wind from the southwest; colder;
High northwest wind; lowest temperature
n last 24 hours 28; highest 30.
ST. PAUL: Temperature. 8: clear; 40-
nile-gale from the northwest; colder; low-
?st temperature in last 24 hours 8; high-
‘St 26.
KANSAS CITY: Temperature 42: clear;
4-mlle wind from the southwest; colder;
oweat temperature in last 24 hours 42;
ilghcst 58.
NEW YORK: Temperature. 28. cloudy
i-mlle wind from the west; warmer; high j
outh winds; lowest temperature In last 1
4 hours 24; highest. 34.
WASHINGTON: Temperature. 34. clear
-mile wind from the southeast: warmer;
owest temperature in last 24 hours 30;
lisheAt.
OBEYED ORDERS
TO 0«[ HIS
INTERNED SHIP
Captain of German Liner
Cecelie Says Teuton Of-
ficial Gave Instructions.
ENVOY'S NAME WITHHELD
In Federal Court Hearing in
Libel Proceedings De-
tails Are Brought Out.
BOSTON Mass. Feb. 17.—Cap-
tain Charles A. Polack of the North
German-Lloyd steamship Kronprin-
zessin Cecelie testified today at a
Federal Court hearing on a petition
for the sale of the vessel that he
had been ordered by a man connect
ed in an official capacity with the
German embassy to disaoic its ma-
chinery.
This wag done he said to prevent
the ship's use by this government
in the event of hositlitics with Ger-
many. Be refused to divulge the
name of the man giving the order.
Captain Polack said he wag in
Hoboken. N. J. when he received
the order and that he telegraphed
his chief engineer here to disable
the engines. The work of destruc-
tion was done on January 31 and
February 1 ho said.
He Is German Natal Officer
When asked by counsel for the
petitioners to give the name of the
person from whom the order was
received Captain Polack said:
“Your honor 1 am an officer of
the German navy and if I should
have to disclose the name of th »
gentleman in thi 8 hearing 1 might
be tried for terason when 1 went
home to Germany. 1 wish you
would not oblige me to answer that
question."
The question was not pressed and
Judge Morton decided that it would
not be necessary for the captain
tu answer it at this time.
Captain Polack said he met the
embassy official in January at the
North German-Lloyd offices in Ho-
boken. The orders to disable the
ship were given at the time in the
presence of Captain Moller super-
intendent of th ecompany’s lines in
this country he testified.
Captain Polack was preparing to
visit Hot Bprings. Va. at the time
but changed his plans and returned
to this city.
Continuing his testimony the cap-
tain declared that the embassy offi-
cials said to him:
Condition Is Serious.
“The relations between the tw’j
countries are being severed and the
condition is very serious.”
The witness testified that he in-
quired whether the machinery whs
to be disabled immediately and tnat
he received an affirmative answer.
Captain Moller he said did not jar-
tic.pate in this part jf the conversa-
tion
Before adjournment for the
luncheon recess Judge Morten
stated that if the point were pressed
ne would find that the owners had
acquiesced in the damage to the
vessel and would hold them in con-
tempt.
Describing his actions. Captain Po-
lack said:
“AI.out the tinu the Sussex case
was vi and when difficulties had
at hen between Germany and Amer-
i a I was asked to go to iN.-w York
by the company'.! «..liicers to maet t
gentleman who war.ted to speak
to me.
“I knew the gentleman. He toi 1
me he thought it '%as about time 1
should destroy the secret code ot the
vessel her charts and plans and se-1
< ret books in order that they did not!
fall into hostile hands and that the
ship could not be used for any length '
of time.
’’When I returned from New York
I spoke to my chief officer and my
chief engineer and told what 1 had
learned. 1 told my chief engineer '
I would leave it entirely to him to
do what he thought necessary to '
disable the engines of the ship. I I
told my chief officer that when I |
was not on board and w hen he re- ।
ceived a telegram from me the time
had come when the order was to be
executed.’’
Sent Meaningless Telegram.
Asked if he had told the represen-
tative of the German government •
that the vessel had been libelled and ’
was now in the possession of the ’
United States court the witness re- ।
plied that this had not occurred to I
him.
On January 31 the witness con-
tinued he again visited New York
and had another interview with the
parties from whom he was taking in- .
structions. After the interview he
sent this telegram to his chief offi-
cer Sigmund Bierans at Boston:
“Tell Peterson everything O. K."
Asked who “Peterson" was he
said:
"Nobody."
The telegram was understood be-
cause it had been agreed that upon
its receipt the engines were to be
disabled.
Captain Polack said he left imme-
diately for Boston w Uere he saw the
men at w’ork disabling the engines.
"I believe it was finished by mid-
day of February 1" said the witness.
“All orders were oral. We never
lid anything in writing."
Later. Attorney E. E. Blodgett said
he thought the court was entitled to
knowthe name of the German em-
bassy official who ordered the dis-
ibling of the Cecilie even if it must I
i»e given privately. After a confer- 1
snee with the attorneys Judge Mor-
SAX ANTONIO TEXAS SATURDAY FEBRUARY 17. 1917.
ton said that personally he did not
see what good purpose would be
served by naming the official since
his official position was known and
declared that if counsel did not press
the matter he would let the testi-
mony stand.
Moller His Superior.
Continuing the examination coun-
sel for the libel interests asked:
"Was Superintendent Moller your
superior officer?"
“Yes; but he did not give me any
orders.’’
“He knew that you were going to
damage the ship?”
“1 talked with a government offi-
cial in his presence but 1 do not
know whether he heard the conver-
sation. lam in doubt about it."
After answering a few minor ques*
tions the witness was excused.
B. 8. Murphy a marine surveyor
w ho examined the ship testified that
it would cost $llOOOO to repair the
visible damage and require at least
six months’ time. In its present con-
dition the vessel is worth between
$2500000 and $3000000 he said.
GRANTS JITNEY MEN
RESTRAINING ORDER
City Temporary Prohibited
From Enforcing New
Ordinance.
A temporary restraining order
preventing the dity of San Antonio
putting into effect on Monday the
drastic jitney ordinance passed at
Thursday’s meeting of the city coun-
city. was granted Saturday afternoon
by Judge J. T. Sluder of the Seventy-
third District Court conditional on
the plaintiffs giving a bond of $5OO.
The writ granted by Judge Sluder
practically insures that the jitneys
may operate on Houston street Mon-
day and will continue to operate
there until a final decision is reach-
ed on the merits of the controversy.
The injunction suit is styled C.
L. McGinnis et al vs. City of San
Antonio et al the plaintiffs being
McGinnis L. Leary T. A. Rieber and
W. C. Fleming. The petition in the
main is composed of allegations to
the effect that the ordinance is un-
reasonable and discriminatory that
I it is contrary to the principles of
[ common right it is arbitrary and
i oppressive and is an invasion of the
rights and personal liberties of the
plaintiffs and other citizens. It is
claimed that the jitneys are operat-
ing by virtue of an ordinance passed
in 1915 ard that in pursuance of
such ordinance many jitney owners
invested money in cars of the use
of which they are now sought to be
deprived without due process of law.
Other technical irregularities in the
ordinance are also urged.
The action of Judge Sluder in
granting a temporary order without
setting a date for a hearing puts the
next move up to the city. Counsel
for the city may come into court
with a motion to dissolve the tem-
porary order. in which event the
merits of the respective contentions
will be threshed out. If no such
move is made the restraining order
will hold until the case comes up
for hearing in its regular order.
STEEL NETS ACROSS
GUANTANAMO HARBOR
Extreme Precautions Being
Taken to Protect Port
Against Submarines.
GALVESTON. Tex. Feb. 17.—Ex-
treme precautions for tne protection
I of Guantanamo harbor have been
’ taken by the United States accord-
ing to Captain Mason of the Ameri-
can steam schooner Fort Bragg
J which arrived here from that port
I last night.
Captain Mason says that a steel
1 net has been stretched across the
1 harbor entrance as a protection
! against under-sea boats and that ves-
! seis leaving or entering the port must
I obtain permission from the com-
-1 mander of the battleship Montana
who gives orders for the opening of
a gate in the net for the passage of
ships.
Captain Mason was at Guanta-
namo when diplomatic relations with ;
Germany were broken off. and says ;
that of the forty-four American war-
ships then in the harbor only the ।
battleship Montana remains. All the
other warships left immediately af- I
ter the break with Germany.
Reports that four German sub- :
marines were in or near the Gulf of
Mexico were current in Guantanamo I
says Captain Mason. He said that in i ’
some quarters credence was given '
these reports. ! (
Net Across New York Harbor.
NEW YORK Feb. 17. —A steel .
net designed to protect the port of
New’ York from hostile submarines I
and other war craft in the event of
war was put in place at the en-
trance off the harbor today. For the
present it will be kept in position
only between sunset and sunrise.
TO INSTRUCT BONILLAS '
I
Now Ambassador from Mexico Will '
Confer With Carranza.
£
WASHINGTON. D. C. Feb. 17.—1 f
Ignacio Bonillas the new appointed
ambassador from Mexico will re- (
ceive special instructions from Gen-
eral Carranza before coming to *
Washington. s
WESTERN ENNI
IS PREPARING
FDRDFFENSIYE
British Troops Already Feel-
ing Out German Lines
for Weak Spots.
TEUTONS GETTING READY
But Landstrum Men and Boys
Are Found Among First
Line Trenches.
(From a Staff Correspondent of the
Associated Press.)
BRITISH HEADQUARTERS IN
FRANCE Feb. 16. — (Via London
Feb. 17.) —The cold which has held
the western front frost-bound for
nearly a month is moderating and it
is easy to sense all along the battle
line an unmistakable quickening
which tells of the approach of spring
and foreshadows the coming to grips
of the greatest armies yet assembled
in the world war. Already tho. arm-
ies ure testing various parts of the
lines and attempting to discover the
most likely points ot qontact for the
beginning ot the titanic struggle that
is expected to make this the decisive
year of the conflict.
The Germans have removed the
civilian population from the cities
and towns in proximity to their line.
No such precaution has been felt
necessary behind the allied front.
Never silent the British guns are
beginning to roar more and mole
steadily. Tonight they are booming
with particular violence in the sector
of the Somme. The chorus of guns
rises and falls like great peals of
thunder along the horizon. New di-
visions have been recently identified
along the German lines bearing out
i ' porta of great troop inov cmviib
going on in Germany.
Re-arrangc old Divisions.
British officers however' say that
this concentration is not as formid-
able as it appears at first sight. They
say that many of the so-called new
divisions of their opponents are
merely a re-arrangement of old di-
visions. These statements are based
on information collected during
j trench raids.
Another German maneuver has
been a combing out of regiments and
divisions by which groups of twenty-
five of the youngest men were taken
from each company in the line and
sent back to Germany to form new
units or corps d’elite British officers
believe that it is on these corps
d’elite that Field Marshal Von Hin-
denburg is placing his greatest reli-
ance.
According to information obtained
here the gaps in the companies have
not been filled and the diminution
in numbers has been covered in some
instances by ieducing infantry regi-
ments from four battalions to three.
Landstrum regiments have recent-
ly been identified on the front here.
They had formerly been employed in
patrolling the frontiers and protect-
ing lines ot communication. Ac-
cording to prisoners the picked men
of the landstrurners are in the
trenched while those who are un-
fitted for the hardships of the firing
line are on duty at the depots in the
rear.
Many Boys in Trenches.
Many boys of 17 and 18 have also
been found in the German trenches
by the raiders.
The British staff is keenly inter-
ested in a report that prior to the
declaration of unrestricted subma-
rine warfare by Germany Field Mar-
shal Von Hindenburg stated to
Chancellor Von Bethmann-Hollweg
"everywhere our front is invulnei-
able. The supply of reserve is uni-
jde the troop in good spirit and ab-
solutely reliable.”
The British point of view is that
the last three words of this state-
ment constituted an admission that'
doubts were entertained in German ■
circles as to the reliability of their '
troops. There is no disposition how-
ever to underestimate the stubborn '
resistance that the Germans have 1
the power of making.
The evacuation of Grandcourt by
the Germans and other minor sue- !
cesses won by their initial operations I
are interpreted as meaning that the ;
Germans are prepared to give way |
at some points in order to fall back j
under carefully prepared main lines i
of defense lines that have not been ।
hammered by bombs and shells like |
so many of the present front
trenches.
Will Rely on Artillery.
Artillery is looked upon as the de-
ciding factor in the coining battle
and upon artillery the British have <
been concentrating their energy. The
constant thundering of the British
guns all winter has meant the care- «
ful training of officers and men in <
all the modern arts of gunnery.
• • j
1
Attacks on French in Champagne;
Rc|>orted Successful.
BERLIN. Feb. 17.— (By Wireless |
to Sayville.)—Troops of the uerman ’
crown prince in an attack against i
French positions south of Ripont in ;
the Champagne yesterday the war ।
Dffice announced today on a front of j
about a mile and a half captured ]
ground to a depth of a half mile.
The Germans took 858 prisoners in- (
eluding 21 officers. <
The attack preceded by intense J
artillery fire was made mainly i
against ITench positions at Maison’s i
AMERICAN AVIATOR
BACK FROM FRONT
CLLIOT COWDIN.
Elliot Cowdin. the first Ameri-
-1 can aviator to return home since
the break with Germany has of-
fered his services to the United
States in case of war.
Cowdin. who has received sev-
eral French medals for gallantry
in the Fianco-American Flying
Corps has been released from duty i
on account of a weak heart. He I
made it plain however that in
case of hostilities he would climb:
into his seat on a warplane "heart ]
or no heart" and do all in his
power to help the aviation corps |
here to become as famous as the
one across the water.
de Champagne farm ami Hill 185
about one-third of a mile south uf
the farm. Four lines of French po-
sitions vvdre stormed in the attack.
The French made counter attacks
but were repulsed with losses. The
German losses are said to have beef
small. The statement adds:
"Gatherings of hostile infantry in
trenches north of Armentieres west
of Lens and on both l-snks of the
Ancre were shelled by us with de-
vastating fire and no attacks there- '
fore developed.”
FRENCH ATTACKS FAIL.
Confinuisl l ighting in Champagne
Region Is RciHUtixl.
BERLIN. Feb. 17.—(8y Wireless!
to Sayville.) — French troops made I
attacks yesterday on the Aisne west
of Berry-au-Bac and in the Cham- I
। pagne south of Ripont. Today s of- |
ficial communication says these ef-
forts failed.
Congratulates the Crown Prince.
BERLIN Feb. 1 7.—( Via London.)
— An official communication says
Emperor William has telegraphed
the German crown prince congratu-
lating him and his troops for their
successful attack against the French
in Champagne which he says main-
tained their reputation for smart
execution.
THE LADY* ANN SUNK
Two of Crew’ Killed and Five In-
jured Says Lloyds.
LONDON Feb. 17.—Lloyds an-
nounces that the British steam?r
Lady Ann 1016 tons has been sunk
by striking a mine. Two of the
crew were killed and five injure:. 1
The captain and eightc< t men are
missing.
The British steamer Nethorlee was !
torpedoed without warning last Sat-
urday and two members of her crew
were killed. The remainder of the
crew’ was landed.
A T^ondon disp tch of February 12
said Lloyds shipping agency report-
ed the sinking of the British steamer
Netherlee. She measured 4 227 tons
and was last reported departing from
Philadelphia January 21 for Dun-
kirk France. (
SENTRY KILLS CIVILIAN
North Carolina Guardsmen Say. Or-
der to “Halt’’ Disobeyed.
EL PASO. Tex. Feb. 17.—A sen-
try from the Second North Carolina
Infantry on outpost duty outside tne
town shot and killed an American |
civilian who refused to halt at his ■
challenge late last night.
The sentry was placed under ar- i
rest. The dead man has not yet been i
identified i
EIGHT PAGES rODAV—PRICE FIVE CENTS
Ml HI IMt
SMI lIIIM
Orders Issued by War Department Saturday After-
noon Instructs General Funston to Return All
State Troops for Mustering Out.
TOUR OF BORDER PATROL IS ENDED
Regular Army Forces Will Take Places of Militia-
men on Frontier—Movement to Be Carried
Out as Rapidly as Possible.
(BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.)
W ASH 1 N(। I OX. 1). C.. Feb. 17.— Demobilization of the en-
tire national guard force remaining in the federal sen ice of the
I border including troops from Texas. New Mexico and Arizona
was ordered today by the \\ ar Department.
Genera! bunston was directed to send all guard organizations
home lor muster-out as >oon as he can complete arrangements
for the movement.
The War Department issued this statement: “Orders have
been sent to General Funston to send all national guard organiza-
tions North for muster out including border states. All details
• of the movement including dates of departure are left to General
I Funston.”
W hile it was not admitted at headquarters of the Southern
; Department that orders for the demobilization had been received
it was learned from unofficial sources that preparations were
i being made to put the order into effect. “\\ e have nothing to give
|out was the reply of staff officers when questioned.
RAILROAD MEN TO AID |
Special Committee on Defense to I
Formulate Flans.
NEW YORK Feb. 17—The special
committee on national defense of the I
American Railway Association com-
posed of officials of eighteen rail-
roads. will hold its first meeting at
rn early date in Washington to learn
from President Wilson and the coun-
' cil for national defense what would
be asked of them in time of war.
The committee represents geo-
graphically the four departments of
(he army and the members in each
of these divisions will co-operate I
with the staffs at the army head-
I quarters situated respectively at New
‘ York San Antonio Chicago and San
। Francisco.
CANAL NOT PAYING
Operation Cost About Twice Receipts i
frYom Tolls.
WASHINGTON. D. C. Feb. 17.—
A total of 2 780 vessels passed
through the Panama Canal up to
January 1 last since it was opened '
to traffic. August 15 1914.
Their gross tonnage was 13086.- i
535 and the total cargo carried was.<
11652405 tons. |<
The aggregate revenue frum tolls
in 1916 was $3677695. as against' ।
a cost of operation and maintenance
of $7142124.
PILOTS ARE CAUTIONED I
Government Warns Association Not
to Give Out Ship News.
NEWPORT NEW’S Va.. Feb. 17. j
—The Virginia Pilots’ Association j
today received order from the United I
States government not to give out
any information whatever regard-.
ing the arrival or departure of ships I
in Virginia waters.
CONSULS In* GERMANY
I
Berlin Has Not Arranged for Special
Train Promised Thein.
LONDON Feb. 17.—The United t
States consuls who are still in Ger-|l
many may be unable to leave the <
empire for some weeks according 5
to ar. Amsterdam dispatch to the I
Times quoting an American who has!
arrived there from Germany. । 1
This informat said the government! \
had not yet aranged for the special | r
train it had promised the consuls j *
Americans Still Waiting.
GENEVA Feb 17.—(Via Paris.) j \
—Many Americans who have been ■
living in Germany are reported to be^ f
waiting near Singen and Constance H
for permission to cross the frontier I
into Switzerland. The Germans are
reported to have closed and sealed;'
the American consulate at Warsaw. 11
CITY
EDITION
4:00 P. M.
'GUARDSMEN ORDERED
ID HACHITA DISIRICI
General Funston Sends Threr
Companies to Strengthen
Patrols There.
Orders have been given by Get
eral Funston for three companies of
the New Mexico National Guard to
proceed from Columbus to Hachita
to strengthen patrols in the sectl r
where new raids are threatened. The
troops will be distributed to the best
advantage by Lieut. Col. J. C. Water-
man commander of the Hachita dis-
trict. Troops of the regular army on
duty in the territory are also being
. re-arranged to give increased pro-
tection to ranch properties.
Additional reports have not been
received from the Laredo district
where F’orida guardsmen have been
searching the brush for seven Mexi-
can bandits whose escape baric
across the border was cut off when
they attempted a raid on the Sole-
dad ranch officers said the Mexi-
cans may have been able to elude
their pursuers by reason of thick
ness of the brush.
BERNSTORFF'S PARTY
NOT ALLOWED ID LAND
Credentials Being Examined.
Countess Suffering From
Slight Nervous Attack.
HALIFAX. N. 8. Feb. 17. — The
task of examining the credentials ot
the various members of the Ger-
many party on board the Scandina-
\ ian-American liner Frederik VUL
from New York to Copenhagen was
begun today by a corps of Canadian
officers. The party includes Count
Von Beinstorff. former German am-
bassador to the United States.
Reports that it was possible that
Hans Tauscher and Wolf Von IgeU
who figured in the revelations con-
nected with the alleged plot to de-
stroy the W’elland canal and report-
ed on the vessel might be removed
by the British naval authorities are
without confirmation.
The passengers will not be allowed
to land. They were reported well
though Countess Bernstorff is said te
be suffering slightly from a nervout
attack due to circumstances undel
which she has been vailed upon
leave her native land.
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Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Diehl, Charles S. & Beach, Harrison L. The San Antonio Light (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 37, No. 29, Ed. 1 Saturday, February 17, 1917, newspaper, February 17, 1917; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1614313/m1/1/: accessed June 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .