QUESTION OF OPEN PORTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 February 1917, Page 5

QUESTION OF OPEN PORTS.

AIUROVED BY T!IK I'JtE>lP/ENT. Received Feb. M, p.m. Washington. Feb, 1.1. Senator S;mM>ury oflered* to move a roaoiut.cM to open I'nilcil States ports to all Allied warship-. Sue!) ft .step, he M:a£!C-ted, would oinhlo 111 United S{;ite : i, without v.nr, to in the prevention of vi of the i'k;hts to iHe the >e:i by ;, r iviii(*' assifltaneo to tho*p at present in pro. i'entiui; those vioJation*. 3t is understood that President Wilson entirely approver, of tiie proposal, which ha< been referred to the Foreign Affairs Coimuilieo. Mr. St-ne nml others ai'j believed to he oppo«u\( to it.

THE YARROWDALE PRISONERS

HELD AS IICKTA«K% Washington, February 13. Tito State Department lias ins titute:l enquiries as 1.0 llermwv'i intentions regarding the prisoners. There is increasing cCrnment that if America does not enter the war it will be due ))v:inarily to thi cilieienev of the British licet in reducing Mibmarines to harmlessncss. Tile Swiss Minister, acting for the German Government, has notified the State Department tlint Germany is holding us prisoners tlic 72 American sailors on the steamer Yarrowdale until it has an assurance that the crews in American harbors are not imprisoned. The development is unexpected and lias caused some amazement. LARGE NAVAL VOTE. A FLEET OF SUBMARINE CHASERS. Received Feb. 14, 11.no p.m. Washington, Feb. 14. The Army and Naval Departments have appointed seven committees to develop ft programme for the mobilisation of the reserves in times of war. It is announced that the Navy mobilises a mosquito fleet of torpedo bouts to act as submarine chasers in the event of war The Naval Appropriation Bill of .t'SliS.OOdOfil) has been passed. It provides for the construction of 42 ships and huge ammunition stores. WAR BILL INTRODUCED. "Washington, February 13. War Bill has riecn introduced in Congress. It opens ports to belligerent ships affected b.v t'righifnhiess, and is planned to prevent violations of international law without a declaration of war. Congress passed an appropriation o' a million sterling. Mr. Wilson ha-s renewed bis demand that Germany should release the Yar rowdale's crew. DIVIDED OPINION OX SUBMARINE WARFARE, New York, February 13. A United Press message from Berne states that the German Minister of Finance (tlerr von Heifi'erich) told Van Roedem that he was opposed to inciting America to participate in the war. The junkers, industrial leaders and munition manufacturers favored changing to ruthless submarining.

RE A GEHMAN EXPLANATION. Copenhagen, Feb. in. Regarding the statement, that Germany desired through Switzerland to notify America of her willingness to exempt American ships from the blockade. (Herman newspapers explain that Germany merely asked whether America still accepted the 17!)!) Treaty, whereby German-American citizens would be allowed to return to Germany, even in war-time. 'MR. GERARD'S MOVEMENTS. • Berne, Fob. 13, Mr, Gerard will remain in Switzerland Tor dye .days, and will sta'"«ome time in ••Atria ■