UNITED STATES.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1917, Page 5

UNITED STATES.

DISABLING GERMAN SHIPS. DAMAGE DONE TO ORDER. GERMAN CAPTAIN'S EVIDENCE. Reuter Service. Received Eel). 18, 11.16 p.m. Boston, Feb. 18. Captain Polack, of the Kron Princessen Cecile, at the hearing of a litigation suit as to the proposed sale of the steamer, evidence that he had lieen instructed by an official of tho German Embassy to disable the machinery, so as to prevent tho use of the vessel bv the United States, in the event of war. The order was obeyed at the end of January, the" damage being estimated at £20,000. Captain Polack was excused from disclosing the name of the official, declaring that if he did he would •$ courtmartiallcd in Germany. ALLEGED STATEMENTS BY MR. GERARD. Received Feb. 1,8, 5.5 p.m. 'Paris, Feb. 17. In an interview with the newspaper Lc 'Matin, Mr. Gerard stated that the Germans failed .to understand that Americans could not place themselves in the position of other neutrals. This caused all their errors. The policy of the Wilhelinstrassc was, said Mr. Gerard, to terrorise individuals, and then to terrorise the American nation. They thought that America would ibe afraid, but were deceived. If Germany appeared to temporarily yield to President Wilson, it was because she hoped to disarm American opinion. Gcr- 1 many had made her biggest mistake when she made the declaration regarding the so-called blockade. Mr. Gerard subsequently repudiated the interview. Le Matin states that the interview was the substance of a conversation with M. Hughes Leroux, a personal friend of the Ambassador. THE YARROWDALE PRISONERS. Now York, Feb. lfl. Tho State Department has not received confirmation of the release of the Yarrowdale prisoners and the permission to American relief workers to remain in Belgium, but the press reports have relieved the tension for the immediate present.