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Show PRESIDENT NOF READY TO STRIKE now Executive Is Said to Have Very Decided Opinion as to What Should Be Done to End Blockade of American Shipping by the German Ger-man Submarines. IS NOT CERTAIN TIME HAS COME Officials at Washington Emphasize the Fact That the Great Fundamental Funda-mental Question to Be Settled Is the Illegal U-Boat Campaign Itself. It-self. WASHINGTON, Feb. W. The ruthless German submarine campaigm and its ef-lects ef-lects upon the United States were dis- cussed late today by President Wilsogj fc. and the cabinet. The meeting lasted only ' hour, and afterward it was said no new steps had been decided on. Arming of American merchantmen and the economic effects of the partial tie-up of shipping out of American ports ware the subjects on which the cabinet centered cen-tered attention. Secretary McAdoo is compiling a list of vessels held In port, and Secretary Redfleld is making a comprehensive com-prehensive analysis of the inroads submarines sub-marines are making on shipping generally. gen-erally. Consideration is given by the government govern-ment to all the different phases of the situation that have developed since the break in relations with Germany, includ- ! ing the detention of the Yarrowdale prls- ! oners, the crisis with Austria, the plight of Americans in Turkey and Belgian relief. re-lief. Fundamental Problem. High officials took pains today, however, how-ever, to emphasize that the great fundamental funda-mental problem before the nation is the Illegal submarine campaign itself. Against this campaign the United States has made the most vigorous protest possible short of war, but the administration realizes that so long as It permits American ships to be held in port for fear of attack by submarines it, in effect. Is acquiescing In the German policy. This state of affairs, It is admitted, cannot be permitted to continue indelinltely. What the United States must do to end it, and when, are the only questions. The president Is understood to have a very definite opinion as to what should be done, but he has not yet decided that the time to do it has come. Confirmation Asked. $ Press dispatches from Berlin announc-k announc-k Ing that the seventy-two American sea-1 sea-1 men brought In by the Yarrowdale had been released caused the demand that Vthe men be freed to be withheld pending I official advices on the subject. A cable-l-irram was sent to the Spanish ambassa- dor at Herlln asking whether the re-port re-port was true. It is not doubted, as It has been assumed from the first that Germany would not hold the men after rumors reaching there of the imprisoned imprison-ed men t of German sailors in the United StfUes had been cleared up. Another inquiry was sent to the Spanish Span-ish a mha ssador to ascertain the cause of delay in the departure of the American Ameri-can train from Munich, which Mr. Gerard previously had reported would leave "some day this week," with eighty- six consuls and their families and an unknown un-known number of other persons. Delay at Munich. An earlier dispatch from the Spanish ambassador said Germany had promised to facilitate the consuls' departure as much as possible. It Is understood, however, how-ever, that for military reasons the Germans Ger-mans insist that the remaining Americans Ameri-cans all go out In one trainload. and that there has been delay in concentrating them at Munich. No doubt is felt here that they will arrive at Berne shortly. Two important moves by Great Britain to meet the submarine menace were announced an-nounced during the day. Another war acne was proclaimed, seeking to block practically the whole route of exit I ( toward the Atlantic of the German U-boats from their bases in Germany I and Belgium. With the English channel practically closed by an elaborate system of nets, mines and patrols, the means of exit for the submarines has been through the route north of Scotland and down the Irish coast. The new danger zone, designed de-signed to close that way out. is understood under-stood to have been liberally strewn with mines. j Details of plans for changing the port yof call and examination for boats between this country and the northern European neutrals from Falmouth to Halifax were " made public. The Idea Is to allow the vessels to avoid the German submarine (Continued oa Page- Two.), PRESIDENT IS IT READY TO STRIKE (Continued from Page One.) zone by swinging around Ireland and Scotland and down the Norwegian coast. A second port of examination of southern south-ern commerce may be established later at the Bahamas or Bermudas. American exporters will still be afforded afford-ed the opportunity of securing "letters of assurance irom me oritisn emuossy ncit: ! that their goods are not consigned direot-Iv direot-Iv or indirectly to England's enemies. The British blockade and the "rationing' of Holland and Scandinavia will continue as before, and a new list of articles which cannot be Imported Into England' will be published shortly in order to save cargo space and prevent unnecessary expenditures. expendi-tures. The falling off in the rate of daily destruction de-struction by submarines to a few thousand thou-sand tons has made a great impression here and given rise to speculation as to whether the return of submarine fleets to base or the success of British precautions is chiefly responsible. Break Expected. Dispatches from Ambassador Penfleld at Vienna are awaited with particular Interest In-terest because of press reports saying the ambassador had "broken off" negotiations" negotia-tions" with the Austrian foreign office and Americans had been ordered out of the country. There has been no official confirmation of either of these reports. So far as the state department knows, the ambassador is still presenting the views of the American government In regard to Germany's submarine policy, to which Austria has adhered, although a final re-j re-j port from him showing a break with 'Austria to be inevitable Is expected at any time. The council of national defense continued con-tinued Its work preparatory to possible mobilization of the nation-is resources . during the day. Offers to turn over industrial in-dustrial plants to the government In case of war still are pouring in. William A. Morgan, president of the Buffalo Brass and Copper Rolling mill, appeared personally per-sonally to put his establishment at the government's disposal and to furnish information in-formation desired by the council. |