Show ID s 4 Seizes Seizes' 17 German erman Ship I s UI U. 1 M MOVES V WITH WIT VI VIEW W i OF f PREVENTING PLUNGE INTO INT EUROPEAN UR fl FIGHT HT BULLETIN By tor to Tl-i Tl Telegram lm MANILA Feb 5 The The United States authorities at 6 o'clock this evening seized the seventeen German merchant vessels anchored anchored an an- in Manila bay All AU the German crews were were removed By John Edwin Nevin International News Service Staff Correspondent aSHINGTON Feb 5 W Whether Whether ether the diplomatic break with WASHINGTON Germany must st be extended to include Austria was the new question at stake in the international situation n today Austria Aus Aus- us tria has backed up the German Germ plan for unrestricted submarine war fare Complete confirmation of th this s fact has been received fi from Amb Ambassador ss dor Penfield at al Vienna He has communicated lie of a statement handed the Austrian foreign office announcing 1 i ing ilg the new Vl pr n or s l submarine m t e. e po J ta ge be expected in In the Mediterranean n. n It no now v v is in m the the hands ot of resident Wilson who will decide what action shall follow Meanwhile officials I 1 withheld comment Officialdom generally expects a diplomatic break bleak But Butt as s t tp when it will take place or or whether in view of pf the yarning Warning given gi Germany it wo would ld be policy to wait and see whether Austria's threats fully nie mean mean n that neutral rights are to fo be infringed President President Pres Pies ident Wilson can say He will confer about the matt matter r Secretary Secretary Secre Secre- tary Lansing today or tomorrow J Count Tarnow remained in strictest seclusion at the Aust Austrian an He is only a private citizen n until he presents his credentials cre to the pre president ident said Baron the charge when I told of the tilt growing possibility that the United States might break reak I with Austria Hungary Accordingly he will wit h have e no comment to make Inake I It was considered significant that a strong police guard was las thrown about the Austrian embassy today for the first time It was also learned the servants of the embassy who live outside and have been in the habit of paying nn their board for a f full ll month in in advance this time so strong is the feeling that the have P paid aid but two weeks davs days of the embassy are numbered Although the United States according according according accord accord- ing to authorities would not be bound to secure a safe sate conduct for Count for his return to Vienna it Is understood that such a n request will be made if it the president declines to receive him and recalls Ambassador Penfield News that the American liner Philadelphia Philadelphia Phila Phila- delphia had safe safely reached Liverpool raised a burden front from official ders An attack up upon n the tho liner would have havo forced President Wilsons Wilson's hand Now there is an opportunity to I await developments and judging from tram the action in the case of or the Housa- Housa Housatonic housatonic tonic submarine seem desirous of oC obeying the international law in their treatment of or neutral ves vessels vessels ves ves- sels at least Jt was made Very ry plain everywhere I In official circles today that the administration administration ad ad- ministration still hopes that actual I 1 conflict with Germany can be avoided The presidents president's official declaration to I this effect as made public in his address address ad ad- dress to the congress Saturday was adopted by every cabinet member toI to tor day At the same time UlC they made I it plain that the they felt compelled to take every possible step to insure tho the safety of or the United States to place the nation in position for any even even- u I Secretary of Gar Avar Newton u. u Baker llaner went to the capitol and conferred I with the members of or the house appropriation appropriation appropriation ap ap- committee regarding army appropriations He found a disposition tion hon to meet the views of the administration administration admin admin- on every even hand The Tho naval appropriation bill now under debate in the h house usa will be amended to strengthen the hands of or the tho secretary of the navy and to allow him to take every step necessary to insure proper of preparedness in the taking over any ship yard plant or the lIke Secretary of State Stale Lansing said ald at ut athis hIs regular conference with the newspaper newspaper news news- that ho has r received no men word paper from Ambassador Gerard He lie also alio stated that he had no word from Ambassador Penfield today The Tho note defining the Austrian position was Saturday and was translated translated trans trans- received on yesterday Since then no further fur flU further from the American ther word word ha has come I ambassador in Vienna Mr Lansing J. said ald that the es estimates matea regarding the number 0 of Americans Americana no now In Germany German varied two taro to six thousand The Tho que question of or getting them out of tho the country countr and home is being handled by the department through b its l' l representatives pre in Switzerland and Holland The state department the secreta secretary said has bas received no supplementary communication whatever from Ocr Ger many So far tar as the reports current that the restricted area has been modi- modi field to aid Dutch commerce are concerned con concerned con con- the department remains without without with with- out Information |