From the News

Dated:

Dispute Between British and Americans Officials Finally Settled

Camp Mills, N.Y., April 9

Nearly 2,600 Americans who enlisted in the war in the British Army were demobilized here today after receiving their pay and transportation expenses to their homes.  The men who arrived Monday on the steamship Mauretania had been brought here because of disagreement as to their status between immigration authorities and British military officials.  Colonel Thwaites representing the British war Department had charge of the demobilization.

The major part of the contingent had come from west of the Mississippi and a few from Canada.  Many of the men announced their intention of “seeing New York” before starting for their homes.

One Hundred English Army officers, who accompanied the men from England have received a four weeks furlough, which they will spend in New York.

New York, April 9

After being held virtually prisoners for entire day on the Conard Line steamship Mauretania because of a disagreement between American immigration officials and the British military officers, 2,700 war veterans, the majority of them Americans, who had served with the British army, were allowed to leave the vessel late yesterday afternoon.  The troops were transferred to Camp Mills, New York, to await settlement of the controversy.

Will Prevent Repetition

London, April 9

Robert P. Skinner, the American Consul-General is taking steps to prevent a repetition of the Mauretania incident, involving holding up at the port of New York of war veterans, the majority of whom were Americans who had served in the British Army, because the American immigration officials had no satisfactory proof of their citizenship.  The consulate has a representative at the Winchester Camp, where 25,000 Americans are congregated for repatriation to see that the tangled problems of citizenship in this great body of men be properly met.