The Washington times., 1915-05-03

Sss, and on the German statement as
eeiling the good faith Of American neu-
traltty because of shipment of war mu-
nitions to the allies.
II comes. too. at time when the
Lusitania and other liners are headed
for the war zone and when hundreds OF
Americana are holding their breaths lest
relatives on board such vessels SO down.
1t need hardly be said that although
the Gulflight incident will be handled
cidents will make 1t difficult for the
United States to restrain popular ex-
The question being asked on every
What is the German government driv-
ing at? is 1t bent on incurring war
With the United States? Or, is II de-
terfnined to 80 right to the edge Of war
try to compel a modification Of the Brit
fish attitude as to allowing foodstuffs to
90 to Germany
War Supply Situation.
A prominent Senator today said he
could not explain the German disregard
for consequences unless 1t might be ON
the theory that If the United States de-
clared war on Germany then Ameri-
cans would proceed to keep all their
war munitions at home and not permit
them to be shipped abroad for use Of
ths allies.
No one thinks. of course. the Gulf
light episode will not lend itself to
diplomatic treatment. But what Is wor-
rying everybody Is the accumulation OF
evidence that Germany is either looking
for trouble with the United states or
that her authorities are reckless OF the
possibilities Of incurring trouble.
The German embassy, usually prompt
to defend acts Of the Kaiser's land or
sea forces. declined comment or expla-
nation concerning the Gushing or the
torpedoing Of the Gulflight.
The liner Lusltania, with several hum
dred prominent Americans on board. is
steaming toward England despite anony-
nous warnings to individual passengers
and formally signed warning pub
lished In the advertising columns OF
American MISUNDERSTANDING which,
In view of late developments in the sea
war zone, 1t Is beginning to be feared,
may prove far from empty
The report sent by Minister Van
Dyke. at The Hague. to the depart
ment relative to the Gushing, has been
eIdsred Gsrsrd fGs% gS.5,n arded to Ambassador
request for a full Investigation to de-
terminc whether the aviator's course
was upheld by his foreign office and
II SO. for German official explanation
OF Its attitude.
More Serious Than Frye Case.
The case was looked on as distinctly
more serious than that of the William
r. Frye, the American vessel sunk by
the German commerce raider Prinz
Eitel Frederick. Even assuming that
germany pays for the Guliight as IT
mas mas agreed to do for the Frye. experts
said the incidents would not be on a
parallel. That Captain Thierichens OF
the Eitel was wrong In sinking the
Frye was still insisted. but it was con-
ceded that there were enough doubtful
legal questions involved in the matter
so that he was entitled to the assump-
tion of having reached an honest even
hough mistaken conclusion and acted
accordingly. Furthermore, he showed
a scrupulous regard for the lives or
As compared with more or less nat
ural error. of judgment on Captain
Thlerichens' part, which. reparation
having been made. will not have any
resny re,ni serious consequences, it was
suomarine responsible for the Gull
nights loss can hardly plead anything
put an error due to gross carelessness
lack of investigation, and indifference
TO the rights of neutrals.
Case of the Falaba.
The case was also cited Of the British
steamship Falaba. also destroyed by
German submarine. with the loss Of tn,
life OF an American passenger. Leon c
Thrasher. This again, was spoken o.
as not In the same class with that o.
tho Gulf Light, with the loss Of tn,
lives Of Capt. Alfred Gunther, of New
York. and two OF his men. Thrasher
said critics Of the two cases, was under
the British flag; indeed internationa
law experts were of the opinion that tn,
incident did not even class, for gravity
though a death was involved, with tina
OF tho Frye.
Finally. the warning given by the Ger.
man embassy here Saturday, through
newspaper advertisements, and, IL they
can be traced to official German
sources, the other warnings received by
passengers on the departing liner Lusi-
tsnia were deemed in some quarters as
adding to the seriousness of the out
look, since they were interpreted as
suggesting that the Kaser's naval forces
had In mind at the time an unusual
demonstration in connection with which
neutrals were likely to be endangered.
Unofficial Expression.
This warning was not regarded a.
sufficient; the feeling was that Ameri
cans ought not only to have beer
warned-they ought also to have beeI
spared. at least on an American ship.
These are not official EXPRESSIONS. They
are the expressions of men who will
have more or less hand in shaping Of
6cia1 policies In the Gulflight case ant
were generally accepted as foresha dow
Ing roughly what the American attitude
will be.