Arizona republican., 1915-05-08
UNITED STATES MUST
(Continued from Page One)

<, German embassy was instructed tc
 warn passengers travelling on bellig erent ships Anonymous warnings
 were then sent to individuals who
 proposed sailing on the Lusitania
 The most significant of all were the ! letters received here from officials
 lp Germany by private persons stat ! ing the Lusitania surely would he destroyed. From the day the ship
 sailed from New York officials here | received inquiries from many sources
 almost daily as to the safety of the
 vessel. One official was told with | much positiveness early today that i this day had been selected for the | destruction of the vessel.
 The navy radio at Arlington had been on the alert for news, and from time to time had been reported as having picked up messages saying the vessel was sunk. Inquiry at the navy department each time failed to con firm the reports as they were not circulated because it was feared they would spread unnecessary alarm. At the German embassy while no comment was made as to whether it was known there the vessel was to be destroyed it was said the embassy knew the Lusitania carried arms and ammunition and being advised of the resolution of the German admiralty to attack ships that carried such contraband the officials had believed she would be attacked There was a disposition on the part of German officials to inquire whether the Lusi- tania carried any guns on her decks, which might place her in the class of a Warship and make unnecessary. according to the laws of interna- tional warfare the giving of warn ing
 Officials at the state department said they had not heard that the Lusitania carried any guns. At the British embassy it was revealed early in the war that after the United States gov ernment had been consulted on the question of small guns for big liners. the advice was given by the state department. and needed that no guns be carried on decks.
 The British embassy heard of the disaster through news dispatches, but offered no formal comment though officials stated the attack was abso- lutely inexcusable and constituted a most fragrant violation of all rules OA AiAlti tAblleli ilN
 Officials of the United States gov ernment were slow to express any opinion on the diplomatic phases of the disaster Secretary Bryan de clined to comment on the course of this government. There remained little doubt. however. tonight in well informed quarters that the incident would become a matter of diplomatic correspondence between the United States and Germany when complete information had been received fr- respective of whether any citizens of the United States had lost lives.
 Ambassador Page reported briefly on the sinking of the vessel but of ficial information as to whether the ship was given warning. whether she was conveyed by British warships, and concerning the extent to which the lives of Americans are jeopardized by attack or subjected to dangers on the high seas will be sought through the American embassy in .ondon and the Iconsulates in Ire land before a decision is reached on the course to be pursued by the Unit ed States.
 When the German admiralty pro- claimed the waters around Great Br- tain and Ireland war zone" and warned neutral vessels against the dangers that lay therein, the United States did not admit Germany's right to place hazards in the way of American vessels or lives. There was no distinction drawn then as to whether the representations of the United States covered Americans travelling on belligerent or neutral craft. but officials informally disclos- ed later the note had been purposely rhrased so as to cover both con tingencies.
 The language of the American note was everywhere recalled tonight as a possible index of the policy to be pursued. The discussion at this time arose particularly over the misuse of flags by the belligerent vessels, the Lusitania itself having flown the American flag to escape attack from the German submarines.