The Detroit times., 1915-05-03
Cushing and Gulfight
Incidents Alarm
Washington
GERMANY ASKED H
FOR EXPLANATION
Attack by Planes is
Particularly Hard
to Condone

WASHINGTON, May She
state department. this afternoon.
received its first official notice
Of the torpedolns Of the
American tanker GuIfiiaht, by =
German submarine, OF the
sciIly isles.
Il was contained In a cabIe
from American Consul Stevens.
Plymouth, Eng.
american tank steamshIp
GuIfliaht torpedoed off sciilv
first instant" said the message.
Captain died Of heart failures
Body landed. Two Of crew
drowned. Thirty-four saved.
Vessel afIoat. Patrol, boats az
tempting tow her into ScIIIy."
WASHINGTON. May s.-Ths
state department today faced per-
haps the gravest situation since the
European war began. its own on
Gals admitted.
Inc German embassy, usually
prompt to defend acts OF the kaiser,s
land or sea forces. declined comment
or explanation concerning the bonn
harding OF the American steamship
Cushing by German aviator near
the Dutch coast last Thursday. or
the torpedoing OF the American
tanker Gulfight. with the loss OF
three lives. Off the Sicily isles late
Saturday.
Secretary Bryan was non-commit-
tai concerning the outlook. He said
the department had no Official news
OF the sinking of the GuIflight. but
he did announce that It had forward
err to Berlin the formal account OF
the attack on the Cushing. The de-
partment seemed az much perturbed
concerning the Cushing as over the
case OF the Outright. The Cushing's
name appeared so plainly on its side
and so conspicuous were the marks
OF Its nationality, II was said, that
the attack was particularly hard to
condone in the view OF officials.
For the torpedoing of the Gulf
light on its way to the French port
OF Rouen with an OIL cargo which
the Germans were deemed naturally
anxious TO prevent from reaching
the enemy, IL was telt some excuses
might be made-though not for the
vessels destruction under ctrcum-
stances responsible for the loss Of
American lives.
Concerning the Cushing. II was
stated Ambassador Gerard had been
directed 10 request a full investiga-
ton to determine whether the avia-
tors action was upheld by the for.
eign office, and II so for q German
official explanation of its attitude.
Van Dyke was also Instructed TO get
all possible details of the incident
from the American consul at Rotter-
dam. Action as to the Outright, Sec
rotary Bryan said. was being delayed
until consular reports we're received.
Few details OF the torpedoing OF
the Outright had yet been received.
II was taken for granted that the
skipper OF the German submarine
which sank the American tanker was
mistaken in the latter's nationality.
However. this was not looked on as
satisfactory excuse: IL was felt
that he must Justify his mistake BY
reasons which naval oficers here
confdentially said they feared he
would have trouble In giving, unless.
indeed, allowance was made for
gross carelessness on his part. This.
IN fact, was what the affair was gen
orally attributed to.
Ito case was looked upon as dis
tirctly more serious than that OF the
william y. frye. the American yos-
sci sunk " TIE German commerco
raider PrinR Eitel Frederick. Even
assuniihg tha, Germany pays for the
Gldfight. as II 1 az agreed 20 do for
tho Frye. experts said the incidents
would NOT BE- on n parallel. That
Can't Thicrlctens. OF the Ettel. was
wrong in ainling the Frye, was stilI
insisted, but Il was conceded that
there wcrc enough doubthil legal
questions involved In tho matter so
that he was entitled TO the assurnp-
ton OF having reached an honost.
even though mistaken, conclusion,
and acted accordingly. Furthermore.
he showed n scrupulous regard Tor
tho llvcs Of all on board the Ameri-
can grain vessel.
AS compared with a more or less
natural error OF Judgment on Capt
Th.erichens' part, which. PREPARATION
havirg been made. win not have any
really serious consciousness. II war
pointed out thar the commander Of
the Submarine responsible for thu
Gulfllshts loss can hardly piead