Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1915-08-26

WAoIlINb YIN, aug. lo.--I 'TtSlutIlt
Wilson has been informed unofficially
rom sources close to Count Won Bern
5torff, the German ambassador. that
the next communication from Berlin
IN the sinking of the White Star liner
Arabic will be of character satisfac-
tory to the United States.
Coming close on the telegram which
the ambassador forwarded to the
American government yesterday, le-
claring that it was not the intention
of Germany that American lives
should be sacrificed in the sinking of
the ship, this development was re-
,arded as indicating that Germany
would make some proposal satisfac-
tory to the United States respecting
submarine attacks on ships of a pas
senger nature.
Officials are at a loss to conjecture
what the German government will pro-
pose, but the assurances that there
is every desire in Berlin to avoid a
break with the United States has re-
lieved the situation very much.
Heretofore Germany has con;erdeo
that neutral lives could not insure a
belligcrent slip against attack, espc-
cially those carrying munitions In its
reply to the first Lusitrnia note Ger
many proposed to designate certain
ships which would be guaranteed
again st ;ltnck, but the American gov,
ernment flatly rejected the prCpos tl.
Officials were eager to know wat po
sitiOr Germany would not take With
oIt UtcnGcting her contended I..'iIt
to subma. inc warfare against the
cnemy's commerce. The aim of T'r ,s.
ldpnt Wilson and all administration
officials is to avoid a rupture with
Germany, hut to do 50 without any
surrender of neutral rights was re
Elected by officials informally while
discussing this latest phase of the sit
uation. They We're hopeful that dis
avowal of the submarine commander s
act in sinking the Arabic without any
warning would be forthcoming, but
the administration is in receptive
attitude toward any explanation or
statement which the German govern
ment wish to offer concerning the
sinking of the Arabic, the state de-
partment is proceeding with the col
| lection of all the testimony which 1t is
| possible to obtain from the ships sur
VlVOTS. f1dll d uOZen dlIluaVllS dl-
ready have been received all tending
| to show that the liner was torpedoed
without warning, and that she was
| making no attempt to escape or to
attack the submarine.
/ Special attention has been given
the statement by the captain of the
Arabic that his ship when attacked
was at least two miles distant from
the steamer Dunsley, which already
/ had been torpedoed. This was regard
ed by officials as important because
of it's bearing upon suggestions tina,
a torpedo directed at the Dunsley
might have struck the Arabic. Some
of the first statements said that thu
Arabic was steaming to the assist
ance of the Dunsley, and gave rise t.
speculation as to whether the German
submarine commander might contend
he feared an attempt was being mad
to ram him.
Secretary Lansing declined to state
today whether he would invite Goun
Bernstorff to come to Washington t.
confer with him. He has made NJ
reply to the ambassadors message o
Yesterday, transmitting instruction!
from the German foreign office tina
the United States take no stand il
) regard to the Arabic until German.
could be heard from.