The Ely miner., 1915-06-04
TO HOLD GERMANY TO A
STRICT ACCOUNTABILITY

Washington, June 2.-President Will
son intends to so shape the course Of
the United States government in the
international crisis which has arisen
as to leave no doubt abroad of the
country's purpose not only to speak,
but, if necessary, to act, for the cause
of humanity.
Two things were practically de-
termined upon by the President in the
solemn atmosphere with which Memo
rial day enveloped the national capital.
Right of Visit and Search.
First, that Germany's avoidance of
the larger questions of humanity and
the spirit of international law by a
technical argument on hitherto un.
disputed point in the statutes of ma
tions-the exercise of the right of visit
and search by war craft when en-
countering merchantmen, whether car
rying contraband or not must be met
promptly with a note again setting
forth briefly the facts as found by in
vestigation of officials here, as to the
cargo and peaceful equipment of the
Lusitania and reiterating the earnest
intention of the United States to hold
the German government ito d strict
accountability" for all violations of
American rights on the high seas.
Situation Is Tense.
The tense situation produced by the
receipt of an unyielding reply from
Germany to the request of the United
States for reparation for the 100 Am
erican lives lost in the sinking of the
Lusitania and the guarantees against
the destruction of American lives or
property in the future. overshadowed
the Mexican problem as we'll as all
other government activities.
The President sought solitude dur.
ing the early hours of the day as he
did in the days Immediately after the
sinking of the Lusitania.
Will Answer Germany.
The German governments request
for an agreement on the facts-as to
whether the Lusitania was armed or
unarmed and whether the vessels
owners violated American law by TAX.
ing passengers on ships carrying mu.
nitions OF war, it was said, would be
answered by the statement that an
official investigation showed the ship
carried no guns, mounted or unmount.
ed, and that it was not violation of
federal statutes to carry small arms
and ammunition on passenger ships.
Reiterating that the Lusitania, there.
fore, was peaceful merchantmen, en-.
titled to the right of visit and search
and the transfer of her passengers
and crew to places of safety, previous
to any attempt to destroy any contra
band of war, in accordance with prize
law, it is believed the United States
will insist upon disavowal of such
acts and guarantee that German
submarine warfare will be conducted
in the future along humane lines, as.
suring Americans safety of their lives
and their ships on the high seas.
Lusitania Was Unarmed.
Proposals on the part of Germany to
meet the arguments with affidavits al.
legged to be in the possession of the
German embassy here to prove that
the Lusitania carried guns will not be
considered, in view of official knowl.
edge here that the ship was un;rmed.
Moreover, the government is expected
to point out that during the present
discussion the American steamer Ne.
braskan has been torpedoed by a Ger.
man submarine.
The admission of the German ad.
miralty. announced officially in a re-
port from Ambassador Gerard, that the
commander of the submarine which
torpedoed the Gulflight "did not notice
the American flag on the Gulflight"
until after he had fired the torpedo,
is another circumstance which it is
thought probable the United States will
revert to in the second note as proof
of the dangers to which American yes.
sells are subjected by the reckless
methods Of German submarine com.
manders.