Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-09-07
:. -.
limited States Now Waiting
On Germany For an
Explanation
MAY DISAVOW ATTACK
,lnofficial Information Makes it Ap-
near That No Crisis Will Follow
Attack on Steamer.
-ME -- ~

kNH ~
Washington, Sept. = Unothciais
information has reached Washington
that the German government VIII ois-
avow the attack on the Hesperian' II
the reports of the captain OF the SUBJ
marine. which is supposed to have tor
nedoed her, substantiate the British
statement that the ship was torpe-
doed without warning.
Secretary Lansing did not visit the
State Department yesterday nor was
any dispatch received from Ambas'
sador Page or Consul Frost, at
Queenstown, which might have added
to the meager information already
officially transmitted. The admins
tration is reserving Judgment, as
il did when the news of the destruc-
tion of the Arabic was received, but
this time it is giving Germany the
benefit of the doubt. In view OF the
unequivocal assurance of the German
government, transmitted through
Count Won Bernstorff, that the SUBJ
marine policy of indiscriminate attack
on passenger ships had been abandon
ed, Washington is disposed to believe
either that the ship was not torpe-
doed without warning or that she was
not torpedoed at all, but struck a
mine.
In view of the German claim that
tie Admiralty had been instructed to
abandon the ruthless policy of Grand
Admiral Won Tirpitz even before the
Arabic was sunk, it is not regarded
as possible in Washington that a Ger
man submarine captain could repeat
deliberately the crime which less than
n fortnight ago threateaed to involve
this country in war with the United
States. This government will accept
without reserve any explanation sent
by Germany, for the German govern
ment has shown its absolute truthful
ness in matters of the gravest i'm
portance.
The cause of the injury to the AIN
erican freighter Nebraskan threaten
ed to remain mystery, for although
the American naval attache at Lon
don sent to the Navy Department
some few remnants of metal found in
the Nebraskan's bow, from which it
was hoped the experts might decide
whether the Nebraskan had been hit
by torpedo or mine, no explasss'
dion was ever found by the naval en-
perts. but the German government
surprised Washington one day by the
frank announcement that one of her
submarines reported the torpedoine
of the Nebraskan.
Similarly it is not doubted in Wash;
ington that if the Hesperian was at
tackled by torpedo the German gov
ernment will not seek refuge in any
subterfuge or suppression of the
truth. 1t is believed that the German
government will G.savow the act
punish the officer responsible, and eN
press it's sincere regret for the Incl
dent, if the submarines captain ha:
no good explanation to offer for M
action. 1t has been suggested in some
quarters that the captain of the sub
marine overhauling the Hesperian a
dusk, and seeing a gun mounted OF
the stern and seeing groups OF UNI
formed soldiers on her decks, whom
he could not, of course, recognize a
the distance between the ships as in
valided soldiers, came to the conclu
sion that the Hesperian was trans
port and thus lawful target.
Count Won Bernstorff is expected a
the State Department today. 1t !
believed that he will again ask Sec
retary Lansing to suspend judgmen
on the Hesperian. as he did in tn
case of the Arabic, assuring Mr.
Lapsing that his government will af
ford every satisfaction. The Ambas
sador's task will not be difficult, fo
on last Wednesday he gave Mr.. Ian
sing the written assurance Of the Gen
nan government that no liners woal
-e attacked without warning.
The forethought of the AmbaSsadc