South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-06-03
Administration Begins Quiet
Investigation of Character of
individuals Who Swear Ship
Carried Offensive Guns.
QUESTION OF FACT is
BROUGHT TO FORE
Proof Offered by Germany May
Have Effect on Rejoinder to
Be Sent by Wilson to the
KaiSer'S Reply.

WASHfNGToN. June THE sd-
ministraton today started quiet in-
Vestigatiou into the character of the
individuals and the testimony tney
presented an their anidalIts uIcd vita
the state department allelIng hat the
Lusltanla carried guns concealed upon
her decks. 1t was understood 90 he
preparing TO demOlish This tcstimouy
which was presented by Germany 10
show that the liner was man-of-war
and not a merchantmen when She was
tOrpedOed by "A German submarine.
There was a well defined difference
of opinion IN administration and dip
lOmatic circles as 10 the effect these
attidaVlts would have on the TcJoIudcr
Prest Wilson viii make o. the GER
man reply TO his Lusitania note
1t Is generally believed. however.
that Count Won BernstOrn the Ger
man ambassador, iD his interview yes
terday with the chief executive, re-
feTred to the affidaNits as q. base for
Germany's request for am investigation
of the facts as 10 the character oi the
Lusitania. Ground for this belief -
found in the admission by Sec'y Br1 an
some time after this interview that
the afiidavits were I'M the department
and the hurried efforts of department
officials TO send them 10 the president.
May Force Probe OF Facts.
Some officials and diplomats take
the position that these artidaNtS bring
up the question OF facts So strongly
that the United States cannot ignore
them. no matter how much stress me
administration places on the humaui-
tartan side of the question. oH ne
other hand. officials OF the state de-
partment who have sent the afii-
davits privately expressed confidence
that they cannot be taken as di5prof-
ing the official statements Of The GOV
ernment inspectors. whose duty ll Was
TO search for the guns and VINO have
reported that the Lusttdnla carried
no such weapons. either mounted or
Counsellor Lansing OF thc state de-
partment later stated that the charges
made in the aftdayits were being IN
Vestigated by treasury officials and the
department of justice.
lie intimated, however. that the
state department was convinced before
Pres't Wilson's first note 10 Germany
was drafted. that the Lusitauia lech-
nically was an unarmed merchantman-
Passengers settle Character.
The character of the LusItanld was
determined TO a large extent nc
said. "bv the fact of her carry lng pass
sengers. No vessel with passengers
aboard is likely 10 80 out 90 raid com
merce SO far as this government WAS
advised. and it had adVices. no guns
of either defensive or "ienslh
were carried aboard her. We
shall investigate the facts, of COURSE.
whether these facts are reliable OF
not"
The counsellor recalled that the
steamship Adriatic on one of her
trips carried two guns which the ieo-
eral inspectors at New oFk declaea
WIRE defensive. These guns were
taken off when she reached England.
Another British merchantmen arrived
i'm Philadelphia with four guns aboard
These were taken of voluntarily uy
her owners The United states ln-
spectors AT all American ports nave
since last September 10
see that no merchantmen left Amer
lea CARRYING offensive armament
The department refuses 70 make
public the text Of the affidaFits pene-
ing the investigation. but its attitude
TODAY Indicate a determination 20 IN
sist that. even were the Lusltanla
armed. she was armed only for proper
defense