Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-21
GRAVE ASPECTS
Of ARABIC CASE
FULLY REALIZED
Believed That United States
Is Nearing Diplomatic
Break With Germany.
GOVERNMENT STILL IN
RECEPTIVE ATTITUDE
Judgment Will Be Reserved I'm
til All Doubtful Points
Are Cleared Up.
FINAL WORD WITH WILSON
Berlin May Offer Some EapIana-
ton Which Will Ease
FINAL WORD WITH WILSON
Berlin May Offer Some ExpIana
tion Which Will Ease
Tension.

"ASH1SGTON. August oO-Tcrsion
INCREASED In official quarters here to-
n'Hh' "hen consular messages forward
ing ahidavits Of American survivors OF
tho British liner Arabic brought dc1
nite Information tina, tho vessel was
torpedoed without warning, and that
at least some Americans had been lost
II seemed that but one point remained
10 nc cleared up-whcthcr tho Arabic
attempted to ram tho submarine or.
whether change Of tho Iincr'g course
to assist the already sinking British
steamer Dunslev near-bv was ,ri.ir
tcrpreted by the German rnbua,in.
commander as a hostile approach
FINAL JUDGMENT
RESTS WITH WILSON
The attitude OF the American govern.
ment for the moment Is receptive
huxiously awaiting accurate details and
reserring judgment as to whether the
action was deliberately unfricndly."
The final decision rests with President
Wilson.
The President motorcd To Philadei-
phia to-day 10 an oculist lie
mad consulted Secretary lansing before
leaving and conferred with him again
tonight. No statement was forthcom-
ing. as details from abroad were lack
ing, but everywhere in official quarters
the grave aspects of tho case were dis
cussed. The general trend OF comment
Was that the American government
had reached tho point where it must
now decide whether II would sever
diplomatic relations with Germany
In addition ~ ;,;D
from the American survivors. The en-
bassy in London and American cousuls
onlcials expect some word from AM
bassador Gerard at Berlin to indicate
whether the attack without warning on
the Arabic had The sanction -. tho Ger
man government. Should Germany Of
fer an explanation. asserting there
were qualifying circumstances such
as an attempt by the Arabic to cscape
or ram tho submarine. tho disposition
ron Germany'S part TO discuss the case
would in all likelihood. he construed
here as disavowal of amy intention
deliberately to violate tho principlcs
for which tho United States has con-
tended Officials here have found il
dificult to reconcile the act with prcvi-
GUS declarations from Germany that
the purpose OF the submarine warfare
vas to prevent the carriage of mnni-
tions OF war to the allies The Arabic
was bound for AN American port and
carried no contraband.
PRESS DISPATCHES
CENSORED IN LONDON
The censorship in Great Britain Of
press dispatches on the disaster created
the Impression that perhaps facts were
being withheld which might affect the
vitality Official
ever, arc not subject to censorship and
confidence prevailed that within an
other twentyfour hours the circurn-
stances OF the torpcdoing would he
definitely learned
For a while to-day some officials,
hearing that the Arabic was convoyed
for a time on her outward Journey
from Liverpool. thought this might
have caused the German submarine to
disregard the rule of visit and search
and the giving OF warnings. Later,
however, the statement Of an Aneri-
can survivor, transmitted Officially told
how the lifeboats drifted four hours
before being rescued. This was re-
garded destroying the theory that
conveys could have been anywhere in
the vicinity when the Arabic was sunl,
Even il the Arabic was conveyed port
way, it wouldn't affect her status in
the opinion OF the lawyers in the
state Department. who declare numer-
: Gus precedents and decisions establish
that 1t is only the actual presence of
the convoy with merchantmen at the
time the latter is encountered which
can alter the rule of visit and search.
THEORY OF RAINING
SECUTED RY OFFICERS
The theory that the Arabic may have
attempted to ram the German subma-
rne was secuted by naval officers OF
high rank, who said the prevailing i'm
preston that a large passenger vessel
could ram a submarine was erroneous.
The small undersea boats can mancuver
about quickly. they explained. as
to be able to torpedo the larger vessel
without difficulty. Officials also thought
that no vessel OF large tonnage would
ever attempt. especially with passen-
gers aboard TO take such Il risk.
III, AVG rVn 'rRtVEI. VnnE