The Washington times., 1915-09-05

legged TO have been issued to all com
manders of U.boats.
Now that another submarine com
anago 1ston, has doubt s rss IN s minds
OF officials AS to the thoroughness Of
these instructions and the interpreta-
ton being placed upon them by subor-
dInates In the German naval service.
The official mind takes 1t for grant
ed that Germany iu reality instructed
all it's su ubmsrine commanders OF the
change IN policy. A statement Of tn.
German ambassador to this effect.
made officially to the state Depart
nent, was deemed sufficient In the
Arabic cuse practically to close that
incident. although this Guvernnle t
would have insisted upon the punish
ment of the disobedient mmand&r
OF the t-bpst had he survived.
Three Elements.
Three clements will enter into ths
probable attitude OF this Government,
their relative Importance being:
Were Americans aboard the Hesperian
and were their lives wantoniN leopard
ized BY the submarlne2 .-
Was the Hesperian warned and Its
passengers given opportunity to take to
lifeboats?
Did the liner attempt to escape or re-
sist search or seizure by the German
submarine?
Even II all passengers were saved.
this fact will weigh little in the event
tsesed * %thont warnns ns TSs
Of this Government Is that an attac.
without warning upon an unwarned
vessel carryins neutral passengers can
not be tolerated simply because there
results no actual loss OF life.
Principle the Same.
The jeopa rdizing Of American lives.
from the viewpoint Of the United States,
is virtually as serious as the Sacri<ios Of
American life under International law
and the humanitarian principles enun-
ciated by this Government at the out
break Of Germany's subma rihe activity.
II IT Is shown eventually that
Americans were aboard the Hespe-
rian and that she had no warhtnE Of
American crisis win be more serious
than ever and its potentialities can
mt be overestimated at this time. The
supposed settlement of the LusltHuta
and Arahie eases texcept for the
the diplomatic dfacard and q break
ing off of diplomatic relations with
Even If it should be revealed that
no Americans were aboard the Hes
perion, 1t Is undoubtedly to be assum-
ed that neutrals of other countries
were aboard the vessel. and. in any
event. the ships passengers were Of
the non com batant class, prom led
immunity from submarine dangers by
the Won Bernstorff note filed with the
state Department
Therefore. the faith Of this Govern
ment in the promises of Germany, as
transmitted by her ambassador here
must necessarily be shaken by the de-
velopments today and the situation
which has suddenly arisen becomes
scarcely less serious.
Officials will be forced to draw q
parallel between the attack on the He's.
perian. with DO non-comba tant passen-
gers aboard, and the offic al ANNOUNCE
liners will not be sunk-without warn
Ing and without safety of the lives Of
combatants."
That the Hesperian was q linor and
that she had aboard noncombatants, are
Statements which cannot be coniro-
verted. and which are In direct contra
diction OF German promises written
upon paper whereon the Ink has scarce
" dried
Anxiously Avail tReports.
The President and State Depart
ment officials naturally are anxiousiy
awaiting this afternoon the official
reports confirming the sinking Of the
vessels and covering the circum-
stances under which she went down.
There will be no attempt in ofcial
circles to minimize the tremendous
Importance of subsequent cabIegrams
from the scene of the attack
United States and Germany and the
very peace of this nation itself prob
ably will depend npon the deve,opments
which come within the next few days