The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1915-05-13
WILSON STARTLED
By SEA DISASTER
Consul Frost Tells Bryan Many
Were Saved.
CABINET SHOCKED BY NEWS
President and Secretary Of State Re.
fuse to Issue Statements Until
Official Reports Are Received
Page Tells of Disaster.

Washington, May S.-The state de-
partment received the following cable
gram from Consul Frost at Queens
town, Ireland:
"Lusitania sank at 2:30. Probably
many survivors. Rescue work pro-
crossing favorabK."
The department, which has hereto
fore taken 1t for granted that all the
passengers were saved, was much per
turbed by this message. The phrase
probably many survivors" was in
terpreted as a yelled intimation that
a considerable number of persons
were lost
Washington Shocked by Disaster.
The sinking of the Lusitania by a
torpedo shocked official circles in
Washington. President Wilson and
Secretary Bryan preserved an outward
calm but it was plain that they were
greatly concerned.
The first concern of the president
and Secretary Bryan, of course, was
over the possible loss of American
lives. They were apprehensive over
the effect any great loss of Ameri-
cans might have on American feeling.
Their next concern was the serious
effect this warfare of Germany will
have on American commerce.
Wilson Startled by News.
The news startled President Wilson.
He received ii just after lunch and
although he had engagements, he re-
NAMED in the White House until the
news indicated with reasonable GER
tainty that the passengers of the
greatest steamship had been saved.
The bulletin announcing the sinking
of the liner arrived at the cabinet
meeting but was communicated in very
few moments to all the cabinet Off.
GERS during the luncheon hour.
Page Notifies Bryan Of Disaster.
The only official statement to the
state department came from Ambas-
sador Page, timed 3:05 p. m. here. Mr..
Pages cablegram was:
"Lusitania was torpedoed off Irish
coast and sank in a half hour. No
news yet OF passengers.
Another dispatch came about 6 p. m.
from an agent of the Cunard line in
New York stating that the Lusitania
had sunk ten miles off the Irish coast.
This dispatch did not make any refer
ence to passengers.
1873 Americans on Liner.
AS there were 1873 American pas.
sengers on the Lusitania, Secretary
Bryan was pressed for information
! as to the attitude which this govern,
ment would take on the ships destruc
ton without search or warning.
The department will have nothing
to say until it knows all the facts,
was the only statement Mr.. Bryan
made
Mr.. Bryan was asked If this govern
ment would have something to say
on the general principle of the de
struction of passenger ships.
He replied: I'VE have said nothing
on that subject except in the state
ment issued in reply to Germany on
the establishment of her war zone
.
ment." ~ '-
Passengers Warned by Germans.
Z While Secretary Bryan would not
discuss the general question of the
, destruction Of the Lusitania, a very
high administration official did dis
; cuss it. He said
, Germany almost certainly will seek
|, to justify the act because of her re
!, cent advertisement of warning against
( passenger traffic with Great Britain
and she will undoubtedly point to the
; attitude of our department which is
clearly against visitors going to Eu
rope.
Germany will again seek to justify
the act, even without warning, on
the ground that she has reason to be
lieve that the Lusitania was heavily
loaded with arms and ammunition
which were destined undoubtedly fol
, the British armed forces.
|, las to the big moral question oil
, the right to destroy passenger vessels
: there could have been no doubt before
. the beginning of this war The war
however. has. evolved its own rules
and regulations. International law
/ does not appear to exist. 1t is futile
therefore, to discuss the right OF
wrong of the sinking of the Lusitania
. The United States government
, went as far as 1t could in the expires
! sion Of its opinion on Germany's sub
/ marine warfare when the state depart
ment issued its threat that 1t would
hold Germany to strict accountability
for acts of lawlessness; and. substan
TALLY If they are repeated, that this
r government would take whatever
;. steps 1t thought necessary to remedy
I the situation. What will be done In
Q this case don't know, in fact.
9 don't know What can be DONE"