The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1915-05-03
SITUATION IS
VERY ACUTE
OFFICIALS ARE AROUSED OVER
SINKING OF M AMERICAN
STEAMER.
CONCERN IS FELT
Naval authorities Inclined to Believe
th,re Was No Excuse for les
t.uctien of the Steamer
Gulflight.

WASHINGTON, May 3 --Graver
concern from the American stand
point than in any previous instance
is promised in the torpedoing and
sinking Of the American steamer Gull
flight enroute from Port Arthur,
Texas, to Rouen, France.
High government officials frank
lv admitted that they were anxious.
While they appeared TO be- inclined
marine commander mistook the
nationality of the Galflight they held
that this was not sufficient to j.
fy his course Naval auhorit' '',' ~.
privately they feared the instant l.
or would have trouble .ig a
good reason to justify ''athorri,on
The Outright cas- hch considered
distinctly more Sc than the
Frye case. W. = the officials held
that t. -5iia.s''mander Of the German
Z, rs Eitel did wrong in sinking the
N,'rye there were certain legal ques-
tons involved which entitled the
commander to the assumption he
reached. Advices showed that he
had a careful regard for the lives of
the crew. the officials believe the
| commander of the submarine which
sunk the Gulflight could not plead
| anything except errer or carelessnes8.
This is not the officially expressed
, view but an unofficial view of Off
| Gals
The sinking OF the Falaba, with
| ono American aboard. does not class
! With the case of the Gulflight in
| gravity for that vessel was sailing
| under the British flag.
The German en- bassy's advertised
(! warning concerning American travel
to Europe has added to the serious
, ness of the outlook
| II is believed that representations
! will be made when fuller details are
received here.
President Wilson arrived this
| this forenoon and went direct to the
White House, He was told at New
| Haven, Conn, Of The sinking Of the
! Gulflight, but made no comment on
the incident
| The first official notice to the state
! department concerning the torpedo
| ing of the Gultlight came from Cor
sui Stevens at Plymouth this after
noon. The message said:
The American tank steamer Gulf
light torpedoed of Scilly. Captain
| died Of heart failure. Body landed
! Two of crew drowned. Thirty-four
SaVed. Vessel atloat Patrol boats
attempting to tow into Scilly"
No announcement or explanation
has been received from the German
embassy despite its usual promptness
| in defending the acts of the army
! and navy. Nor has the embassy had
| anything TO say concerning aerial
! attack on the American steamer
| Gushing
Secretary Bryan was also nom
! committal. His department, how
ever, seemed to be more perturbe4t
over the incident OF the Gushing
than the Gulflight. Officials held
that II would be hard to condnna
the attack on the Cushing in view of
the fact that her name was con-
spicaously displayed in big letters
and carried a flag. 1T was further
held that there might be some ex-
cuse for the Germans attempting ia
prevent a cargo of oil from reach
ing Rouep, France the destination
OF the Gulflight, but not for the de-
struction of the vessel under CIR
cumstances responsible for the loss
I of American lives.
Secretary Bryan said action would
! be delayed pending the arrival OF
: fnil reports from the consular
agents.