Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-08-26

be shut off from the allies and that in
Inc peace conference 1t will be well to
nave the United States a party.
Regardless OF whether this Ia true or
olnerWlse. this appears to be a fact Of
extreme Importance in the present sit
uation:
The Won Tirpitz element is complete
~ m the saddle so far as German naval
aI1airs are concerned; the submarine
against allied shipping il be-
ing renewed with great energy; it 10
70 DC KEEP up regardless Of conse-
luences to neutrals, n the kaiser has
lateiy expressed his deep appreciation
" Won Iirpttz by comforting new ION
OTIS upon him. In other words, it looks
nnuch as IL the German government had
getermined to wage submarine war on
nngilsh allied shipping to the limit
deemed 1t of much more moment to
cripple such shipping than to placats
the Feelings OF this government.
II This IS correct, n there Is much
TO bear 1t out, this government is al
crowded to the wall, steadily forced In
10 a position where technicalities must
ne Ignored, protests abandoned and ac-
ton taken.
Today W flatly contradictory views
obtain here. One is that the adminis-
%tration, having used strong language to
germany IN previous notes. and having
rallied to make any visible impression,
VIII back up when it comes time for q
showdown.
the men who know the president best.
that ne Will wait until he has what he
regards as indisputable proof that Ger
many intends to pay no attention to
American rights at sea and then will
act with a celebrity n a d~irectness that
Will surprise this country and Europe.
So far as can be known no one has
any real authority for aging what the
president will do. and 1t continues to
be a case where 1t is a~nybody's guess.
IN the Arabic case officials today
continued to wait for fullest details OF
what occurred. Inasmuch as certain
~chnlc questions continue to BIO
3 raised, these will have to be cleared
ZIP That the vessel was torpedoed I'M
warned and American lives lost con-
| tinues to be the state of facts indi-.
Gated. American survivors at Queens
town insist there. was no warning.
Washington, ID. c.. Aug. Extension
, increased in official quarters when
consular messages forwarding aff-
r davits of American survivors of the
British liner Arabic brought definite
information that the vessel was torpe-
doed without warning, and that prob
, ably some Americans had been lost. 1t
seemed that but one point remained
, , to be cleared up-whether the Arabic
attempted to ram the submarine or
: whether a change Of the liners course
. to assist the already sinking British
! steamer Dunsley, nearby, was misinter-
preted by the German submarine com
mander as q hostile approach. The
attitude Of the American government
for the moment is receptive, ~anxiously
awaiting accurate details, and reserv-
ing judgment as to whether the ac-
ton was deliberately unfriendiy." The
\ final decision rests with President Will
son.
Hope for Word From Gerard.
4 In addition to awaiting information
from the American survivors, the en-
bassy In London n American con-
suls, officials expect some word from
Ambassador Gerard at Berlin to indi-
cate whether the attack without warn
ing on the Arabic had the sanction OF
many offer an explanation, asserting
there were qualifyi. circumstances,
( such as an attempt by the Arabic to
Q escape or ram the submarine, the dis
t the case would In all Likelihood be con-
n strued here as a disavowal OF any in
e %tention deliberately TO violate the prin-
g ciples for which the United States has
: contended.
officials here have found 1t difficult
h to reconcile the act with previous dec
larations from Germany that the pur-
pose of the submarine warfare was to
g prevent the carriage OF munitions of
@ war to III allies. The Arabic was
bound for an American port and car
9 ried, therefore, no contraband.
The censorship In Great Britain OF
o press dispatches on the disaster cree
d ated the impression that perhaps facts
feet the case vitality. Official mes
e sages. however, are not subject to CEN
e sorship, and confidence prevailed that
within another "a hours the circum-
n stances of the t%orpedoing would be
9 definitely learned.
Boats Drifted Hours.
For a while today some officials.
9 hearing that the Arabic was conveyed
i for a time on her outward journey
d from Liverpool. thought this might
: have caused the German submarine to
disregard the rule OF visit and search
: and the giving OF warning. Later, how
q ever. the statement of N American
n survivor, transmitted officially. told
: how the life boats drifted for hours
before being picked UT.
d This was regarded as destroying the
theory that conveys could have been
anywhere In the vicinity when the
Arabic was sunk. Even y the Arabic
affect her status. In the opinion OF
lawyers in the state department, who
declared numerous presidents and de-
~cisions establish that II is only the ac-
tual presence OF the convoy with q
5 merchantmen at the time the latter Is
. encountered which al alter the rule OF
) visit and search.
: The theory that the Arabic ma have
! attempted to ran the German sub-
! marine was secuted by naval officers
! OF high rank. who said the prevailing
: impression that large passenger yes
= sci could ram under water craft was
: erroneous: The submarine 9 ma
i neuver about 80 quickly. they ex-
; planned. as to be able to torpedo the
= larger vessel without difficulty. cOf-;
: ficials also though that no vessel %
) large tonnage. especially those with
: passengers aboard would sven stAko
such aariBk: