The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-20
Officials View Incident as
 Gravest Complication Yet
 to Arise in German Amer ican Diplomatic Tangle 1
ACTION IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF LAST
 AMERICAN NOTE
President Wilson Declines to Forecast Governments Course Until Official h. vestigation Is Made

Washington, August 19. News of the torpedoing of the White Star liner Arabic, a British ship with Americans on board came as a shock to American officials, who had hoped since the dispatch of the last note to Germany there would be no further aggrava- tion of an already tense situa- ton.
 pedoed without warning
 While it was recognized that a canvass of the survivors might reveal that no American lives were lost, the torpedoing without warning of a vessel carrying Americans has in itself been pronounced by the United States as violation of it's rights, which If repeated would be re- garded as deliberately unfriendly" In the last note to Germany Secretary Lansing said
 Friendship itself prompts it tthe United States government to say to the imperial government that repetition by the com manders of German naval vessels of acts in contravention of those rights must be regarded by the government of the United States, when they affect American cti- zens, as deliberately unfriendly.''
 What the course of the United States would be no official would predict. It must be established authoritatively whether any warning was given ane whether the vessel attempted to escape thought in most quarters tonight that drastic steps were improbable, but if Americans were drowned rupture in diplomatic relations was discussed as likely.
 Causes Surprise
 The attack on the Arabic came in the face of reteratons in German quarters here that in the future passenger vessels would be given warning. The incident, therefore, caused widespread surprise, especially since the ship was bound fol the United States and had no contraband In some quarters there was disposition to think the German submarine comman- der might have exceeded his orders or made a mistake.
 The immunity which passenger liners of be'igerent flags. carrying Americans, seemed to have enjoyed in the last few weeks had developed feeling of conti- dnce that the German government would avoid any incident that might intensity feeling in the United States and bring the relations of the two countries nearer the breaking point.
 President Wilson was startled by the news He spent the entife afternoon and evening trying to get detailed informa- ton. Though obviously worried, he took the position that judgment should be withheld until official details were re- ceved.
 Abandons Plans
 The President had just finished a confer ence with Attorney General Gregory and was preparing to go golfing when word of the sinking of the steamer reached him. He immediately abandoned his plans and gave orders that all information be for warded to him as quickly as possible.
 cablegram came from Vice Consil Thompson at Queenstown telling of the sinking of the steamer but giving no ln- format on as to losses. Soon afterward the President talked with Secretary Ian sing on the telephone but further il- formation had arrived. White House sec retaries remained duty during the evening and press dispatches were con- nun ,cated to the President, who sent olt . sCnnfaum~A ns. pw~~ gavnn.N