New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-23
Little Hope That Facts
Will Temper the
Situation.
BELIEVE U-BOAT
HAD NO EXCUSE
Officials Think Evidence
Will Show Attack Was
Unjustifed.
AWAIT FULL REPORTS
President Moving with Caution
Until All Details Are Fully
Established.

Lrfom Inc AElOunc bNlcAA-l
Washington, Aug. 22.-Affidavits
of American survivors of the
steamer Arabic, which are believed
to have been given to Ambassador
Page in London yesterday, are ex-
pected to reach the State Depart
ment tomorrow. In view Of the
unofficial statements already re-
ceived, there is little hope that they
will temper the situation. Officials
are convinced that the attack Of
the German submarine on the
Arabic was without justification,
and that this will be established by
the affidavits.
Unless the testimony shows
clearly that the Arabic was warned
by the submarine, or was proceed
ing under convoy, or had otherwise
forfeited the right to be visited,
Ambassador Gerard will ask the
German government for its ex-
PLANTATION of the affair. The State
Department is only awaiting the
affidavits to take this action.
The speech of Joseph P. Tumulty,
secretary to the President, at
Spring Lake, n. j., yesterday, was
much discussed in official quarters to-
day. AS the first public official utter
ance on the Arabic case, it is taken
as an indication of the attitude Of
the administration. Secretary
Thmulty is one Of the advisers on
whom the President places much re-
lance, and because of his confidential
relations with the President his
utterances are regarded among Off
cials as representing the views Of
the Executive.
Mr.. Tumulty's statement that the tor
pedoing OF the Arabic had brought
about a great international crisis"
and that the "lives and sacred honor"
Of Americans will, if necessary, be
pledged to support the President in up
holding American rights, are thought
significant of the gravity of the situa-
tion as it appears to the administration.
While it is known that President Will
son will proceed in this, as in all previ.
Gus critical situations, with the ut
most caution and deliberation, officials
are convinced that action will be
prompt and decisive when once the
facts are in possession of the govern
ment. Every available source Of in
formation will be canvassed before any
drastic action is taken, but there is a
decided feeling that the President will
meet the issue squarely and firmly when
it is finally presented.
Mr.. Wilson die not see Secretary Lam
sing to-day. The only additional a.
formation receive by the government
was in a dispatch from Ambassador
Page, which vas not made public The
re usal of the State Department TO give
out the message caused speculation as
to its content and the reasons for
Withholding them.
II was learned on good authority
that the message contained a survivors,
statement that the Arabic was not
warned by the submarine before being
torpedoed. This survivor is said 10 be
Louis Bruguiere. whose mother was
drowned as he was trying 10 save her.
The dispatch was short, containing not
over one hundred words. and was prob
ably considered by State Department
officials too fragmentary for publ a
tion until something Of a supplement
tary nature was received.
Awaiting Official Reports.
Failure 70 receive more complete re-
ports of the disaster from Ambassador
Page is not thought a serious matter.
Official dispatches are not subject 20
censorship, and are ordinarily expedit-
ed in transmission by the cable COM
panies II is assumed that the Ameri-
can Embassy in London is experiencing
difficulty in obtaining complete state
ments from passengers. AS many OF
them had only limited opportunities
for knowing the real facts Of the dis
aster.
In the absence Of authentic informa-
tion President Wilson and Secretary
Lansing are keeping an ofen mind.
They are particularly avoiding being
influenced by dispatches from unofi-
cial sources
The only direct testimony thus far
received through American oficialJ, be-
sides the dispatch withheld from pub
| lication to-day, is that tWo American
lives were lost. that thA Arabic waa