The Washington times., 1915-08-22

of the Administration to proceed
slowly but surely in the present crisis
are the British censorship established
ever press reports on the Arabic ana
the incompleteness of the OFFICIAL ad-
vices which have been received by the
State Department from London and
Queenstown. Up to this time the
State Depastment has before 1t only
one definite statement-that Mrs. Jo-
sephine Bruguiere and IT. Edmund
Il. Woods are the only Americans
missing. i
Officials are still awaiting details
Of the actual sinking of the liner.
AftoT v,Ison the between nsnr r1s
yesterday it became known that AM
bassador Gerard is to be Instructed
to call the attention Of THO German
government to the Arabic case and
sock any explanation the Germans
have to offer.
A reply from Garmany may require
n week or more. Meanwh1le this
sources of Information at London
and Queenstown.
Puzzled BY Discrepancies.
It also developed after the confer
once of yesterday afternoon that
state Department officials are puz-
zled over certain discrepancies" in
the accounts which have already
come from London. Doubt Is raised
particularly by the affidavit Of Zellah
Coving ton. New York playwright.
that Just before the Arabic was
struck by a torpedo she had changed
her course officials are unable to un-
derstand this statement in view OF
the declaration of Captain Finch that
he did not know Of the presence OF a
submarine in the vicinity until he
! saw the torpedo speeding toward his
ship.
There remain to be cleared up the
questions of whether the Aratic had
switched her course, to go to the
stricken Dunsley or whether she was
endeavoring to ran, the smnmarme, ] me,
the German viewpoint. as mitigating
circumstances. However. accepting the
declaration of Captain Finch. IT Is NOT
now seen how he could have attempted
, to ram submarine. or to escape from
the subma rine, which he did not know
, was in the vicinity OF his ship.
To Turn to Germany.
In the absence of authentic informa-
finn and in view of the contradictory
/ rumors concerning what had happened
in the ships last moments. President
Wilson and Secretary Lansing decided
Z. that light should be sought from Ger
man sources. Until the facts are es-
tahlished beyond a doubt. no enort
, will be made to define this country's
stand nor to shape her actions in re-
prisal, if that shall be necessary.
The State Department attitude is
that if the German government has
Anv' facts which, in its opinion: go 10
B mitigate the circumstances of the AT
tack the Berlin foreign office should
! have opportunity to present them.
Deliberate Action Planned.
II is understood that the State De-
partment's policy is to show the utmost
: deliberation consistent with the delicate
question. and to omit no opportunity of
D avoiding a severance Of relations with
Germany so long as there Is a reason
/ able expectation that q sufficient excuse
can be given for the sinking of the
Archie
Already the State Department has
convinced itself from the official dis
, uatches received from Ambt ssador Page
al Lo1don and the consul and vice
consul at Queenstown. that the Arabic
N@ra attacked without warning. Except
for the disputed. point s to the Arabic
thanse Of course, the evidence, measer
a s. 1t still Is, has been sufficient to make
.out u case against Germany that the
acc' ion of the submarine commander WAS
deliberately unfriendly. >.
" nllG awaiting the report or tne SUD-
marine commander at Berlin, officials
kore are greatly interested in what
ambassador Gerard has to say as to
v'hat he may have discovered at the
German capital about the attitude of
high German officials there.
Although 1t has been reported that the
German embassy had evidence that
captain Finch. of the Arabic had been
warned and attempted to escape before
the torpedo was discharged. it was said
st tho State Department that no infor-
rnation OF that kind had been received
from the German embassy or from any
other official quarter.
Trivial Argument Barred.
While ready to listen to any state
rlont of fact materially altering the
Arabic situation. it may be stated with
authority that the President and his
advisers will not receive patiently any
trivial argument upon techncality.
1t is felt that the time has come for
action rather than for wov,.. and there
is 10 possibility of compromise or pal
tcNing. Let 1t once be clearly establish
cd That the Arabic was sunk in man.
ncr to be construed as a deliberately
uN;rnendlv act" and President Wilson's
t"tion VIII be prompt, vigorous and de-
CisiVe.
AS bearing upon the question of CON-
voy, interest was expressed In the az
counts published of the precartions
taken TO safeguard the CymriC, as told
~ passengers on their arrival in New
York. go ave"
Il was asserted that this liner was
noVer out of the care of a warship from
the time she left the Mcrsey until she
Ta% T We'll out Of the submarine zone.
another took up the duty of accom-
panying her through the dangerous
waters.
The possibility was suggested that
while not conveyed in the strict sense
mat one warship remained at her side
the Arabic might have been kept in
eight by one warship after another
Thus the British admiralty's disclaimer
of conveying her might be reconCiIed
VITA a contention from the German
side to the contrary.
Belgian Oil Steamer