Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-20
Officials Here Say Merchant
man Takes on Character of
Warship When Conveyed.
PRESIDENT TAKES RIDE
IN ORDER TO BE AL ONE
Considers Grave Situation Confront.
ing United States if It Is Proved
Americans Were Lost.

With two Americans still unaccount-
ed for, and the loss of their lives
feared, in the tragedy of the steamship
Arabic, torpedoed and sunk yesterday
off the coast of Ireland by a German
submarine, official Washington today
settled down to consideration Of
factors, to determine whether the sink
ing of the British White Star liner
was an act deliberately unfriendly"
to the United States, within the mean
ing Of the warning sent to Germany
after the Lusitania disaster.
Early this afternoon it appeared that
the question of whether or not the
British conveys of torpedo boat de-
stroyers which brought the Arabic
down through St. Georges channel be-
fore she was struck were still in sight
might play an important part in the
determination of factors to be con-
sidered.
Robert Lansing, the Secretary Of
State, in answer to a question today
by newspaper men, said that a mer-
chantman surrenders her rights as
such when under warship convoy, and
Capt. Ridley Mclean. judge advocate
general of the navy, informed repre-
sentative of The Star that merchant
warship while being conveyed.
President Seeks to Be Alone.
President Wilson early today went
for a long motor ride. in accordance
with his custom of desiring to be alone
when he has particularly grave prob
lens to face.
The Washington government is as
yet without detailed information in
regard to the Arabic. and it is pre-
sumed that dispatches from United
States ambassadors and consuls abroad
will be received here by the time the
President returns. In the meanwhile,
Secretary Lansing is awaiting the re-
ceipt of information. but one dispatch
having been received today in addition
to the dispatch sent yesterday after
noon from Consul Thompson, at Queens
town, in which he reported the sink
ing of the liner The dispatch received
today was from Ambassador Page. at
London. 1t said that his information.
based on reports of the White Star
line, is that the ship was torpedoed
without warning. The United States
has insisted in it's notes exchanged
with Germany upon ships being visit
ed, searched or warned before being
destroyed.
But in the grave situation which
now confronts the people of the United
States it is realized that unofficial in
fOrmatlOn OF IHlS character cannot De
accepted, and that something mare re-
sopnisble must be obtained than can ap-
parently be had from hurried first re-
ports.
Keeping Their Minds Open.
In these circumstances President
Wilson. Secretary Lansing and other
officials are keeping their minds open.
The last believe that the President
is giving hours of deep thought to the
problems that confront the United
States while riding through the coun-
tryside in his automobile.
There is no attempt in official quar-
ters to minimize the situation con-
fronting the President, if investigation
develops violation of American
rights. in defiance of the last note to
Germany, which gave notice in final
terms that another destruction OF a
ship such as that of the Lusitania
would be considered an act deliberate
ly unfriendly."
1t is realized in Washington that it is
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