New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-02
FEAR CENSORS
HOLD UP NEWS
Government Unwilling to
Class Lost Vessel as
War Transport.
U-BOAT SHELLED SHIP
Captain Tried to Escape Until
Engine and Steering Gear
We're Smashed.
From Tie Tribune Bureau. J

From The Tribune Bureaul
Washington, July NO action
has been determined upon by the
United States relative to the sink
ing Of the Leyland Liner Armenian
by German submarine, with the
loss of several American lives.
Secretary Lansing said to-day
that sufficient details had not yet
been received at the State Depart
ment to determine a course Of ac-
tion or on which to express an opin-
ion. Until more complete reports
are received no attempt will be
made to form a judgment on the
case.
The only official dispatch given
out to-day was a telegram from
Ambassador Page, stating that the
Armenian was on Admiralty bust
ness" The State Department is at
a loss to account for the lack of in
formation from consular and dip
lomatic sources. Instructions have
been cabled TO Ampassador Page TO
rush all available details of the
tragedy.
The belief is strong that news Of
the disaster is being held up by the
British censorship. No other explana-
tion of the meagre character OF the
dispatches can be reasonably accepted,
according to the view of officials here.
Unofficial dispatches are interpreted
in Washington generally as establish
ing that the Armenian was attempting
10 escape, and many officials expressed
the opinion that in such an event the
vessel could expect no better fate. II
was widely stated that this fact alone,
if proved, made inquiries into the
status Of the ship and her crew un-
necessary
No Evidence of Transport.
The report of Ambassador Page that
the Armenian was engaged in "Ad-
miralty business" is regarded as capa-
BILE of several interpretations. The Of
fetal view is that the character OF the
ship is not determined BY a mere char
ter to the Admiralty, and there is moth
ing to support the notion that the Ar
menian vas commanded by British ma
val officers or gave any other evidence
of being a transport.
Although it appears that the Ar
menian attempted 10 elude the enemy
after being summoned to stop, State De-
artment officials declared that unless
the submarine intended 20 exercise its
legal right Of visit and search the
vessel had a right 10 disregard the
warning. The governments attitude
on this point is made clear in the
second note TO Germany on the sinking
of the Lusitania, which refuses 10 ex-
cuse the sinking Of vessel unless she
repeatedly attempts 10 run away after
being ordered to stop "for the purpose
Of visit"
1t was said here that the government
was not as yet in possession Of sufficient
facts to form an opinion on this point
but it was added that as the German
government had up to this time re-
garded the obligation TO visit and
search vessels as not binding on sub
marines, it might be assumed that there
was no intention by the commander to
visit and search the Armenian. On this
assumption the Armenian was justified
in making every effort 10 escape, and
Germany could be held accountable for
the deaths of the Americans.
Question Of Definition.
The question of the definition Of the
term transport is considered very deli
cate. IL IS not thought PROBABLE that
the United States will admit the Ar
menian 70 have been one, as this would
raise at once the issue as 10 whether as
such she had a right 70 clear from a
neutral port Germany will undoubt-
/ edly contend that the Armenian was
British transport, Wnien would place
the government in the novel position
O. receiving rather than issuing pro-
test. Il is pointed out, however, that
il Germany had the information that
the Armenian was a British transport
il should have communicated this In
formation 10 the United States.
Whatever may prove TO be the true
state of affairs, il seems assured that
there will be a considerable amount OF
diplomatic correspondence with the
/ German government in connection with
/ the case officials here are disinchned
to minimize the gravity Of the situation
caused by the sinking Of the Armenian,
+ and il is feared that il may complicate
the discussion of the Lusitania and
other cases now a subject OF diplomatic
adjustment with Germany.
Did His Best to Escape,
Armenian'S Captain Says