The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-05-13
REALIZES CITIZENS OF UNITED
STATES EXPECT HIM TO Ex-
PRESS THEIR iNDIGNA.
TON OVER DISASTER.
OFFICIAL REPORTS OF
AMBASSADORS AWAITED
Cabinet Meeting VIII Follow Presi,
dents Return From Philadelphia
Where He is Expected TO GIVE
Expression to His Feelings
on Situation.

Washington, May ll.-What action
the United States government will
take as the result OF the British liner
Lusitania with a loss of more than a
hundred American lives is an unde-
termined question.
President Wilson during the last "a
hours has been studying every aspect
of the case, from its legal and human
itarian aspect. That he feels deeply
distressed over the incident and realiZ-
es the citizens of the United States ex-
pect him to express in some fashion
their indignation owe it, was indicated
White House.
Official Reports Awaited.
Until all the official reports are re-
ceived from Ambassadors Gerard and
Page at Berlin and London, respect
lively, IL is o expected that any ac-
ton will be taken.
The president plans to go to Phila-
delphia late to deliver there this even
Ing a speech which observers generally
believe will give expression TO his
wv lCSiiISS ol IL oiludlloh plOuuScu
by the sinking of the Lusitania.
He is to address a meeting of 1000
Haturalized Americans arranged for
several weeks g by the bureau of
naturalization of the department Of
commerce to launch a systematic cam
paign for educating new citizens to a
right understanding of their duties.
Mr.. Wilson will return the next
day and a few hours later the regular
meeting of the cabinet will take place
when it is said he will lay before his
advisors the policy he has in mind and
ask their counsel.
On the questions of law involved i'm
the sinking of the Lusitania, the Wash
ington government long ago has stat
ed it's position to Germany. Law
officers Of the government were unan-
imous in the opinion shared by the
president, that there is no warrant un-
der law or reason for the destruction
of an unarmed merchant ship, even
OF ar enemy, without warning the pas
sengers at the time the ship is en-
c%ountered and transferring passengers
to a place or safety, .
Statement from Berlin.
The official statement from Berlin.
which came by wireless admitting that
q German submarine had sunk the
Lusitania and pointing out that the
| big liner was naturally armed with
guns, was commented upon by officials.
On the highest authority it was stat
ed that as early as last September
when Count Won Bernstorff, the Ger
man ambassador, called attention to
the arrival in American ports of Brit
ish liners. among them the Adriatic,
with guns aboard, the question was
taken up by the state department.
1t was ruled by the department that
q merchant vessel could not be classed
as a warship If she carried guns not
larger than six-inch calibre for de-
fensive purposes, but nevertheless in
formal negotiations were begun imme-
diately with Great Britain and an I'M
Outstanding was reached whereby no
vessels clearing from American ports
would be armed.
Ship Carried No Guns.
Dudley Field Malone, collector OF
the port Of New York, has been asked
by the Washington government as to
whether the Lusitania carried any
armament and has reported that she
carried out the terms of the under.
standing as originally entered into
with the British government and had
no guns aboard.
Count Won Be%rnstorff, the German
ambassador, declared that no express.
sions would be given without instruc'
lions from Berlin.
The official Austro-G German opinion
here, emphasizes to justify the act, the
presence OF ammunition on a passep'
ger ship and argues hat the sacrifice
of passengers was less than the toll
that would have been taken by the
ammunition had 1t reached the allies
During the day the German ambas
sador received an anonymous letter
warning him that the embassy would
be blown up at 1882 a. m. He turned
1t over to the police but paid no ser
ious attention to what he regarded a.
the work of n crank.