The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-09

of Germany threatened her noncombat : ants with starvation. In the face Of such an act, they declared. Germany made whatever reprisals were possible. however severe The proclamation by the German admiralty of a war zone around the British isles, and the sub sequent warnings were held to have been sufficient warning to Americans not to hazard their lives on belliger- ent vessels. The presence on the Lusi- tania of 42,000 cases of cartridges was pointed to as a potential argument for the vessels destruction.
 No comment was made on the state ment of Chairman Stone that the at | tack on the American steamer Gulf l light without warning was, in his opin- ion, more serious case for the Ameri- can government to deal with than the Lusitania
 The impression prevailed tonight that | the Gulf1ight case, the attack on the l British steamer Falaba, which resulted
 in the drowning of Leon C, Tresher an American citizen, and the attack by Ger. man airmen on the American steamer 1 Gushing would be grouped together ir general representations from the United l States to Germany. While the Falaba was sunk after several minutes had beer | given for the passengers to escape, Pres 1 1dent Wilson began a careful investiga l ton Of the legal aspects of that case | so that the torpedoing of the Lustanis required little research further in tha connection. The problem before him hat therefore resolved itself, it was under | stood. to purely one of policy-what step would be taken-in accordance with tn, | American warning that Germany would be held to a strict accounta bility.''
 l The President knew before he retired last night that there had been a big los
 of life
 He teephoned Secretary Bryan then, di 1 recting an inquiry into the facts. Earl
 today he went out to play golf. Occasion ally the President thinks out some of tn | complex problems before him while walk
 ing up and down the links. When h.
 returned for lunch he read the officia
 dispatches and in the afternoon took
 ride Apparently he was In deep though
 as he sped, away to the Virginia hills
 riding in the front seat of the automo
 bile with the chauffeur. When he returne.
 tonight he talked briefly with Secretar
 Tumulty, who issued the statement o l his behalf saying he was considering yer
 earnestly but calmly the right course O
 acticn to pursue. Afterward the Presiden
 again went motoring alone.
 While not the slightest intimation cam
 from the White House officials in depart
 mental circles heard variety of spec | was that note be sent to Germany dc l manding an explanation of the occurrenc ; with a request for an indemnity. An
 other was that American vessels here l after be conveyed by American battle l ships and cruisers. The severance of dir lomatic relations without an actual dee l laration of war with Germany was als 3 talked of informally.
 Some telegrams reaching the Whit House said the President would be sur 5 ported even If he thought war was neces sary to defend American rights on tn 5 high seas. Other messages counsele peace and declared the country was solid f ly opposed to becoming involved in th : European conflict.
 Steps thus far taken by the America
 government have been confined to forms
 inquiries. Ambassador Gerard was 1T structed to ask the German foreign ol : fee to obtain through the admiralty report from it's submarine as to what tn circumstances of the disaster were. N expression of opinion was sent, nor wa 8 there any inquiry for the attitude of tf = German government. This will be dt ] veloped in subsequent correspondence after the facts are gathered from Germa official sources
 T Ambassador Page was also instructe to obtain all the facts which the Brtis government or survivors might furnis | to the embassy at London. The Amel ican consuls reported as rapidly as the ] compiled the lists of names of the Amer l ican survivors.
 Secretary Bryan late in the day ar
 nounced that 69 Americans had been rt ported as saved and that several wer known to be dead. The remainder wei 8 missing Arrangements were made 2 issue the lists of names through tn n night as fast as they were receive' , White House and state department T, j. ceived scores of inquiries by telegrap . and telephone.
 All other government business was ten e porarily overshadowed. The far easter e situation, in which overnight crisis ha been averted, was lost sight of, as we
 the reported annexation of Belgium b e Germany. There was but one topic d conversation everywhere-the dramat e sea tragedy.