The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-08-25
SITUATION BECOMES TENSE,
EIGHT AMERICANS ON ARABIC
NOT ON LIST OF SURVI-
VOIlS.
POint to BE Cleared up is Whether
Vessel OGcrcd Resistance to Ger
man Submarine Await With Inter-
est Presidents Decision.

Washington, Aug. 20.-Tension in
creased in official quarters tonight
when consular messages forwarding
aflidavits of American survivors of
the British liner Arabic brought
definite information that the vessel
was torpedoed without warning and
that American lives had been lost.
1t seemed only one point remained
10 be cleared up-whether the Arabic
attempted to ram the submarine or
whether change in the liners course
to assist the British steamer Dunsley.
sinking nearby, was interpreted by
the German submarine commander as
a hostile approach.
The attitude of the American gov
ernment for the moment is receptive,
anXiOusly awaiting accurate details
[and reserving judgment as to whether
the action was deliberately un-
friendly" The final decision rests
with President Wilson.
| The president motored to Philadel-
lphia today to sec an oculist. He had
consulted Secretary Lansing before
leaving and conferred with him again
tonight. No statement was forthcom-
ing, as details from abroad were ck-
ing, but everywhere in official quar-
ters the grave aspect Of the case was
discussed. The general trend Of COM
ment was that the American govern
| ment had reached the point where it
must decide whether it would sever
diplomatic relations with Germany.
Officials expect Ambassador Ger
ard at Berlin to help ascertain
! whether the attack had the sanction
of the German government. Should
Germany offer an explanation assert
ing there were qualifying circum-
stances, such as an attempt by the
Arabic to escape or ram the subma-
rfne, the disposition on Germany's
part ios discuss the case probably
Iwould be construed here :, as a dis
avoWal Of any intention to deliberately
violate the principles for which the
United States has contended.
Great Eritain's censorship of press
dispatches on the disaster created the
impr ession that perhaps facts wei @
being withheld which might affect The
in1
ever are not subject to censorship
and confidence prevailed that within
another "a hours the circumstances
of the torpedong would be definitely
learned.
A report today that the Arabic was
conveyed for time after leaving
Liverpool led some officials to be-
licvc that that might have caused
the submarine to eliminate the giving
or warning. Later, however, the
statement of an American survivor.
transmitted officially, said the life
boats drifted for hours before being
rescued. This was regarded as de-
stroying the theory that convoys could
nave been in the vicinity. State de-
partmcnt lawyers declare numerous
precedents and decisions establish
that only the actual presence of a
convoy at the time of attack could
alter the rule Of visit and search.
! The theory that the Arabic NAV
nave attempted to ram the subma-
rlne was secuted by naval officers.
VINO said the prevailing impression
that large passenger vessel could
! ram submerSiblc was crroneous
officials also thought that no vessel
| or large tonnage ever would attempt
especially with passengers aboard. to
take such a risk.