New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-08
CAPITAL AROUSED
DEMONSTRATION
Continued from page I

tania are received. There Is one thing
certain, however, and that it that Ger
many will not be allowed to shirk any
responsibility for the disaster, should
investigation show that the act was
performed by a German submarine.
The possibility of the Lusitania hav-
ing struck a mine was discounted here
by the receipt Of news that the British
Admiralty had gwen assurances that
there were no mines in the neighbor-
hood in which the vessel was blown
up.
Protest Will BE Vigorous.
Even if no American lives had been
lost, the sinking OF the Cunard liner
bv a German torpedo would have been
made a part of the most vigorous pro
test that the American government had
vet transmitted to the German Foreign
Office. This is the belief of officials high
in the administration tonight.
The United States has repeatedly as
serted that it recognizes the right OF
belligerents to visit and search only,
and that it will hold the German gov
eminent TO strict accountability for
the loss of any American lives
through the undersea warfare of the
German government.
The United States has no concern
over the sinking of the Lusitania it.
self, but il is Gravely concerned over
the probable loss of the lives of Amer
lean citizens through the activity OF
German submarines in the war zone.
In the note Of the American govern
ment to the German Foreign Office on
February 10 it was declared that this
country would take any steps it might
think necessary TO safeguard Amerl-
can lives and property and to secure
10 American citizens the full enjoyment
of their acknowledged rights on the
high seas.
1t is frankly stated here that there
is no doubt that the destruction of the
Cunard liner was deliberately planned
by the Germans long before it sailed
and that the German Embassy's adver-
tisement was merely ruse behind
which the German government hoped
to hide in case there was loss of life.
At the time of the publication of this
advertisement il was asserted by high
officials of the State Department that,
so far as this government was con-
cernod, it did not in any way relieve
the German government from being
held to a strict accountability for the
loss of life of any American citizen.
May Hide Behind Warning.
Already there is talk in German cir
cles here that the imperial government
will disavow any responsibility for the
tcrpedoing of the Cunard liner, on the
ground that sufficient notice and warn
in had been given.
! One interesting phase Of the sinking
OF the steamer is awaited with consid-
cradle interest here, and that is
whether or not the LUST; nita was fly
ing the American flag when it was
sunk. A little more than two months
ago the Lusitania flew the American
flag in the German war zone while on
its way TO this country. This provoked
a note OF warning from Germany as to
the use Of the American flag by ships
of the Allies, and a reply from this
country that Germany's responsibility
regarding American ships and Ameri-
can citizens was undiminished.
Naval officers here were inclined to
believe that the commander of the Ger
/ man submarine WHICH lne
/ Lusitania purposely selected the spot
I for the sinking of the vessel because
/ its closeness to lam would minimize
the danger of loss o. life.
News of the sinking Of the Lusitania
was responsible for the quick ending
Of a luncheon, at which Secretary
Tumulty and several members Of the
4 Presidents Cabinet were present. The
| lunceon was at the Shoreham Hotel
and just as the coffee had been finished
a newspaper man informed the Cab
met officers of the sinking of the
/ liner. Secretary Bryan, who was one
of the party. started for his Office al
most on run 10 get more informa-
ton, while Secretary Tumulty FASTENED
10 the White House 70 inform the
/ President. Secretaries Lane, Redfield
/ Wilson, Daniels and Garrison were
/ other members Of the Cabinet at the
luncheon, and they, too, hurried back
/ 70 their departments.
/ At the German Embassy tonight IL
was said that no news OF the sinking
of the Lusitania had been received
/ The ambassador was in New York, II
| was declared, and no statement could
| be given out until he returned.
! The British Embassy was also with
out information. IL vas said there,