The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-08-24
Crisis Reached
in Controversy
With Germany
Loss Of American Lives in Torpedo.
ing Of Arabic Without Warning In.
creases Tension in Washington
Official Circles

Washington, Aug. 20.-Tension in
creased in official quarters tonight
when consular messages forwarding !
afIidavits of American survivors, of
the British liner Arabic brought def |
mite information that the vessel was
torpedoed without warning and that
some Americans had been lost
1t seemed that but one point re-
NAMED to be cleared up-whether
the Arabic attempted to ram the sub
marine or whether a change of the
liners course to assist the already
sinking British steamer Dunsley near
by was misinterpreted by the German
submarine commander rs a hostile
approach.
The attitude of American govern
ment for the moment is receptive,
anxiously awaiting accurate details
and reserving judgment as to wheth-
er, the action was deliberately UNI
friendly" The final decision rests
with President Wilson.
beonE Crucial Point Reached
Tie President motored to Philadel-
phla to see an oculist He consulted
Secretary Lansing before leaving and
conferred with him again tonight. NO
statement was forthcoming. The gen.
eral trend of comment was that the
ha1 reached
the point where it must now decide
whether it would sever diplomatic re-
lations with Germany.
In addition to awaiting information
from the American survivors the en-
bassy in London and American con-
suls, officials expect some word from
Ambassador Gerard at Berlin to in
dictate whether the attack without
warning on the Arabic had the sane
ton of the German government
Should Germany offer an explanation
asserting there were qualifying circum
stences such as an attempt by the
Arabic to escape or ram the subma-
rine the disposition on Germany's
part to discuss the case would In all
likelihood be construed here as a dis
avowal Of any intention deliberately
TO violate the principles for which
the United States has commended,
Act Occasions Surprise
Officials here have found it dill
cpyt to reconcile the act with previ'
Gus declarations from Germany that
the purpose of the submarine warfare
was to prevent the carriage of NUM-
tions of war to the allies. The Ara
bic was bound for an American pert
and carried therefore no contraband'
The censorship in Great Britain OF
press dispatches on the disaster ere
ated the impression that perhaps the
facts were being withheld which may
affect the case vitality. Official mes
sages, however are not subject 70
censorship, and confidence prevails
that within another twenty.four hours
the circumstances of the torpedoins
would be definitely learned.
Nc Conveys in Vicinity
For a while today some ofhcia's
hearing that the Arabic was conveyed
Tor n time on her outward Journey
nom Liverpool, thought his might
have caused the German submarine
20 disregard the rule Of visit and
search and the giving OF warning
Later, however, the statement OF an
american survivor transmitted OH
cially told how the lifeboats driftec
four hours before being picked uP
This was regarded as destroying the
Theory that conveys could have beer
anywhere in the vicinity when tho
Arabic was sunk. Even If the Arab''
wa conveyed part way 1t would MOI
affect her tatus, in the opinion o
LAWYERS in the state department, whC
declared numerous precedents es
tablish that 1t is only the actual pres
epce of the convoy with merchant
man at the time the latter is en-
countered which can alter the RUE
OF visit and search.
The theory that the Arabic ma
have attempted to ram the German
submarine was accounted by naval OF
ficials of high rank, who said the pre-
vailing vessel could ram under waite
craft was erroneous. The submarin
can maneuver about so quickly, the,
explained as to be able to TORPEDO
the larger vessels without difficulty
Officials also thought that no vesse
of large tonnage, especially thos
with passengers aboard ever woul
take such a risk.