Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-08-25
Germany Asks
Hearing on Arabic
BEFORE UNITED STATES TAKES
DEFINITE, STAND
FROM BERLIN
So Far Germany Has No Official
Information Concerning the Sink
ing Of the Arabie-Washinston Of
fieiaIs Reticent.

Washington, Aug. 24-Count Won
Bernstorff, the German ambassador.
communicated to the state department
today instructions from his govern
ment expressing regret and sympathy
II Americans lost their lives in the
sinking of the liner Arabic and ask
ing that the United States DELAY TAX
ing definite stand in regard to the
affair until Germany could be heard
from.
Relaxation of Tension,
This was the first word from an
official German source concerning the
Arabic, on which two Americans per
ished. Its receipt was followed by an
evident relaxation of the tension
which had been growing here as DAYS
passed with no indications of a de-
sire on Germany's part to discIaim
any intention OF committing an act
deliberately unfriendly' toward the
United States No attempt was mads
either at the state department or the
White House to interpret the ambas-
sadors communication. Officials mere
ly said that of course the American
government would await the German
explanation of the action of the sub
marine commander in sinking the
liner.
Count Won Bernstorff teIegraphed
the state department from New York
the text of his instructions from Ber-
I'LL II 1OAOWS-
Text of Request.
$50 far no official information avail
able concerning the sinking of the
Arabic. The German government
trusts that the American government
will not take definite stand at hear
ing only the reports of one side which
in the opinion of the imperial govern
ment cannot correspond with the facts
but that a chance will be given to Ger
mo -, - L.
the imperial government does not
doubt the good faith of the witnesses
whose statements are reported by the
newspapers in Europe it should be
borne in mind that these statements
are naturally made under excitement
which might easily produce wrong
impressions Il Americans should have
actually lost their lives this would nat
urally be eoptFary to- intentions.
The German government would deeply
regret the fact and begs to tender
soncerest sympathies to the American
government.
Lansing Maintains Reticenee.
Secretary Lansing indicated he did
not intend to reply to the ambassa-
doris message at this time. He agreed
to its publication with a statement
that he had no comment to make.
Particular attention was attracted
here by the assertion in the German
communication that in the opinion of
the imperial government the accounts
of the sinking of the Arabic which
have come from England could not
correspond with fact These accounts
in afhdavits by the captain of the
ship and American survivors have
agreed that the Arabic, an unarmed
passenger vessel bound for the United
States with no cOntraband in her car
go, was torpedoed without warning by
a submarine
May Be a Week Before Germany Is
Heard From.
It may be a week or more before
Germany is heard from further. The
report of the submarine commander
must be awaited in Berlin and it is
known that sometimes ten days or
more elapse before the underwater
boats return to their base and COM
municate with the admiralty