Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-05-13
Demand Explanation Of Germany;
Ca!rn1ess Urged Upon Americans

WASHINGTON, May l0.-The United
States will today direct Ambassador
Gerard 10 make inquiry of the Ger
man government for its report of the
facts concerning the sinking OF the LII
sitanfa. This became known after con-
ference between high officials.
The ambassador will be instructed to
make his preliminary inquiry as a basis
for whatever steps may eventually pc
taken. High officials privately sand the
situation was very grave.
The usual course would be for Am
bassador Gerard to ask the German
foreign office and the German admir-
atty informally for the reports they
have received from the OF
the German submarines. lhat Would
be apart from any explanation when
may be asked later from Germany as
to her reasons or purposes in the ACT
Officials at the state department. pre-
pared the instruction to Ambassador
Gerard, which will be brief and VIII be
dispatched some time today.
we are informing ourselves as rap
idly as possible regarding the Lusi-
tania natter said Secretary Bryan to-
day. and we are doing What we can
for those injured. We will get all the
information we can.
Chairman Stone. of the Senate fore
IGN relations COMMITTEES. made II state
ment today which in part IS as loi-
lows:
1T seems to me that good sense
dictates that we keep our heads until
we get our bearings. 1t is a Dad u1ne
to get ratified and act nnpulslNely. we
IAN not overlook thc fact mat the Lusl-
tania was a British ship flying the
British flag and subject at any time
TO be nut into actual naval service of
the Indeed, it is stated
that aft the time she was attacked she
was carrying military reserVlsts 10
ENGLAND for service in the British army.
True, there were American cltlZehs
aboard, but it must not be forgotten
that they went aboaTa a , r,sl
ship with full knowledge OF the riSk
and after official warning by The Ger
man government. When on board d
British vessel they were on Brltlsh SOL
Was not their position substantiall
equivalent to being within the walls OF
q fortified city?
az EXPRESS no opinion at his time.
am merely suggesting reasons Why VIC
should MAINTAIN our equilibrium ano
not rock the boat until we know Wha'
we are about. =,
Aside from the possible loss OF
American lives, let US ask ourselves
inst where we come in. At the presen'
moment and with the light now before
me, 7 confess that it appears to me tina
from our standpoint as 4 neutral ma
ton. the Outright case presents q inoIe
delicate and serious compilcatlor 'ha'
the case of the Lusitanla.
Among senators at the capital tner'
was a general feeling of alarm, put al
refrained from entering into public dis
cussion while awaiting developments
The opinion prevailed that the loss 2,
American lives and the manner II
which the L.usitania was destroyed
would arouse public opinion tremen
dously. =,
early and Immediately went into con
INFLATED because of the scarcity OF IN
formation of an official character.
The fact that the Lusitania was
British ship, filing a I ritish Rag am an
had c%ontraband of war aboard, DID no
remove from the minds Of officials IN
ever recurrent thought that a h"stli
submarine deliberately destroyed IN
shin with = knowledge that hundred
of defenseless neutrals and women an
children were aboard.
Everywhere that aspect oSer
Swallowed the legal phase OF sne eass
for while there is said to be no pre-