The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-12
War ill., S. and Germany
Break, Bernstorff's New
Ambassador Quoted as Saying Kaiser's Submarines
Would Quickly Force the Issue if Diplomatic Re-
lations Between Two Countries Cease.

the note Of the German Government be
laid side by side and compared? The
very same words will be found in each,
showing that German submarine com
manders have been instructed that pas
senger ships shall not be attacked unless
they seek to ram or to escape.
Between the American and the Ger
man Governments now no question re-
mains but one Of conflicting evidence.
The question In one for impartial OBJ
servers: Which evidence seems more
probably true?
On the one side Is the testimony Of
the passengers. who don't know what
was back Of the captains head. A man
can cross the ocean times without num-
Der and have no idea what his captain
Is intending in the m"anpuvring OF the
ship. Then you rave the testimony Of
the British captain. who Is under orders
to destroy every submarine he sees and
who knows he'll get the Victoria Cross IL
he is successful. besides the express
British desire to embroil the United
States In war with Germany.
on the other rand you have the
German captains orders not to attack
the liner, and German officers. say
what any n will of them. simply are
not known to dlsobey their orders.
Kaiser Not Informed.
The German Government has OF course
never been informed OF the American
evidence. Historically the Arabic ques-
ton Is this: The ship was sunk. and,
according to the evidence OF newspaper
, accounts only. II was sunk without
warning. Then the German Govern
ment made the request that the United
States wait and hear the German side.
and with this request the fact was made
known that German submarine COM
manders are under instructions not to
sink passenger ships without warning
or without providing for the safety of
the passengers unless the liner at
tempts to scape or attacks.
II appears even that the English
captain has admitted that he was flee
ing from the submarine. The German
captain says the English captain was
trying TO ram the submarine. In effect
the contention is the same.
There isn't the slightest difference
now between the German and United
States Governments. II is only a
question OF conflicting evidence. and
II Is impossible to see how such a
serious thing as breaking OF inter-
rational relations can even be talked
Of in connection with this difference.
But there seems to be a popular liking
for talk about breaking OF relations.
I 10 llbFt WIN are ldlklUk ABOUT II
realize what II means? DO they see
that Germany would be obliged III
view OF such a turn In affairs to with
draw the concession already made out
OF difference to the American people
and diplomacy?
The Arabic Question.
With German submarine captains
sinking every ship they could find.
there Is no doubt that war would fol-
low within two or three days after the
brs of OF relations.
The Arabic question now Is merely
this: Was the ship sunk under the
rules OF the agreement with the United
States? We say IL was and present
the report OF our captain. His instruc-
tons. like those OF every other sub
marine commander, were in exact ac-
cordance with the words used In the
note to Mr.. Lansing.
The situation now existing means that
Americans should get assurances from
the captain of their ship hat he will not
try to ram OF run away. as otherwise
American life is not safe on board That
u Just about what the situation now
amounts to.
The only weak point In the American
position Is that the United States is con
tending for peace for British merchant
ships and there can be no peace for
British merchant ships. Tbs Engiish
captains are rewarded for successfully
ramming submarines. Since that cap
tain got the Victoria Cross for ramming,
what is one to imagine the German sub
marine commanders feel about that?
Even with those close 60 him officially
the German Ambassador has been un-
willing to discuss freely DR.. Dumba's
indiscretions. According TO THE Eyr,
MING SUNS informant. the Ambassador
observed that the chief difficulty wal
caused by DR.. Dumba's use OF the word
strike" in his suggestion rega riding
tying up the munitions and other fac.
tories. This word has but one meaning
In this connection. and this meanins
was not exactly what DR.. Dumba meant.
II the United States did not choose to