The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1915-08-27
WASHINGTON AWAITS DETAILS
OF ARABIC DISASTER TO DE.
eide IF ACTION WAS "DELlB.
ERATELY UNFRIENDLY."
DID LINER ATTEMPT TO
RAM GERMAN SUBMARINE?
One Important Psint Remains to Be
Cleared Up-Grave Aspects of
Case Discussed in Official Quar-
tsrs-WiIson Consults Sec
retary Lansing.

lStS-WttSOu SoIiSuisS WV
retary Lansing.
New York, Aug. 23.-The body Of
Mrs. Josephine L. eruguicre, one of
the two Americans lost with the Ara
bic, has been found, the White Star
line announces. This was based on a
conversation, it was said, with Mrs.
Marion Bruguere, the dead woman's
daushter-in-Iaw, who was quoted as
saying she had received a cable mes
sage to that effect.
Washington, Aug. 23.-It was an
Ambassador Gerard will be directed to
call the German governments atten-
t!on to the sinking of the White Star
liner Arabic and to ask an explanation.
Washington, Aug. 23.-Tension in
creased in official quarters here when
consular messages forwarding affida-
Wits Of American survivors of the
British liner Arabic brought definite
information that the vessel was tor
pedoed without warning and at least
some Americans had been lost. 1t
seemed that but one point remained
to be cleared up-Whether the Arabic
attempted to ram the submarine or
whether a change OF the liners
course to assist the already sinking
British steamer Dunsley nearby was
misinterpreted by the German sub
marine commander as a hostile ap-
preach.
America in Eeceptive Mood.
The attitude of the American gov
ernment for the moment is receptive,
aDXiously awaiting accurate details
and rcserving judgment as to wheth-
err the action was deliberately un-
friendly" The final decision rests with
President Wilson. The president mo-
tored to Philadelphia to see an ocu-
list. He had consulted Secretary
Lansing before leaving and conferr-
ed with him again. No statement
was forthcoming, as details from
abroad We're lacking, but everywhere
In official quarters the grave aspects
of the case were discussed. The gen
eral trend OF comment was that the
American government had reached
the point where it must now decide
whether it would sever diplomatic
relations with Germany.
Word From Survivors Awaited.
In addition to awaiting information
from the American survivors, the en-
bassy in London and consuls, the Off
cials expect word from Ambassador
Gerard at Berlin to indicate whether
the attack without warning on the
Arabic had the sanction of the Ger
man government Should Germany
offer an explanation, stating there were
qualifying circumstances, such as
an attempt by the Arabic to escape or
ram the submarine, the disposition on
Germany's part to discuss the case
would in all likelihood be construed
here as a disvowal of any intention
deliberately to violate the principles
for which the United States has con-
tended,
Officials here have found it difficult
to reconcile the act with previous dec
lararions from Germany that the pur-
pose Of the submarine warfare was to
prevent the carriage of munitions of
war to the Allies.
The Arabic was bound for an AM
ercan port and carried therefore no
contraband.
British Censorship Strict.
The censorship in Great Britain of
press dispatches on the disaster, Great
ed the impression that perhaps facts
were being withheld which might af-
feet the case vitally. Official mes
sages, however, are not subject to CEN
sorship and confidence prevailed that
within another "a hours the circum-
stances Of the torpedoing would be
definitely learned. For while some
officials hearing that the Arabic was
conveyed for a time on her outward
journey from Liverpool, thought this
might have caused the German sub
marine to disregard the rule Of visit
and search and the giving of warning.
Later however, the statement of an
American survivor, transmitted Off
cially told how the life boats drifted
four hours before being picked up.
This was regarded as destroying the
theory that conveys could have been
anyn here in the vicinity when the
Arabia was sunk