Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-05-09

expression of their feeling. preparing to
maintain silence until the American gov
eminent is ready to speak on the human
as we'll as the legal aspects of the case.
The consular and diplomatic machin-
cry of the government in the meantime
sought information from every avail
able source concerning survivors, and
lent aid to the injured or destitute.
Wars Greatest Sensation.
In diplomatic quarters in Washing
ton the incident continued the great
est sensation of the war. Amba ssadors
and ministers were intensely interested
in what the policy of the American
government would be.
Count Won Bernstorh, the German am
bassador. was still away, and no COM
ment was made at the German emba ssy.
but among German officials and dlpio-
matists friendly to the German allies
there was retraced the argument which
Germany insisted upon as her justifi-
cation for submarine warfare on mer-
chant ships.
1t was reiterated that Great Britain
by preventing foodstuffs from reaching
threatened her nom ombatants with
starvation. In the face of such an act.
they declared, Germany made what
ever reprisals were possible. however
severe.
The proclamation by the German
admiralty of war zone around the
British Isles and the subsequent warn
ings were held to have been SUFFICIENT
warning to Americans not to hazard
their lives on belligerent vessels. The
presence on the Lusitania of $4,000
cases of cartridges was pointed to as
a potent argument for the vessels de-
struction.
Senator Stones Statement.
No comment was made on the state
ment of Chairman Stone that the at
tack on the American steamer Gulf
light. without warning. was in his
opinion a more serious case for the
American government to deal with
than the Lusitania'
The impression prevailed last night
that the Gulflight case, the attack on
the British steamer ba, which re-
suited in the drowning of Leon c..
Thresher, an American citizen, and the
American steamer Cushing would be
grouped together in general repre-
sentations from the United States to
Germany.
r sew
eral minutes had been given for the
passengers to escape. President Wilson
began a careful investigation of the
legal aspects Of that case. so that the
torpedoing of the Lusitania required
little research further in that con-
nection.
The problem before him had there
fore resolved itself, it was understood,
to purely one of policy-what steps
would be taken in accordance with the
American warning that Germany would
be held to 'strict accountability"
The President knew before he retired
Friday night that there had been a big
loss Of life. He telephoned Secretary
Bryan then. directing an inquiry into
the facts. Early yesterday he went
President thinks out some of the COM
pick problems before him while walk
ing up and down the links. When he
returned for lunch, he read the official
dispatches. and in the afternoon took a
ride, Apparently he was in deep
ginia hills, riding In the front seat OF
the automobile with tho chauffeur
When he returned last night he talked
briefly with Secretary Tumulty. who is
ing he was considering very earnestly
but calmly the right course Of action
to pursue" Afterward the President
again went motoring alone.
White House Speculation.
While not the slightest animation
came from the White House. officials
in departmental circles heard a va
riety OF speculations discussed. One
course suggested was that a note be
, sent to Germany demanding an ex-
PLANTATION of the occurrence, with q re-
quest for an indemnity. Another was
o0n1n ~ hA
conveyed by American batleships and
cruisers The severance of diplomatic
| relations with Germany without an active
declaration OF war was also talked Of
| Informally.
Some kilograms reaching the White
House said the President would be sup
ported even II he thought war was
necessary to defend American rights or
| the high seas Other messages coun-
| seled peace and declared the country
| was solidly opposed to becoming In
yolved in the European conflict.
| Steps taken thus far by the American
| government have been confined to
| formal inquiries. Ambassador Gerard
was instructed to ask the German for
| eign office to obtain through the ad.
| miralty a report from Its submarine
as to what the circumstances of the
disaster were.
! was there any inquiry for the attitude
| of the German government. This will
| be developed in subsequent correspon-
dence after the facts are gathered from
| German official sources.
\ Ambassador Page was also instructed
4 to obtain all the facts which the Brit.
| ish government or survivors might
furnished to the embassy at London. The
| American consuls reported as rapid,
| as they compiled the lists OF names OF
| the American survivors.
All other government business wa,
| temporarily overshadowed The faI
eastern situation in which overnight 9
crisis had been averted was lost sight
Of, as was the reported annexation OF
Belgium by Germany. There was bu,
one topic Of conversation everywhere
the dramatic sea tragedy.
SINKING OF LUSlTANIA