Omaha daily bee., 1915-05-31
WASHINGTON HOLDS
GERMANY EYADES
WILSON DEMANDS
Feeling Of Disappointment Reigns in
U. s. Capital as Result Of Re-
ported Tenor Of Tepton
Reply.
y. s TO coNTsovERT POINTS
Grave Factor Added to Situation by
Finding Ncbraskan Hit by
Torpedo,
PRESIDENT MAINTAINS sILENCE


WASHINGTON, May sO,-Until
the official text OF the German reply
20 the American note concerning vio-
lations OF neutral rights In the war
zone is received, probably tomorrow.
President Wilson will reserve com-
ment.
This word came from the White
House tonight after press dispatches
outlining the German note were re.
ceived.
II Is known, however, that the
United States government Is prepared
to controvert every one OF the points
mentioned In the summary Of the
German position. as published here.
The press outline conforms with Am
bassador Gerard's dispatches OF the
last few days forecasting the nature
OF the German reply.
Evidencr Previously Gatherea.
Evidence of an indlsputable character
was gathered by the Washington gov
erament prior to the sendlne % the note
OF May IS to prove that the IAsltania
carried no gums. either mounted or un-
mounted: that it carried no explosives
within the meaning OF American statutes
and that no British vessels have cleared
from American ports for several months
carrying guns Of any character.
Tho British ambassador here ls pre-
pairing TO transmit assurances from tho
British government that the Lusitanla
was not armed and that Il could not bo
carried on the naval lists as an auxiliary
cruiser unless Il were armed and COM
missioned, The United States. moreover.
holds that the carrying OF arms or am
munition OF other oontraband. or a few
unarnsd individuals who might be proe-
peetiye soldiers, does NOT destroy the
right under international law ana hu-
manity OF the belligerent merchantmen
te be visited and searched before being
destroyed and the neutral or non-com-
blatant passengers transferred 70 place
OF pafsty.
Feeftnw AZ Peesfmianns
While the exact plnnssoloey q The
German reply h. awaited with n,irh in-
forest there vas fcAlins or peanlinlsm
I'm many quarters over the reported eva
sion OF President wiIeons demands for
reparation for the loes OF more than 100
American lvca and suarsntecs that sub
marine warfare would be 30 conducted
in the near future a. to safeguard amer
lean lives and vessels.
A grave factor has been added to the
situation by the finding OF the American
commission appointed by Ambassador
Page. that tho American steamer Ne
nraskan was torpeeoed without warnins
by submarine In German quarters the
claim was persistent that the vessel must
have struck mine
Lieutenant John X. Towers. naval az.
tache and naval constructor, Lewis Il,
Mcbride OF the American embassy and
conaul Washington az Liverpool have re.
ported through Alnbassador Page that
after a technlcal examination OF the YES.
sci and ON the testimony OF the ichief en-.
gineer OF the Nebraskan that he saw the
wake Of = torpedo they had no doubt
that the ship was attacked by a sub.
marine. ~,
Presumed 10 ne German.
1nsamuchn submarines OF the allied
powers have not attacked nerchantmen
'"V RfchofnPtion OF OFFICIALS ~ similar %
that reached after ian Investigation Of
the attack on the oulfIight that Ger.
man submarine was responsible and an
inquiry to the German foreign office FOR
It's report on the case is expected 20 sc
! forward within a day or two
The preponderance OF evidence show
ing an attack on the Nebraskan, after /,
vas believed that submarine attacks on
vessels would cease. at least while the
negotiations were in progress. admittedly
Increased the tension In relations with
Germany. In German quarters It was
suggested that II tho ship was attacked
by German submarine the comma nder
may have been away from hts base too
long 70 learn OF the new Development
and the precautions TO be taken with 20.
speet 10 neutral ships, The fact that The
Nebraskan had hauled down it's flag al
dark was also mentioned as a possible
reason for suspecting that Il was an
enemy vessel although Captain Greene In
his affidavit declares the name OF hla
(conllnued on paBe Two-Column Three D