The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-05-31
WILSON FACES
z GRAVE CRISES

tcont,nued from Page One.J
| Berlin to the American note sent as
a consequence of the Lusitania disas-
| ter pessimism and high tension were
apparent.
! The official text of the note from
| Germany had arrived and was before
| the president early today. OFFICIALS
generally read it with profound disap-
| pointment. for, they pointed out, 1t
| endeavored to obscure and eVade the
| main issue-the questions of humanity
! involved-and sought to interpose a
| technical argument on matters of law
hitherto undisputed under the univer-
sally accepted laws of nations.
Most important of all, it was noted
that no attention was given to the re-
| quest of the United States for assur-
ance that American lives would be
| safeguarded in the future
The course of the United States gov
| eminent is expected to be shaped by
the president before the day is over
| and will be discussed at tomorrow s
| cabinet meeting.
Germany Disappointing.
Through Ambassador Gerard, the
president has known for several days
| of the disappointing character of the
| German note. What his action will be
| is unknown to anyone but himself-if,
| indeed, he has formed definite con-
illusions
From previous knowledge of the
presidents feeling over the Lusitania
| disaster, in which more than 100
| Americans lost their lives, it is con-
| fidently believed in many quarters he
will order the dispatch of a second
note to Berlin within twenty-four or
forty-eight hours. answering Ger
manys request for the facts concern
| ing the Lusitania's cargo and equip
ment with a restatement of the cir
| cumStances as made clear in the first
| American note, and an intimatiOn that
a prompt reply is expected.
To Press Nebraskan Incident.
| Reference, it is believed, will be
made to the understanding OF the
| American government that another
American veSSel-the NebraSkan-has
been torpedoed without warning, while
the diplomatic discussion was in prog
ress, and urgent inquiry 1T is thought
| will be made as to what effective
| measures will be taken Immediately by
| the German government to prevent
the further destruction Of American
| lives and property.
| Legal officers of the United States
| government say the American point
of view on the legal questions involved
| has never been disputed in the past by
| Germany or any other nation of the
| world in any of the essential features
| AnalyZing the German reply it was
| pointed out that the German accept
| ance of responsibility for attacks CT
the American ships Gulflight and the
Cushing, with expressions of regret
|
materially in clearing up the situation,
since it was declared in the American
note such promises do not remove a
dangerous practice.
| This view it is held is proved by
the attack on the Nebraskan and the
absence of any assurance that Amer
leans on unarmed merchant ships of
any flag in the future will be trans
ferred to a place of safety before such
a ship is destroyed a prize of war.
A Hostile Practice.
Continued attacks on American YES
| sells though hostile intent may be dis
avowed in each case, is regarded by
American officials as constituting il
total effect a hostile practice.
The discussion in the German note
of the sinking of the British steamer
Falaba, on which Leon G. ThreSher
an American citizen, lost his life was
not surprising to officials here, for
there has been a controversy in the
reports of the German government
and the affidavits of survivors over
the length of time given the Falaba to
transfer her paSsengers-a point that
has never been satisfactorily eStab-
lished. The Falaba case however, is
only incidental to the American pro-
test over the German method of con-
Quoting submarine warfare, and is not
as vital from a legal point of view as
the torpedoing without warning of the
LuSitan MIA.
Germany's contention that the Lus-
itania was built an auxiliary
cruiser and was on the British naval
list and that it was armed with can
non was met with the statement in
official quarters that the merchant
ships of all nations may be COM
Wandered by the respective govern
mentS in times of war The change
from a peaceful merchantmen to an
armed auxiliary naval vessel is a pro-
ceeding of such a distinct character
as to leave no doubt as to when it
has taken place Great Britain's
practice always has been, it was
pointed out, to place a commissioned
naval officer in command of con-
verted merchantmen which are COM
mandeered only in home ports, and
to equip the vessel with guns. Ac-
cording to report of an official inves
tigation by government officials be-
fore the Lusitania was granted clear
ance from New York, the ship car
rjed no guns mounted or UpmOunted.