The Washington times., 1915-05-05
GERMAN SUBMARINE
SINKS L TRAWLERS
Disguised as British Vessel
Kaiser's Craft Creates
Havoc In North Sea.
Continued from First Page.)

Continued from First Page)
and nothing more was seen Of the sub
marn The dispatch says the number
on the submarine was ihdistinct. The
vessel was damaged on the bluff star
board bow below the load waterline,
and the damage Is extensive, though
the cargo In the tanks Is safe.
Ship In Charge of British.
Further details are given of, Wireless
Operator Short and Seaman Chapanta.
who jumped overheard and were
hours later. of Captain Gunter. The
dispatch says Eysmans was saved,
that the captains remains and the
crew are at Penzance, and the ship Is
anchored at Scilly, In charge of the
British admiralty.
Neutrals Grow Apprehensive.
The anxiety felt here over the danger
| to neutral shipping by reason of Ger
many's sumbarine wa ris not peculiar to
Washington and this country alone. 1t
Is apparent that the neutral countries
of Europe are viewing with growing ap-
prehension the submarine warfare on
This is indicated by the fact that the
Swedish minister. w. A. F. Ekengren.
had a long conference. yesterday with
| Counselor Lansing, and later Secretary
| l,
ton, had a similar conference. Secretay
de Beaufort talked over the Gulflight
| case and the situation as to attacks on
neutral shipping. and 1t Is understood
Minister Ekengren also took up this
matter.
| It ia clear the eyes Of Europe are
watching closely the course Of the Uni
ted states in the Gulflight case and re-
lated cases. 1t Is the evident Impression
in most European capitals that the
United States can be treated with I'M
punitv so long as only slight interrer-
ence results to trade.
Germany's Possible Stand.
The expectation Is that today. or the
next few days at most. will bring to
Washington more specific information
as to Just what happened in the Gulf
light case. 1t Is believed by many that
the German government will take the
stand that the nationality Of the torpedo
and that this Government may be un-
able to establish 1t beyond a doubt.
If It should be established, moreover,
there Is a prospect that the Berlin gov
eminent will lay stress on the fact that
the Gulfight was being guided by two
British patrol boats, and hence allege
the Gulflight was unneutral: One OF
the facts not yet known is whether the
Guliight was flying the American flag
, All of the evidence adduced thus far
tends to show that the Gulfight was
struck by German sumbarine tor
= pedo without warning. without search
and without Observance of the unaues'
> toned rights of neutrals, even II car.
rying conTaband
The Gulfight affair. coming as
sort of climax to other things done by
Germany. has served to cause vast
amount Of discussion Of the question
whether Germany could have any
motive for crowding the United state:
into war. and what that motive might
be. number of interesting theories
. are being debated.
One of them is that Germany woulc
not be unwilling to see the United States
definitely enlisted with the allies. be
cause when 1t came to writing the peace
terms she would expect this country
to throw the weight Of Its influence fol
terms favorable to Germany.
To be more specific. this theory Is tha
Germany would expect the case for neu
traliazton of the seas. which sh'
favors, to he greatly helped II th'
United States were an active factor IL
the peace negotiations.
As viewed here. Great Britain will no
relish the naturalization of the seas
as this would mean the virtual abolition
Of her navy and the end Of her SUI
premacy on the seas But the United
!. States, backed by strong Pan-Americai
e sentiment. might be expected to sup
port naturalization.
o Whether this thought is what Il
actually In the backs of the heads o
the Kaiser and his advisers or not, 4
4 something which cannot be defnitel,
told. But 1t Is known that some of tn
0 | chieftains close to the President hav
pondercd 1t over
a To Reckon With Unexpected.
! Another theory entertained by som
q I~ell-informed officials, including a prom
n inent Senator. who discussed 1t recently
= Is that Germany believes il this coun
try actually went to war, or felt itsel
: likely to get into war. it would shu
e down on the export Of arms and ammu
e milton to the European allies.
0 In view Of the enormous facilities Il
: this country for the manufacture o
a war munitions. 1t Is doubtful if thi
would be the effect. In other words
I American plants capable of manufac
d turing war munitions. might be able t
8 make heavy shipments to Europe an
t at the same time supply the Unite
: States
e Still. the course of things inter
r national since last July has departe
d far from what Is sound and sane fror
: the American viewpoint. America
It officials are beginning to believe tina
s in these parlous times they can recko
chiefly with the unexpected.