The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-08-23
GERMANY'S DENIAL
FOR SINKING ARABIC
CONTINUED from page

L / y
lest the opposite direction be taken
Quite distinct from either the eie
ments which argued for drastic steps
toward Germany o. from the pIo
nounced peace party, was tnifo
group which thought Americas reia
tons toward the allies. Great Br1taiN
in particular, the first consioerdtiua
and favored subordinatfng the German
American to the Angio-American sits'
alton.
This group was not for war with
the allies, but it did support an EN-
barge on all American shipments 70
the allies as a measure OF repr1sal
for the latter's interference VIII
American commerce at sea. The cot
ton interests were most prominently
identified with this party, with the
meat packers as their strong back
ers. the consumers of dye stuns q
close second and many miscellaneous
lines of business, formidable IN the
aggregate also enlisted.
In a general way these interests
were allied with the peace group
not that their reasons were the same,
but that they agreed in opposing
friction with Germany If it could pos
sibIy be avoided
It was certain the administration
would take no step until 1t had at
hand full information concerning the
Arabic incident.
A voluminous report from Ambas-
sador Page and affidavits from the
Arabic's officers and passengers, es-
pecially the Americans. were under
stood to be on their way from Lon
don by mail.
The bulk OF the showing from Lon
don was said to indicate that the
Arabic was attacked without warn
ing. that it did not try to ram the
q boat and that it was not trying to
escape.
Nevertheless. official information
was to the effect that among Ameri-
can passengers there We're some at
least who told stories suggesting ma
neuvers by the liner, which perhaps
gave the U boat commander an ex-
cuse for thinking Captain Finch
mean to run the submarine down or
to save his craft by fight.
If the official version verified this
unofficial account, it was pointed out
that the conflict in evidence migk4
give the administration ground for
accepting the German story.
This theory assumed, however, that
a German explanation Will be forth
coming.
Berlin press accounts that Germans
were much perturbed over the loss of
American lives in the affair and that
Goubts were expressed whether the
liner was sunk by submarine at all.
were interpreted by optimists as hope
full indications. There was small com
fidence, indeed, that the submarine
attack could be disproved. but unofIi-
cial representations OF the German
attitude were interpreted as indicat-
ing that the kaiser would try to make
out a good case.
The pessimists pinned more faith
TO reports from allied sources that
the German leaders believed their
forces at the point of exhaustion II
would be natural that the Berlin gov
ed States into the struggle. in-as-much
as It would give the kaiser ground
for representing that. with the whole
world against him, he had no option
but to seek terms, even unfavorable
to himself
The white house and state depart
ment continued retfcent pending the
arrival OF fuller official advices.
Frsomentary Evidence.
fBy Charles p Stewart, United Press
Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Aug. 23.-The Arab.
ic case will not be decided on "frag.
mentary evidence 1t was stated on
high state department authority to-
day. This was taken to mean tina:
the administration might need two OF
three weeks to make up it's mind.
The British version was expected
with reasonable promptness. Some Of
the official evidence had already been
cabled by Ambassador Page A sum
mary of the rest was expected within
forty-eight hours The ambassadors
full report with survivors, afildavit5.
was coming by mail Owing to the
cancellation of-earlier Liverpool sail
ings. a fort,ight's delay. or more. il
its receipt was deemed likely. How
ever. it was thought cab1ed advicsa
would be sufficient to form a basis for
concluding what the British showing
would be-
tnoncial information from Berlin
on the other hand, was 10 the effect
that the German admiralty might be
unable to get its U boat commander
report In less than twenty-four days
Though the Washington government:
had not received a German apology
for the sinking of the Arabic. or dis
tayowal Of it as reported in Wall street
rumors, the story's denial was follow
ed by the admission that some such
statement might have been made, Il
Berlin, to Ambassador Gerard. This
it was said, explained the message tc