Connecticut western news., 1915-09-16

Submarine Issue Is Stirred Afresh by
 BerIin's Refusal Of Indemnity In the
 Arabic Case Excuse In Note For
 Sinking Is at Variance With Unpre-
 iudiced Evidence.
 All "amicable understanding" was reached at conference between Am bassador Bernstorff and Secretary of State Lansing, it is officially stated at Washington But a point of great dan ger in the German-American situation. it was learned on the best of authority, threatens future friction.
 There was good reason to believe that this understanding" concerned only the case of the Arabic. America. 1t was understood, has agreed to arbi tration on the question as to whether the U-boat commander. in this particu' lar instance, was warranted in believ ing the liner was attempting to ram his submarine.
 \Germany's explanation of the unSuc- eessful attempt to destroy the Cunard liner Orduna on July 9 is that the sub marine commander violated his in structions, which were not to attack any liner, but that because of the weather he was unable to make out the character or nationality of the Or duna.
 Arabic Note Stirs Resentment.
 Germany's formal note to the United States on the sinking of the Arabic has stirred resentment at Washington. Der lin admits no warning was given and refuses indemnity for the two Ameri- can lives that were lost
 Berlin also asserts that the Arabic changed her course to ram the subma rine. Evidence shows that the Arabic never saw any submarine and changed her course to go to the rescue of the ship Dunsley. which evidently was in distress. The submarine was hiding be hind the Dunsley and out of sight.
 Washington suspects that Germany is simply playing with the United States in the U-boat controversy, and itS sincerity ill promising safety to lin CTS is very much doubted.
 Germany's note on the Arabic in full is as follows:
 On Augs l9 a stopped the English steamer Dunsley about six teen nautical miles south of Kinsale and was on the point of sinking the prize by gunfire after the crew had left the vessel. At this moment the commander saw large steamer making directly toward him. This steamer. which as developed later, was the Arabic. She was recognized as an enemy vessel, as she did not fly any flag and bore no neutral markings.
 When she approached she altered her original course, but then again pointed directly toward the submarine. From this the commander became convinced that the steamer had the intention of attackin2 and ramming him. In order to anticipate this attack he gave orders for the sub marine to dive and fired a torpedo at the steamer After firing he convinced him. self that the people on board were being rescued in fifteen boats.
 Says Arabic Planned Attack.
 According to his instructions, the com mander was not allowed to attack the Arabic without warning and without sav- ing the lives unless the ship attempted to escare or offered resistance. He was forced, however, to conclude from the at- tendant circumstances that the Arabic planned violent attack on the submarine
 This conclusion is all the more obvious as he had been fired upon at a great dis tance in the Irish sea on Aug. 14-that is a few days before-by a large passenger steamer, apparently belonging to the Brit ish Royal Mail Steam Packet company which he had neither attacked nor stop ped.
 The German government most deeply re- grets that lives were lost through the ac- ton of the commander. It particularly expresses this regret to the government Of the United States on account of the death of American citizens.
 No Obligation to Grant Indemnity.
 The German government is unable how ever, to acknowledge any obligation to grant indemnity in the matter, even if the commander should have been mistaken as to the aggressive intentions of the Arabic.
 If it should prove to be the case that il is impossible for the German and Ameri- can governments to reach a harmonious opinion on this point, the German govern ment would be prepared to submit the difference of opinion, as being a question of international law, to The Hague tri- buna1 for arbitration, pursuant to article 3S of The Hague convention for the pacific settlement of international disputes.
 In so doing. it assupies that, as a mat ter of course the, arbitral decision shall nca ha TaH1tted to have the importance m a gsneral decision on the permissihility or the converse under international law of German submarine warfare. -