Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1915-05-12
GLOOMY DAY FOR
THE PRESIDENT
Wilson VIII Act With FirnneSS
in LuSitania Case.
BLAME PUT ON THE OWNERS
Berlin Declares That Cunard Officials
Are Responsible for Sinking of
Liner-German Government
Defends It's Action.

Washington, May 10-The first
formal comment from the White
House on the sinking of the Lusitania
was issued in the following state
ment:
After a conference with the presi-
dent at the White House this eve
ming Secretary Tumulty said:
"'Of course, the president feels the
distress and the gravity of the situa-
ton to the utmost, and is considering
very earnestly, but very calmly, the
right course of action to pursue. He
knows that the people of the country
wish and expect him to act with de-
liberation as well as with firmness.
President Wilson passed the entire
day in gloomy solitude, revolving in
his mind what action he shall take
against Germany for the destruction
of the Lusitania and long list of
American lives.
The president took two automobile
rides into the country and the fact that
he went out twice was thought to indi-
cate that he was under great mental
stress.
1t was a matter of general comment
that, as far as is known, the president
has not consulted with any member
of his cabinet since the crisis arose.
None of them has been summoned or
has called at the White House. 1t was
said in explanation that the president
realizes the responsibility is his alone
and that he wishes to make up his
own mind as to the course to pursue
in conscience and patriotism before
getting the views of the cabinet.
He probably will ask the views of
the cabinet before prOmulgating his
own, and if it seems wise and proper
to him he will modify his own views
after the cabinet consultation. But,
in the first instance he wants to think
out for himself, uninfluenced by the
opinions of others, the right thing to
do according to his own right
Defends Sinking of Liner.
Berlin, via wireless, May 10.-The
following official communication was
issued:
THE Cunard liner Lusitania was
torpedoed by German submarine and
sunk The Lusitania was armed
with guns, as were recently most Of
the English merchant steamers. More
over, as is we'll known here, she had
large quantities of war material in
her cargo.
Her owners, therefore, knew to
what danger the passengers were eX-
posed. They alone bear all the re-
sponsibility for what has happened.
Germany, on her part, left nothing
undone to repeatedly and strongly
warn them. The imperial ambassador
in Washington even went so far as
to make public warning so as to draw
attention to this danger The English
press sneered then at this warning
and relied on the protection of the
British fleet to safeguard Atlantic
traffic
"Lusitania Not Armed"
London, May 10.-The British gov
eminent made the following state
ment: The statement appearing in
some newspapers that the Lusitania
was armed is wholly false"
Reported Sunk by U-39.
Geneva, via Paris, May 10.-A dis
patch from Munich, Bavaria, received
at Basel, says that the German sub
marine U-39 sank the Lusitania
There we're great rejoicings during
the day in southern Germany, accord
ing to the advices. Towns were be-
tagged, especially along the Rhine,
and the children had a half-holiday
in honor of the event.
The rejoicings are said to have
spread even to Vienna and Budapest.
1t is said that the general feeling in
Germany and Austria is that the
Americans on board the steamer had
been warned previously of their dan