Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-08-21
BREAK WITH KAISER
SEEMS PROBABLE
Question Now Depends on Whether or
Not Arabic Made Hostile Move
Toward Submarine - Washington
Makes No Attempt to Minimize
Gravity Of situation-ereat Britain
Declares Arabic Was Not Conveyed.

that Ambassador Gerard probably WAL
he directed to call on the German gov
ernment in regard to the sinking OF
the Arabic and to invite an explana-
tion.
Official dispatches to the state de-
partment have confirmed early press
reports announcing that the British
liner Arabic was torpedoed Witnout
warming and that two Am nericans were
lost when she went down.
Whether the attack on the Arabic
was an act deliberately unfriendly
to the United States against Whlcn
President Wilson gave warning In ms
last note to Germany, apparently de-
nends on whether the German subma-
rine commander claims that he inter-
preted as a hostile approach the
change in the liners course to aid the
sinking British steamer Dunsley'
which had been torpedoed near by.
This point perhaps can not be cleared
nm until Ambassador Gerard at Berlin
haa ascertained what report the Ger
.rar government received from the
commanded.
Awaiting Definite Details.
In the meantime President Wilson
and Secretary Lansing are conferrlng
over the dispatches already received
frnsn Ambassador Page at London and
.re anxios.sly awaiting further reports
from American consuls
while awaiting the reports Of the
commander at Berlin, of11-
Gals here are greatly interested IN
yvhat Ambassador Gerard has to say to
What he may have discovered at the
German capital about the attitude OF
higher German officials.
OffciaIs here made no attempt to
minimize the situation. Everywhere
the possibility nii.tJ &c Q severance OF diplo-
matte relations with Germany was dis
nussed as likely If 1t is developed that
the Arabic was torpedoed deliberately
without regard to the question as TO
,y;,ether she made hostile approach
upon the submarine.
u. 8. Facing Crisis.
h There is no longer any doubt IN
washington that the United States IS
facing situation which probably Will
result in the severance OF diplomatic
relations with Germany.
Altho the state department declined
to make known whether 1t has rece1v-
ed any official reports on the sinking
Of the Arabic, It is generally believed
that 1t has received dispatches ind1-
eating:
without warning.
2. That at the time Of the attack
the Arabic was not conveyed by any
British Marshipa
Z ~ oclr v0
was made by the submarine to assist
the passengers and crew who had es-
caned in lifeboats or were flounderin3
about in the water.
i. That only thru the admirable dis
cipline OF the crew was a great loss OF
life averted.
with these facts substantiated, the
situation Immediately will become por-
tentfoue.
Convoy Would Change Case.
The suggestion that the Arabic was
conyoyed by British warsfnps and
therefore was not immune from attack
nv German submarines under terms OF
President Wilson'S warning Of July 21
has been set aside by the officials here
In some Of the newspaper accounts
II was said that the liner had been
conveyed from Liverpool down the
Mersey by British torpedo boats which
followed into the Irish sea and st.
georges channel The convoy, accord
inr to these dispatches, had turned
hack only q short time before the Ger
man torpedo had been launched
against the Arabic.
The state department was intensely
interested in these reports at first, be-
causo It was acknowledged that II the
Arabic was under the protection Of
British war vessels It had surrendered
ali rights as an innocent merchant
man and was. subject to attack. II
the British war vessels had turned
back but were within sight of the
Arabic at the time Of the torpedo at
tack there would be strong grounds
for Germany raising the point that 1t
was justified under the rules OF inter-
national law.
Tells Attitude Of Wilson.
While officials Of the state depart
mont are withholding formal comment
on tho sinking Of the Arabic until all
OF the facts are known and Presi-
dent Wilson has determined upon his
course Of action, the attitude Of the
United States in the event that the
unofficial reports are officially con-
flrmed was stated clearly this after
noon by a high official.
II the Arabic was under convoy at
the time Of the attack, the German
submarine was jsstifed in firing its
torpedo without Arning the vessel
B II the Arabic VI - not under convoy
tho German commander was not JUS
ititisd under any condition in attacking