Omaha daily bee., 1916-04-08
SUBMARINE CRISIS
AGAIN TO The FORE
Wilson His Cabinet and Colonel
House Consider Reports on
Torpedoed Ships,
SITUATION CONSIDERED GRAVE


ports Of American naval attaches
saying metal fragments found on
The channel steamer Sussex bore
distinctive markings showing them
10 be parts Of German torpedo and
dispatches telling Of scores Of sub
marine attacks on neutral and other
unarmed merchant ships within the
last two weeks we're studied al con.
ferences today between President
Wilson, Colonel y. w. House and
members Of the cabinet.
Al the attaches reports are re-.
qarded here ss very conclusive proof
that the Sussex, while carrying
twenty-five American citizens, was
attacked In violation Of solemn and
reiterated assurances given tho
United States by Germany. with
This fact apparently established Il "
conceded that the United states u
confronted BY q situation more crave
than any which has arisen since the
outbreak Of the war.
viii awaits Hspip.
n was sald agtnontauyeiy agaln. how
ever. tonight. lhat M definite step will
he taken by the American government
until Gtrnany has replied 20 the IN
formal Inquiries submitted ~ Ambsssa'
dor Gerard IN the cssss u the snsses
EnHliahnan sigBohsslsr. Engineer and
Essie Point II vas declared thst word
fran Berlin wa being awaited not -
fnunb because information Is 70 what has
happened s wanted but % give oef'
many An opportunity 70 present ~ YER
sion ana 70 say Whist viii BE- done
about NJ
IN view Of the evidence eolleeied u u
confidently believed IN many quarters
that Germany VII admit The attack on
ihs ausasT. and unofficial dispatches
from Berlin have lntlioated that such an
admission undoubtedly would bo accom-
painted Wy diaaY0wei ana offer ~ repara'
lion
Acceptance Of such . response BY the
United states would depend upon Ue
measure Of punishment mstsd out 70 the
submarine commander responsible f0f the
gffs1ss.
legal weakness In Ease,
In ne event of denial of responsible
ity ~ Germany lhe American govern
rnegt would be confronted with The nsces'
sitg ~ determining whether II should aet
on The basis or evidence from other
sources,
The only legal weakness IN the case Of
The aassex, Il IL said. IL The fact that
the American naval attaches did not
actually see the metal fragments taken
from the ausser and the fact that no
American citizens have sworn % having
kaen the wake 81 torpedo before the
sBasex waa struck spoh affldayita have
been received from citIzcns Of other na'
lions
Aside from The Sussex case. particular
attention Il being given ~ the admin
stfation 10 The number ~ neutral vessels
iorpedoed recently. While thars we're
American oltizens on but few ~ these
ships. the Wholesale destruction Of IN
afnsd merchant craft, has created pro-
found Impression Press reports have
been 10 the effect that more than twenty
neutral vessels, and more thau twenty
I'VE belliserent vessels have been tor
pedoed within the last two weeks most
~ them without warning.
New Request Not Received.
Ambassador Gerard 20 far has had no
reply fr0m the German government 20
A.. t4a -
taeks on the sussex and other yeSseis
witch recently met with disaster while
carrying American citizens. Reports IN
preas dispatches saying that the German
admiralty had eountered The inquiry vita
request fer more spccifa details on the
ausHeA ease Wefe read by officials with
much interests II vac said that tho
new request has not been received At Tho
state department
u vas reiterated today that before any
elsp lead fE "a rupture ~ felht 0ns with
Gruang WINS gatrn. me president wouli
81 before congress with The facta
Tho rahinet Will meet tomorrow and
viii nave before Il the mass % infor.
i alton which hiss been forwarded from
} ran = and Enalaad rosnr linz Inc susslA
aid other vessels
Thf iyit n rolonsl House 70 tie white
~ te attracted attention befaufe Il wa
iHe laliI time be Inns been here since
g. returned frpm Europe few weeks
aao. after discussing the suhlnarine and
fihe issues with American diplomatic
aacn abtoad and officials N Germany
fance and gtsaI nrliain lie was %
nf6thft with officials practically an
faY hats afternoon Secretary LANSING
Was ID We White House fef an hour