Arizona republican., 1916-04-10
Administration Expects to Soon Determine What to Do In Situation Arising From Numerous Disasters to Merchant Ships
WORD COMING
 FROM GERMANY
Official Confirmation of TeutOnic Disclaimer of Responsibility for Explo- sion Damaging Sussex Has Not Been Received
Republican A. p. Leased Wirel

l WASHINGTON, April 9.-The ad | within the next forty eight hours to de | terEline what shall be the next step of 1 the United States in the situation ris- | ing from the numerous disasters which ! recently have overtaken merchant ships carrying American citizens. 1 Secretary Lansing said tonight he had not received official confirmation of press dispatches announcing Ger many's disclaimer of responsibility for the explosion which damaged the Sus- sex. He expects definite word of some | kind tomorrow. At the same time he 1 expects to receive a number of affi- 1 davits secured from survivors of the 1 Sussex by the American embassies in 1 London and Paris.
 | With the affidavits and official word | that Germany denies responsibility in the Sussex case it is indicated that the administration will be able quickly to determine the course the United States shall pursue.
 l All available evidence will be consid- cred by the president and his cabinet Tuesday.
 While official expression of opinion was withheld it was strongly intimated tonight that high officials were of the opinion that it was doubtful at this time whether action could be taken by the United States in the case of the Sussex in view of the German denial.
 Especial attention now is being di-
 rected at the action of evidence re | limo oh Init taf States has been Investigating. Of these the case of the Manchester En-
 gineer appeared to be the most aggra-
 vating. The evidence shows that at
 least one of the survivors from that ship sWearS he saw the periSCOpe of q submarine Whether this declaration has been corroborated is unknown, the
 administration not being disposed to divulge the evidence collected.
 l Secretary Lansing at his home today
 studied many documents and telegrams regarding the Sussex and other cases. number of telegrams from AmbaSSa-
 dor Gerard all described as being high
 ly confidential, have been received, but
 Mir Lansing declined to discuss any of
 them Among the documents are a I lthe Manchester Engineer as well as the cases of the Englishman, Eagle
 Point and Berwindale, all of which, the
 evidence thus far secured indicates
 were attacked by German submarines
 and which the German government has
 been asked about.
 In the case of the Eagle Point the
 evidence is said to show that the shil
 upon capitulating at the end of a chase by German submarine was torpedoed
 with members of the crew still on
 board The position of the American
 government is now and always has
 been that when a vessel trying to capit-
 ulate she gains immunity from further
 attack.
 President Wilson also worked on tnt
 submarine question today in spite of 6 cold he caught Friday night when the naval yacht MayfloWer on which Int was riding down the Potomac river, raI into a severe Snowstorm.
 Whatever may be the result of the r present situation between the United States and Germany, hints have com, 5 to the state department that the con 3 tinuing attacks on unarmed merchant ) men will cause all belligerents ant ) probably some neutral merchant ship.
 to carry guns when voyaging through the war zone.
 When final official word from Berlir 5 on the Sussex case is received tho l state department will decide whether l to inquire at Vienna whether an Aus 3 trian submarine attacked her