Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-10-12
RIGID INQUIRY IS
BEING MADE into
SUBMARINE RAID
State Department Will Not
Announce It's Policy Un-
til All the Facts Are Def
nitely Ascertained.

Washington, Oct. 1.-THE policy of
the United States regarding the rec
ent U-boat raid off the New England
coast will not be determined until much
more complete information as to all the
facts have been received. This was an
rounced by Secretary Lansing last
night. upon his return from the con-
ference on the subject with President
Wilson at Shadow Lawn.
Although the secretary declined to
elaborate on his statement. other Off
Gals indicated that much would depend
upon Rear Admiral knights forthcom-
ing report on all the phases of the raid,
particularly the steps taken to insure
the safety of passengers. There was
every evidence that Secretary Lansing
had gone to see the president more to
discuss eventualities, and to prepare
against them, than with the idea of
making a definite decision.
The secretary was emphatic in de-
claring that the governments attitude
would remain undetermined until u
complete investigation had been made,
but would not indicate what impress
sions he had gained from the presi-
dent. with whom final decision rests.
Officials here expect that the re-
port from Rear Admiral Knight will be
ready for consideration within few
days. 1t is emphasized that the gov
eminent is making every effort to COM
plete its inquiry as soon as possible,
but that it wants to avoid a hasty or
ill-advised decision in so important a
matter.
SAFETY OF CREWS.
Whether the German commander
took proper care for the safety of the
persons he put into small boats from
the attacked vessels is a question in
volving points Oh which, officials be-
lieve there is no clear precedent. and
on which a decision by the United
States might approximate a precedent,
at least so far AZ concerns any further
submarine operations Germany may
contemplate on this side OF the Allan
tic
Before any policy is determined up
on, it is expected that the opinion of
the neutrality board created at the
beginning Of the war to advise the
state department in regard to such
questions, will be consulted. The board
was called into session Immediately af-
ter the U-boat appeared on this side
of the Atlantic, and several meetings
nave Dttn llGlA SAllEt. AllA QttlSlpU II
renders will be submitted TO Secretary
Lansing, but will not he binding
Considerable interest centers on the
continued silence of the allied embas-
sizes. Again Wednesday it was stated
positively at the state department that
no representations OF amy sort had
been received from the allies as % re
suit Of the U-53s depredations off the
American coast.
Evidence is accommodating to indicate
that in case the actual operations OF
submarines in the western AtIantir is
guided by the principles Of interna-
tional law their presence Off the coast
will not be considered offensive as
was the case with the allied cruisers
which the United States 3ked to have
withdrawn earlier in the war. Off
Gals pointed out that the allied vessels
were only few miles off land while
the Uboat operations We're at least
80 miles off the nearest land and 20
miles from the mainland.
BLOCKADE DIFFERENT.
Neither has there ari en- any case
of the Germans pursuing vessels
straight down the coast as did one of
the British cruisers, Or operating so
close to American territorial waters as
to require a neutrality patrol 1t is
realized, however. that should practl-
cal blockade Of American ports de-
velop, the government would consider
Il has grounds for action
The character and rights of Ameri-
can cargo on board the ships already
sunk also is a subject that is being
consider ed by the state department. If