South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-01-05
Matter is Becoming InCreaS-
ingIy Prominent and
Threatens Serious
Complications.
PURPOSE OF BRITISH
TO SILK SUBMARINES
Guns With Range of 10000
Yards Have BIG Advan-
tage Over the Un-
derSea Vessel.
International News Service

/ international News Service:
WASHINGTON. Jan 5.-AnXious
waiting marked the administrations
attitude today toward the interna-
tional situation. Until Ambassador
Penfield reports, the reply of the
Austrian government as 10 whether
an Austrian submarine sank the Per
STA the hands Of this government are
tied.
Meanwhile Pres't Wilson and his
advisers are closely studying the
broader phase of the situation, that
dealing with the entire problem Of
submarine warfare. The president
has promised action. His conhdants
declare that his decision will be sat
isfying They say that only COM
plete acceptance by all the Teutonic
allies of the principles accepted by
Germany following the Ara bic case
and by Austria in the Ancona second
note will satisfy
But they admit that the question
of armed merchantmen is becoming
increasingly prominent and threat
ems complication that viii be hard
TO solve.
Doctrine Cannot Apply.
There is no doubt that if the
United States addresses any new
communications to the Teutonic bel
ligerents, dealing with the submarine
question. that the reply will be. that
while they subscribe unqUestiOningly
TO the doctrine that merchant vessels
are entitled TO the right of stOppage,
visitation and search, and 10 have
all passengers and crew safeguarded
before the vessel can be sunk. this
doctrine cannot apply to an armed
merchantmen.
The Teutonic powers will hold. /
their diplomatic representatives here
say. that with the German navy isO-
lated the only purpose for which a
gun could be carried by a merchant
vessel Of the allies would be to re- !
sist submarine attacks. These guns
have a penetrating power TIN rough
two inches Of steel at a distance Of
10000 yards. permitting them 10 I
maneuver and sink a submarine long I.
before it possibly could get within /
torpedo range.
All ships Were Armed.
It is admitted that this is one of 4
the questions that the president ard /
Sec'y Lansing are considering Every \
vessel sunk in the Mediterranean /
since the Ancona, has been armed, /
according 10 the contention of the I
German anG Austrian embassies /
here. And. while the United States /
Will stand by its original determine |
ton that merchant vessels could I
carry guns for defense in all cases |
up to the present time. there IS little 4
doubt that a new ruling on the sub /
iect viii be made which viii rob !
vessels so armed Of any immunity ]
secured in any new agreement that /
may be reached.
Ambassador Penfeld likely Will |
report TO Washington not later than
tomorrow, the result Of his inqUir-
les as TO the nationality of the sub
marine which sank the Persia. Aus
tria. officials say. can be depended
on to reply in good faith TO the in
quiry and if she says that none of
her under-sea craft was in the vicin-
ity Of the tragedy that statement VIII
be accepted. If she assumes respon-
sibihty. it is believed here. that an !
explanation OF the circumstances Of
the sinking viii be communicated at
the time responsibility is accepted.
Senators Well Pleased.
Meanwhile senators and represen-
tatives are well pleased with the adj
attitude i'm agreeing 10
keep the senate and house commit
tees on foreign relations informed Of
all developments in the international
situation. The majority of senator's
and representative now seem willing
10 let the president solve the latest
problem in his own way IT is ex-
pected that before drastic action is
taken the administration viii call on
congress for advice and support