The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1916-04-21
WASHINGTON IS
ANXIOUS OVER
BERLIN'S ANSWER
PRESIDENT is OF THE oPIN-
ION THAT A REPLY WILL
SHORTLY BE MADE.
WILL WAIT FOR A FEW DAYS
Congress Assembled Yesterday
Impressed With the Deep Sig
nificance of the Presidents
Action.
WILL WAIT FOR A FEW DAYS

United States government having
said its last word to Germany in the
submarine controversy, turned today
with grave expectancy to Berlin
where rests the decision whether the
imperial government shall abandon its
present methods of submarine war
fare or break with Washington.
President Wilson probably will wait
at least until the end of tne week for
Germany to reply to his virtual ulti-
matum, which declares the intention
OF the United States to sever diplo-
matte relations unless the Berlin gov
eminent Immediately gives up the
use of submarines against commerce
and squares her submarine policy with
the principles of humanity and inter
national law.
No time li!fit was set in the COM
munication, but the president is
known to hold the opinion that three
or four days would be a reasonable
period. If no reply is forthcoming
within reasonable time the step ac-
complishing break in relations, with
JAIL its grave possibilities will be
, taken.
Congress assembled today i'm
pressed with the deep significance of
the presidents action. The dispas-
sionate words in which Mr. Wilson
yesterday told joint session of the
house and senate of his purpose took
on a fuller force of meaning when
publication of the note to Germany
revealed in what unmistakable terms
the American government had de-
clared itself
The German ambassador, Count
Won Bernstorff, was hopeful that his
government would find a way to pre-
vent a break. Last night he sent a
long message to Berlin, said to rec.
commend that some such assurances
as were given regarding submarine
operations in the Mediterranean
should now be thrown around all such
operations.
The note declares that the United
States has considered from the first
that the destruction of commerce by
submarines is utterly incompatible
with the principles of humanity"
It is evident that the Presidents
demand is that the employment of
submarines shall be restricted to
operations against warships. This is
the crucial point in the controversy.
The note leaves no opportunity for
a double meaning It declares:
'If it is still the purpose of the
imperial government to prosecute re-
lentless and indiscriminate warfare
against vessels of commerce by the
use 6. submarines without regard to
what the government of the United
States must consider the sacred and
indisputable rules of International
law and the universally recognized
dictates of humanity, the government
of the United States is at least forced
to the conclusion that there is but
one course to pursue. Unless the i'm
perial government should now imme-
diately declare and effect an aban-
donment of its present methods of
submarine warfare against passenger
and freight carrying vessels, the gov
PTnUleHI ) lOS6llH pISoSOo. HIS
have no choice but to sever diplo-
matte relations with the German en-
pire altogether"
If the attack on the steamer Sus-
sex, the note continued, had been an
isolated case, the United States might
have hoped that the submarine COM
mander acted in violation of his gov
ernment5s solemn pledges. This
case says the note, "unhappily does
not stand alone"
An appendix to the note deals with
the Sussex case, the torpedoing of
which is said to be proved by evi-
dence and substantiated by the Ger
man disclaimer of responsibility.
Facts in the appendix show that
three American army and naval Of
ficers found in the Sussex screw bolts
corresponding to those used in Ger
man torpedoes in the possession of
the French government. The Ameri-
can officers also found thirteen pieces