Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-12
POLICY OF UNITED STATES
is NOT YET DETERMINED
Much More Complete Information as
t" All Facts Awaited by
Officials.
LANSING BACK AT CAPITAL
Visit 10 President Believed To Have
Been With View OF Discussing Pos.
siblc Evcntualities Rather Than
with Idea OF Making Decision.
LANSING BACK At CAPITAL
fBv y ssocia,ed PRO


WASIIIEGTON. October li-Tn.
policy OF tn. United states regarding
the recent u-boat raid OF the New
England coast has not yet been deter
mined. and Will not be until much more
complete Information as TO all the facts
has been received. This was am
nounced by Secretary Lansing to-day.
after his return from his conference on
the subject with President Wilson "A;
Shadow Lawn
Although the secrctar! declined 20
elaborate on his statement. other off,
cials indicated that much would de-
pend on Rear-Admiral knights forth
coming report. which is expected in n
lew days. on all the naval phases Of
'hc raid, particularly tho steps taken
TO insure the safety Of passengers
There WAS every evidence that Sccr..
iarE Lansing had gone 10 see the
PRESIDENT more TO discuss possible
cNehtua!ities. and TO prepare against
them. than with the idea Of making a
definite decision
Whether the German commander
took proper care for tho safety OF the
persons he put into small boats from
the attacked vessels is "a question in
volring points on which officials be-
licvc there is no clear precedent;
Before any policy Is determined
upon. il is expected that The opinion
OF the neutrality board. created at the
beginning Of tho war to advise tho
state department in regard TO such
questions, will be consulted The
board Was called into scss.on inmc-
diatcly after the C-boat appeared on
this side of the Atlantic, and several
meetings have been held since. Any
decision II renders will be submitted 10
Secretary Lansing. but viii not he
binding
No RI:PRESENTATIONS
RECEIVED FI,uM ALLIES
considerable interest ccnters on the
continued silence of the allied cmbas-
sizes. Again to-day il was stated posi-
lively at the state Department that no
representations Of any sort had been
received from the allies as a result of
the t-53's visit 10 Newport. or her
dcprcdations OFF the american coast
Evidence is accumulatinE to indicat .
that. in cas-. the actual operations of
submarines IN the Western Atlantic is
guided by the principles Of intcrGa-
tional law. their presence off the Goa II
viii not be considered offensive. as was
the case Of the allied cruisers which
the United states asked TO have with
drawn earlier III the war officials
pointed out to-day tina, the allied vcs-
sells were only few miles off land,
while the C-boat operations were at
least fifty miles off tie nearcs, land
and seventy miles from tho mainland
II is realized. however. that should n
practical blockade OF American ports
develop the government would con-
slider il had grounds for action.
The character and rights OF An.eri-
can cargo or board the ships already
sunk also is a subject that is being
considered by the State Department.
II II is decided that the ships were
sunk legally. there is considerable
doubt as TO how far American shippers
can go in pressing for damage from
Germany. If the ships were sunk
illcEally. bills for indemnity can be
entered.
Naval experts are pcrplcXcd al the
absolute silence surrounding the t'-53
since her foray off Nantucket Many
officers believe now that she was sent
over on an experimental raid 10 try
out her cruising capa cities. to test her
powers Of destruction here and 20 de-
velop tho attitude of the United Statcs,
in q diplomatic sense.