The Washington times., 1916-10-09
Has Only Navy Reports.

mas Oniy navy reports.
you have more information tina n
I have" Secretary Lansing told news
paper men today. "All the State De-
partment knows IL what Is contained
in Navy Department reports. and l
understand the Navy Department has
given all information 1t has to the
press"
Asked what course the United States
would pursue In this new submarine
Issue. brought to its very doors, Sec
rotary Lansing said:
II have, nothing to say in regard 10
the facts and VIII express no opinion
When questioned regarding the at
.itnde Of the state Department with
to enter American ports, Mr.. Lansing
said the United States stated its opin-
lon on this subject In a memorandum
In response to a memorandum by the
British government urging that the
submarine Deutschland, then In an
American port. be regarded as q war
ship.
The British memorandum was made
public In London. but the Views of
this Government. as expressed In it's
communication TO Great Britain. were
suppressed.
May Make 1t Public.
Secretary Lansing said he would
now consider the advisability OF
making this memorandum public.
So far as he has been advised. Mr..
Lansing said. the British government
has made no protest against the ac-
ton OF the United States in permit
port harbor.
The State Department will suspend
Judgment until It knows the facts
that this did not mean tire United
states would not take coRnizance OF
the new German submarine cam :
paign on the American coast. but
rather that action would be reserved
until all the facts are at hand"
Yet thus far, as well as officials OF
the American Government can Judge.
this spectacular revival OF Germsny's
submarine warfare upon which the
American Government can lodge a
In the first place. no American ships
have been sunk. In the second place.
no American lives have been lost. nor
has there been a report of any lives lost
AS yet.
Observed Terms.
In the third pace, the German
submarine or submarines respons-
ible for the attacks have appeared
In every instance to have oh
served scrupulously the terms OF the
agreement between the United States
and Germany under which merchant
ships shall not be sunk without warning
or without opportunity being given pas
sensers and crews to get to places OF
81 tntv.
Despite these considerations. how
Government are gravely spprehe nsive
as to future developments In this new
form of the submarine warfare.
SO long as the circumstances OF fu-
different, from those which have
characterized the sinking OF these six
ships, the United states, has no cause
for grievance. II Is felt, -
From q technical standpoint this
kind OF naval warfare four miles on
| the American coast line 10 no differ.
emit from warfare of the coast OF
limit the Atlantic Ocean 10 q common
battle-ground In time of war.
But one circumstance In the cases
that have occurred may conflict with
States and Germany regarding the
| safety of passengers and crews on
ships attpcked.
u. 8. Has Protested.
The United States has insisted ever
/ since the attack on the American
| bark William =. Frye, early In the
war, that passengers and crews shall
In small boats.
Tpots .ouay en rt,t. .,a shi NJ
Stephano. which was sunk. being oui
in ANAL boats most OF the night be
fore thew were rescued.
Aside from what may develop from
this circumstance there are other pros
poets that are gravely alarming:
/. The possibility at any time that
the submarines will ignore the German
American agreement.
z. The possibility that American livei
may be lost and American ships sent Il
| the bottom.
3. The disastrous effect which the now
warfare will have on American trade.
I. The possibility or n clash between
| the submarines and the American war
ships which are being sent out to rescue
| survivors from ships that are attack
| ed.
s. Tho possibility OF a clash between
| the United states and the entente pow
| ers, growing out OF the possible discov
| cry OF a secret submarine base estab
| lished at some remote spot on the Amer
| lean coast.
| The eyes OF the nation naturau!
| turned this morning toward Presiden
| Wilson. Ears are bent In the direction
of Shadow Lawn to catch the frst wore
| that will show how the President re
! CARDS these latest developments.
| D.L NT-;...I
dispatches NoHcomiui''ai'