Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-04-20
German Government to De-
eide Whether Break
Shall Come
GRAVE CRISIS NEAR
Seriousness Of Situation Which Unit
ed States Now Faces is Fully APP
preciated.

Washington, April 20-Count Won
Bcrnstorff, the German ambassador,
today asked Secretary of State Lans-
ing whether the Presidents ultima
tum to Germany demands immediate
cessation of all submarine warfare
against vessels Of commerce, of mere
ly abandonment of "present methods"
OF warfare.
The German government is said to
he prepared to discuss abandonment
of method, but it has served notice
that it never will abandon all sub
marine warfare.
The ambassador obtained the Sec
retary's views on such limitations as
would bring German warfare in con-
formation to this countiy's ideas of
international law and humanity.
Washington, April 20-lnstant ap-
proval of Americas position on sub
marine warfare as indicated in Presi-
dent Wilson'S note to Berlin was cx-
pressed in both Paris and London to-
day.
Speculation on Germany's possible
course is guarded in both capitals,
but belief prevails that Berlin can
not yield her strongest weapon and
that breach will follow.
Such breach, London believes,
would not mean hostilities, but would
furnish the German government an
opportunity to so regulate submarine
warfare as to give no further offense
to the United States, without ap-
pearing to yield.
German newspapers are guarded
in their comments on the situation,
awaiting the official publication Of
the Presidents demands, but show
ing very strong anti-American feetiing
The American note reached AM
bassador Gerard in Berlin at II
o'clock this morning for transmission
to Foreign Secretary Won Jagow.
Washington, April 20. = President
Wilson has issued his ultimatum to
the German Government demanding
that submarine warfare against mer.
chantmen shall cease if Germany
wishes to maintain friendly relations
with the United States.
No more solemn proceeding has
ever been witnessed in the historic
hall of the House of REPRESENTATIVES.
than the Presidents announcement
yesterday afternoon that he had tax,
en- this step. No more dramatic cir,
cumstance has ever been participated
in by either body of national law
makers.
There was no sudden outburst OF
shouting and tumult when the. Presl
dent appeared or When the last words
of his communication fell from hi
lips. A sense of profound grayit!
seemed to fill the chamber and re
alization that this country was on tn
threshold of a history making move
There was applause, but it issue'
from no exhilaration, no feeling o
buoyancy.
AS the President announced the po
sition he has taken and the course NJ
has pursued within the last "a hours
Congress realized tnat this Govern
ment has cast the die, that the Presi
dent has laid down a proposition U
the German Government which, II re
jected, will almst certainly plr.ng
the United States into the world wal
1t is no wonder, therefore, that a.
enthusiasm vanished, and that eve
patriotic fervor manifested itself i
only subdued forms. u! 4
1t is useless to minimize. the. grav
possibilities that are ahead Of tn
American people. The President. i
his note to Germany, briefly outline
in his message to Congress, dc
clares unqualifedly that German es
erience has shown that submarin
warfare cannot be carried on With