The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-29
j BOATS WILL.
SINK NOLINERS
WITHOUTPROOF
Warming to Be Given Tn
less Presence of Guns
aboard Is Known.
BERLIN AND VIENNA
JOIN IN THE PLEDGE
Data Given to Show British
Merchantmen Are Armed
Extensively.
MAY MAKE WILSON
YIELD ON THIS POINT
U. $. Can't Insist That
Americans Are Immune
on Such Ships.
MAY MAKE WILSON
YIELD ON THIS POINT

WASHINGTON. Feb. 2s.--Gciman sub.
natine commanders have been instructed
not to sink without warning any enemy
merchant ships unless the presence Of
armament on board such vessels "is
proved
Such Information. u Was authorita-
lively stated tonight. MAS contained in
the memorandum laid before Secretary
Lansing to-day by Count Won Bernstorfr.
the German Ambassador. in response to
inquiries OF the American Government
concerning the new submarine campaign
OF the Central Powers. which begins at
midnight Tomorrow.
Austria is prepared L. stand by thL
same assurances. Secretary Lansing was
80 informed by Baron Zwiedinek. the
Austrian Charge d 'Affaires. who called.
following the visit OF Count Won Beins-
torn. TO bring the response Of his Gov
ernment to the American inquiries. The
Austrian charge ii Anaires verbally told
Mr. Lansing that the policy Of his Gov
eminent would bc identical with that OF
Germany. The memorandum containing
Ambassador Won Bernstorifs Instructions
was in writing and was left with the
Secretary.
Berlin's Instruction.
According to authoritative sources
Count Won Bcrnstorn was directed in
pat TO say:
No enemy merchantmen is 10 he tor
pedoed without warning unless the pres
encc Of armament on board of such ves-
SCI is proved"
How the proof is to be furnished ia
Individual cases is not made altogether
clear IN the memorandum 1t is under
stood from reliable quarters. however.
that the German Ambassador. in the
course Of his interview with the Secro-
'ary. expressed the personal opinion that
The submarine commanders have been
Instructed to look for such proof in the
actual use of the armament.
Tie memorandum. on the other hand.
ID said merely 10 add in this connection
that the German Government Is con-
y.nced from examination Of the alleged
secret orders" Of the British Admiralty
mat all British ships which are armed
are under specific directions TO attack
hostile submarines on sight.
II was authori;ativc.y admitted to-
might in American official quarters that
the United States Is not prepared 10 go
to tn. extent of insisting on tho right
o. Americans TO travel without danger
on armed merchantmen which may have
rec.ilcd direc, instructions TO use their
armament extensively against sub
marines.
TIE information concerning tie Am
as>idprs personal opinion. backed up
by press reports from Berlin to-day. that
'subnariu. commanders Will endanger
human lives only in case steamer az
tsmpt, TO escape, to fire ON the sub
marin" or L. ram her is said TO have
occaslIned some surpris" IN American
Official quarters. On its face the German
submarine declaration had given notice
that the submarines will attack al.
armed enemy merchantmen without
waru!ns
Nr. Lansing Keeps Mum.
Secretary Lansing refused absolutely
Tonight to make any comment as TO the
Impression made on him by the memo
randum. During the interview with Am.
bassador Won Bernstorfr lie is said to
oave sat quiet. permitting the Ambas-
sad0r 10 do all the talking.
NJ the conclusion OF the meeting and
a. the Ambassador rose to leave, MIR
Lansing it is said. gave him to under.
stand that he would let him know the
attitude OF the American Government IN
few days The same promise is UNI
ders'pod 30 have been given by Mr.. Lam
''ng 20 Baron Iwiedinek. Before an
swerlns, the Secretary will confer with
n" President, probably at Tomorrow
Cabinet meeting
A. no time, IL was authoritatively de,
flai"d at the State Department this
AFTERNOON, has the United States Govern.
meNi even suggested to Germany OF
Austria the advisability OF postponinl
we effective date OF the new campaign
IRON March /. pending a further dis
Nt on. Such a request was not made
by Nh. Lansing to-day. nor did the Ger
man Ambassador or Baron Zwiedinel
"Ner = postponement on behalf of theil
respective Governments.
Accompanying the memorandum Ief
ny count Won Bernstorff was n com
pIa'Ipu of twenty-five cases in which
'ue Ambas sador told Mr., Lansing. IL wa,
dearly established that British anr
French merchant ships but PARTICULAR,
hr' l had used their defensive arma
men "nen'ively against enemy sub
marines
Defensive Right Not Discussed.
Tuo memorandum itself. it Wal
i"hr'ed, did not discuss the right
Claimed by Great Britain under inter
iH'"hal law. of merchant vessels Il
carr! offensive armament. But eve!
'" nnlug that internal iona' law gav'
'l'o rig.t, N" Ambassador was in
s''n ''d to shy. Germany submitted thu
rr""t IN these cases to show that u!
'ar ae trulan"n, on hoard the mcrchan
sh|I. If 'icrmany's enemies is concerned
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