Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-03-30
Increasing Evidence That Ger
many's Present Undersea
Campaign Respects No Ma
tiOnality.
SITUATION GROWING SERIOUS
State Department Hears Teu-
tons Submersible Command
ers Are Acting under Secret
Instructions Such as Won Tir-
pitt Advocated.

Washington. March 2a.--The accum-
ulation of circumstantial evidence in
dicating that Germany has engaged
upon a campaign of submarine warfare
which has no regard for the rights of
American citizens travelling on mer-
chant ships of holligerent nationality.
the administration considers, has Gre
ated one of the most serious situations
which has confronted the United States
since the beginning of the war in Eu-
rope.
Every agency open to the state de-
partment tonight was being employed
in an effort to gather an unimpeach
able array of facts regarding the eX
plosion which damaged the British
channel steamer Sussex; the sinking
of the British ships Manchester Engi-
neer, EnElishman and Eagle Point;
and the alleged firing Of n torpedo at
the French passenger ship Patria. All
these ships carried American citizens,
and all apparently were attacked in
violation of Germany's recently re-
newed assurances to the United States
The next step of the United States is
said authoritatively to have been deter
mined upon. Unless Germany, IN reply
to the inquiries made by the United
States through Ambassador Gerard,
makes some statement TO cause the state
department to change it's present inten-
| tions, it is understood that all the recent
agEravatng incidents wili-be combined
! into one general formidable indictment
which will bring the entire subject to
| clear-cut issue.
Should Germany admit responsibility
for any of the attacks and attempt to sat
/ isfy the United States by saying that
mistake had been made and by offering
to make reparation and to punish the
sui marine commander, the issue would
not by any means he disposed of. It is
regarded ns certain that the United States
would not accept such an explanation as
satisfactory, at least until time had shown
what punishment actually was meted out
to the offending submarine commander,
and whether any value longer could be at
tached to Gcrmanys promises,
In the event of Germany disclaiminG
| responsibility for the disasters. the United
States will proceed with its investigations
| to determine to its own satisfaction
| whether the evidence, which now strong
| " indicates that the Sussex and other
ships were torpedoed without warning, can
be regarded as conclusive proof. With
such proof before it, the government prob
ably would act promptly. Officials refrain
from discussing what the nature of the
action would be.
The very number Of apparently un-
warranted attacks which recently have
occurred is regarded by the admnistra
ton as particularly significant. The num-
ber IS said by officials to have disposed
Of the theory that the explosions might
have been caused by mines, Some of the
cases, it was pointed out, have occurred
in localities where there is no possibility
of mine fields having been laid because
of the depth of the water and the dis
| tance from shore
| 1t became known to-day that the stat,
department had heard unofficially the
suggestion that German submarine com
manders We're acting under secret in
structions, such as were advocated by
, Grand Admiral Won Tirpitz. to torpedo
, every vessel. neutral as well as bellig
erent owned. approaching the British
isles.
AS the United States was advised tn,
new orders to submarines which Wen
into effect March l provided for the at
, tack without warning OF all armed mer
chantmen of the entente allies. Their,
/, has been no official confirmation of tn,
, secret order report.
What is described in high adminstra
! ton circles as tho extreme gravity o
. the situation makes it necessary for thu
p United States to proceed with the ut
most care in preparing for the next step
the essential facts in each case de
veloped from the best testimony an,
: evidence available.
While all the recent cases under In
q vestigation will play important parts il
the final consideration of the situation
the case of the Sussex undoubtedly vii
c form the cardinal feature. Officials ar
A impres sed with the completeness of tn
q evidence available regarding details o
=, the Sussex explosion, and particular
with the fragments of metal which wer
found and which have been described n
parts of "A torpedo. These pieces of meta
!, will be examined by American experts
Count Won Beinstorff, the German am
hassador returned to Washington IN
4 night from "A visit to New York He sal,
!, he had no word from his government
:, relating to the recent developments.
First official information concerning III
sinking of the Eagle Point was containe
I'm a despatch received late in the da
from Consul Frost at Queenstown. Thi
10 read as follows;
d "British steamer Eagle Point torpedoe
& yesterday without warning 100 miles fror
o land. All saved. one American"
!, Consul Frost Immediately was in
It structed to gather additional inform,
u tion.
E. Further state department despatcbe
g. to-day regarding the sinking of TN
IC0ntlnueI ON pOKe fOurl