The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1916-04-14
SIMPLIFIES TASK
FOR WASHINGTON
German Admissions Give This
Country Much of Information
Sought
DISCLAIMER NOT REFUTING
Story of Submarine Torpedoing
Another Vessel i'm Neighborhood
of Channel Liner Leaves Little
Unofficial Doubt as to RESPONSE
bility for Disaster.

Washington, April 12.-Admission
by Germany that her submarines re-
Gently attacked three merchant ships
carrying American citizens and that
one of them torpedoed a vessel in the
vicinity of the point where the chan
mel steamer Sussex was damaged by
and explosion has simplified the task
of the state department in prepar-
| ing for the next step of the United
States in the issue over submarine
warfare.
After receipt in cabled press dis
patches of the last German note it
became known that the United States
would continue to compile informa-
tion indicating that German subma-
rines are operating in violation of
international law and that very soon
a communication designed to be the
/ final word of the American govern
ment on the subject would go 70
! Berlin.
The state department virtually has
completed the collection of facts re-
lating to all attacks on merchant
ships since the Lusitania. More evil
dence in the case of the Sussex, for
warded by the American embassy at
London, is to arrive Friday. It is
understood that instructions to Am
bassadOr Gerard, accompanied by the
information gathered by the depart
ment, will go forward soon there
after.
To Consider Note
The unofficial text of the note
from Germany was communicated
to President Wilson and Secretary
Lansing tonight. The official text
was expected hourly. 1t will be CON
sidered by the cabinet at its regular
meeting on Friday.
Officials made it clear tonight that
whatever might be the form of the
instructions to Ambassador Gerard
handed the German government
would be to give notice that the
United States considers it has a
great array of evidence tending to
prove that in spite of reiterated as
surances and pledges given by Ger
many, peaceful merchant ships car
rying American citizens, or which
might have some aboard, continue
N hn fnfi 90
Officials said the statement in the
German note would be very care
fully examined and compared with
the evidence already before the state
department. In view of the admis-
sion that a German submarine was
in the vicinity when the Sussex was
attacked and the array of evidence
indicating that she was torpedoed
little doubt is felt here as to the re-
sponisbility for that disaster, despite
the explanation that a sketch made
by the submarine commander of a
ship he torpedoed did not correspond
with the description of the Sussex.
Don't Want Debate
There is no disposition on the part
OF President Wilson and Secretary
Lansing to debate the submarine is
sue with Germany. 1t is declared
that the principles contended for by
the United States in series Of notes
have been made very clear, and that
Germany has been sufficiently warn
ed that more attacks in violation Of
international law would be consider
ed deliberately unfriendly acts.
The possibility OF a break in al.
Dlomatic relations with Germany.
coupled with an exposition of the
situation by the president to con
Sress. is constantly in the back
ground. but the president was rep
resented tonight as being earnestly
desirous of avoiding such n step IL
possible.
The United States in IS investiga-
tion Of the cases of the sussox and
the four merchant ships about which
Germany has asked--the English
man, Manchester Engineer. Berwin-
dyale and Eagle Point-has been
proceeding on the assumption that