South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-10-09
NEW
MOVE DOESN' 7
VIOLATE LAWS
Only Danger is That An Amer
lean May Fall a Victim to
Sub Warfare Along
Atlantic Coast.
International News Service:

International News Service:
WASHINGTON. oct. 9. Trans
fer of Germany's submarine warfare
to the Atlantic, east of the American
coast. caused the deepest concern
in official circles today. The situa-
ton admittedly is nearly the most
serious of the present European
war so far as the United States is
concerned. At any moment the
word may come that an American
citizen has fallen victim TO the new
situation. And officials very frankly
say that such a development must
mean instant dismissal Of the Ger
man ambassador from the United
States.
BY direct orders from Pres't Will
son from Shadow Lawn all Of the
higher officials here now refuse to
discuss the situation save in the
most general terms. The state de-
partment has made it plain that so
far as the known situation is con-
Cerned, Germany is as much within
her rights in operating her sub
marines off the New England coast
as she was in sinking enemy ships
in the waters of the British is les so
long as the doctrines of Wis .tation
and search are observed. But the
danger, it is pointed out. is tnat an
American vessel or citizen may yet
fall victim in disregard If the linn
itations of international law. This
danger is very present and real. Of
ficials say.
Wilson Gets Information.
All Of the information reaching
here is being sent Immediately TO
the president at Shadow Lawn.
Comprehensive reports from Ad-
miral Knight, commandant at New
port, dealing with the sinkings TO
date are along the lines covered by
the press dispatches. He says that
every possible effort is being made
TO rescue the passengers and crews
of all vessels that fall victims.
Count Won BernstOrff, the German
am bassador. is at Shadow L n to-
day. The ostensible reason iOr his
visit to Pres't Wilson is to present
an autogra phed letter from the
kaiser dealing with the Polish re-
lief question. But there is no doubt
here that the president will make it
plain that the bringing Of submarine
warfare by Germany right to the
very doors Of the United States is
more than unwelcome.
There is little doubt in the minds
of officials here that the president
viii make that plain that while such
action may be strictly legal so far
as the written law is concerned it is
very close to unfriendly when judy
ed by the complications that may
arise.
British Officials silent.
officials at the British embassy
refused 10 make a statement re-
garding what action has been taken
TO protect entente shipping from this
menace II is understood in diplo-
matte circles here that a flotilla of
destroyers and several fast cruisers
have been sent from the British
naval base at st. Johns and Bermuda
TO patrol the American coast. These
vessels will try to locate the U-53
and her consorts-it being accepted
that there are at least two and per-
/ haps more German submarines
operating in American waters-and
either sink them or start them back
toward their home bases.
The British aud French govern
ments their officials here say. are
to press action to have the United
States make a rule that German sub
marines viii hereafter be excluded
from American ports.