New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-11
Germany and Austria
Warn Of New Policy
in Sea Warfare.
BRITISH ORDERS
CITED AS CAUSE
Wilson, Entang!ed by u
Boat Note, Expected 10
Accept Teuton Decision.


Washington, Feb 10. Germany and
Austria have taken advantage Of the
opportunity offered by President vii
sor's oyortures 20 the Entente Powers
concerning the arming Of merchant
vessels Count Won Bernstorf and
Baron Zviedinck have informed Secre-
tary Lansing that, beginning March /,
their governments viii treat armed
merchantmen as warships and will feel
Justified in sinking them without
warning.
The delay in putting the now order
to submarine commander into effect is
said to be due 20 the desire to see how
the American suggestion will be met in
The Allied capitals.
The American recommendation 20
disarm merchant vessels went forward
TO the Entente Powers al a moment
when the Lusitania situation seemed
critical The first result Of IL was a
Substantially satisfactory" note from
Germany. What its future effects will
be rs a question that is giving officials
OF the Administration some concern.
l. is known that Germany Is preparing
q new submarine campaign on a greater
scale than has been hinted AZ before.
l. is realized also that II the United
States had not changed its attitude
toward armed ships the sub. arine cam
paign would be seriously hampered.
Reports ~ the State Department
from the Entente capitals are disquiet-
irc enough as it is, but officials fear
they will grow worse after March | ,
when Germany declares she will open
her new campaign. is evident that
Germany has not only obtained large
aid in her military. operations from the
United States. but that she has entan-
gled this government with the Allies.
Acceptance Expected in Capital.
The declaration from Germany and
Austria was not unexpected at the
State Department. Secretary Lansing
had been looking for some such move
for several weeks State Department
officials say there is little doubt as to
the attitude the United States viii
adopt toward Germany's and Austria's
resolution. as in view Of recent decla
rations this government hardly can op
pose it. Just what form President
Wilson, acquicsccnce will take, how
ever. has not been decided.
The President still desires to stand
a. the champion Of the rights Of non
combatanis and Of international law,
and realizes that he might be sub
iectcd 10 criticism for formally chang
ing his attitude "a regards the armins
Of merchant ships. II has been sug
gested that he may avoid declaring
himself by letting Congress take the
necessary action 10 ratify the German
position.
Ii is understood that leaders in Con-
gress already have been approached.
and are prepared 70 help the President
out of his difficulty by forcing through
resolution withdrawing protection
from American citizens who sail on
armed vessels. The President would
then be able 10 disclaim authorship OF
the measure and 10 point out that he
had been forced By legislative pressure
to change his attitude.
In their present action Germany and
Austria. IL IS believed. are collecting
IN advance the price Of President vii
sons diplomatic victory" in the Lusi-
tania case.
In circles friendly to the Allies the
strongest resentment Is felt toward
President Wilson's "meddling' with
question in which the United States
has no direct concern. Il is pointed
out that up to the present the question
has not been brought 70 an issue with
any of the Germanic powers. In each
case Of the destruction of an armed
merchantmen the State Department has
found n way 70 avoid the arms issue.
The Hesperian was the first OF these
cases. Great Britain was anxious 70
have the arms question tried out IN
Continued on page :. column !