Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1916-01-07
GRAVE CONCERN PREVAILS IN
WASHINGTON RELATIVE TO
THE AUSTRIAN SUBMARINE
SITUATION.
TWO MORE BRITISH SHIPS
SUNK; ANXIETY INCREASES
Congress Reassembles to Discuss For.
eign Situation - Allies May Be
Asked to Pledge That No Pas
senger Ships VIII Carry
Guns or Armament.

official circles increased when it was
learned that press dispatches from
London reported the sinking of an
er Geelong. No word of the latest
disaster had reached the State de-
partment. Official reports on the
sinking of the Geelong and of the
GlengyIe, sunk since the Persia was
torpedoed, will be awaited with grave
interest.
The situation Is regarded in official
circles as being the most critical to
confront this government since the
submarine operations of the Teutons
began.
Washington, Jan. 5. - Grave con-
Germ prevails in Washington relative
to the Austrian submarine situation.
President Wilson is on his way to
Washington determined to have a.
"show down" with the Teutons.
Just what this "show down" will con-
sist of no one is able to hazard
guess. Washington has faced so many
crises in the past few months that it
is unwilling to believe it is face to
face with one now. Yet it is realized
that the parting of the ways seems
near.
Congress Re-convenes.
Congress has re-convened. Already
there are mutterings, not only
over the present situation af affairs,
but over the entire handling of the
foreign situation. 1t is a muttering
that may easily develop into a storm.
In the face of it, the President sees
the promised wreck of all his plans
to preserve at least one semblance of
civilization, and Of international law,
so far as the placing in jeopardy of
innocent lives on the sea is concern
ed, and more than that, he Is face to
face with the appearance Of the fout-
ing of the dignity of this country by
the European powers
Responsibility Shifted.
On the face Of it, 1t appears that
first Germany runs amuck with sub
marines and, called to halt Austria
follows, assuming the responsibility.
Austria apparently adheres to the
American demands and then COM
mences an anonymous submarine
activity with the possible responsible
ity divided among Germany, Austria,
Turkey and perhaps Bulgaria, for
Washington does not even bar the
possibility that Bulgaria may later
be called in to accept responsibility
while negotiations spread out the
time ir which submarines may oper-
ate.
May Ask Pledge of Allies
No definite plans for bringing about
definite 'show down with the leu
tons are outlined. One of the plans
tentatively discussed Is that of ask
ing the Allies to pledge that no pas
senger ships will carry guns or arma-
ment of any kind. With this pledge
given, it is believed that an under
standing may be reached with the
TeutOns.
Although the situation looks criti-
cal, there are indications that it is
not so strained that it cannot be rem
edied. At the Austrian embassy the
impression is being assiduously given
out that proper understanding will
be reached so soon as the facts are
known relative to the sinking of the
Persia and other ships sunk such as
the Glengyle and the Geelong. The
suggestion relative to the pledge not
to carry guns on belligerent passen-
ger ships, also carries suggestion
of possibility of negotiations out of
which may come another period of
comparative peace.