South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-10-14
1t in Effect States Blacklist is
Legitimate Measure of
Defense and is No
Concern of Ours
U-53 NOT FIRST SUB ON
THIS SIDE OF THE OCEAN
At Least One Canadian Ship
Said to Have Been Sunk
During the Past
Ten Days.
InternationaI 60 serviee:


WARRINGTON. oct. 14.-Compli-
cations between the United States
and the entente powers will come to
a head within the next week. Al
ready the joint refusal of Great
Britain and France TO accept the
American construction OF interna-
tionaI law as applied to mail is before
the state department The reply TO
the demand that the British black
list be abolished is enrOute from
London. IT IN effect states that this
action Is OF no concern to the United
states as lit is a legitimate measure
of defense"
II IS stated in official quarters that
Presst Wilson probably will take no
steps to define the position of the
United States in either matter until
after election Then, IL reelected,
ne will take advantage Of the en-
barge authorizations conferred on
him by the shipping bill and the
general revenue bill which passed in
the closing days of congress. But
whether he will utilize this weapon
in the event of his defeat naturally
IS known only 10 himself.
Is Critical Period.
The next six weeks promise TO be
most critical in the history of the
United States. Although the danger
OF complications over German sub
marine operations on this side of
the Atlantic overshadow the mail
and trade questions, which deal en-
tirely with dollars and cents. II Is
accepted that any drastic action by
the administration TO demand its
rights as IL understands them under
its construction OF international law
at the hands OF Great Britain will
lead to further rese rtment there,
where wilson methods are not too
popui2r at present
In connection with the submarine
situation reports have reached sew
eral government departments that
the operations OF the U-5S were not
the first on this side OF the ocean.
Certain vessels in admiralty ser
vice" plying between Canadian ports
and Great Britain with supplies, are
said TO have been chased by sub
marines within 10 DAYS and at least
one is said 20 have been sunk. These
reports naturally are impossible Of
confirmation here because OF the
.acl tina. the British naval officials
in Canada maintain their censorship.
Searching for Base.
II Is admitted. however. that
British wsrships and destroyers have
been searching tor more than a
months along the bleak and unin-
habited coast Of Labrador and AZ
other points Of the Canadian coast
for a German submarine base sim
liar 10 those discovered off the coast
OF Scotland early in the war. This
base. OF bases. according 20 reports.
was established from the United
States.
And while the British and Amer
lean fleets continue TO make indie
pendent search OF their own coast
lines for submarine bases, officials
here say that even though they are
located within the United States
there is no Law which provides any
drastic punishment for their estab-
lishment on American soil.
Good Chance tc escape.
Any prosecutions that might take
place. IL is stated. would be limited
10 such narrow lines that those re-
sponsible would have "a good chance
OF escaping punishment on technical
tiles II is exrected that as a result
OF this discovery comprehensive laws
covering every phase OF such a sit
uation will be asked BY Pres't Will
son OF congress when II reconvenes.
in December.
Up 20 the present all Of the reports
from the naval officers who are con-
Quoting the search for the -umored
submarine base on American soil in
dictate that none has been discov-
cred. II German submarines have
been supplied of the American coast
officials say they were probably
taken care OF by privately owned
yachts against whose owners no evi-
dcnce Is possible. And so far as the
U-53 and U-61 are concerned. Of
ncials here believe that they now are
well on their way back TO their home
bAsa.