South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-03-27
If Evidence Proves Ships Were
Torpedoed Without Warn
ina underwriting" Policy
Will Come to an End.
DIPLOMACY EXHAUSTED
IN HANDLING SITUATION
An Evidence, Official and Un-
official Points to Breach
of Solemn Pledges
by Germany,
international News Service:

international News Service;
WASHINGTON. March 27.-Ger-
many will be held responsible if it
shall be proved that the channel
liner SUSSEX and the steamer Eng
lishman were torpedoed and did not
strike floating mines. This was made
very plain at the state department
today. where il was explained by
Sec'y OF State Lansing that only
German submarines have been oper-
atine- in the waters Of the channel
and about the British isles
The question under investigation
Is whether II was actually a subma-
rine that attacked the Sussex and
the Englishman. If it shall be con-
clusiveIy demonstrated that il was.
then the United States promptly will
hold Germany 10 account. Up 20
the present this government has no
conclusive proof whether a torpedo
or a floating mine was responsible.
The bulk Of the evidence points
TO torpedo in each instance. But
up to the present it is inconclusive.
As an instance il was pointed out
that while a French naval officer
consular representative that a pOr-
ton OF a demolished torpedo had
been recovered from the damaged
Sussex so far this remains 20 be
legally proven so far as this govern
ment IS concerned.
This portion of torpedo is said to
be similar 10 that reported recover
ed from the sunken Dutch liner t.
bantia.
President il Concerned.
IL was learned that Pres't Wilson
is very seriously concerned over the
political situation. If it is proven
that submarines again are attacking
merchant vessels without warning
and the prepOnderance of evidence
obtaiaable through diplomatic and
unofficial sources seems completely
70 demonstrate this-it is unlikely
that there will be any further dip
IOmatic negotiations on the subject.
Instead the president will present
all the facts i'm the case to congress
and announce that in his opinion
the time has come for definite ac-
ton.
high administration official who
Is familiar with u of the details
today outlined tie situation as fol-
lows for the International News Ser
vice:
First-The loss Of American lives
ON the Englishman and on the Sus-
sex. "A ferry steamer. Is so serious
that the situation resulting there
from must be brought to head
with the least posi- bic delay and all
Of the facts conclusively proven.
Second-The administration re-
cards the attacks ON the Sussex and
the Engiishman. it, as is expected.
10 shall De shown they were torpe-
decd. as the climax OF series Of
mishaps which is almost positive
proof that submarines are again at
lacking merchant vessels without
warning. II was the possibility Of
something Of this kind happening
which the president had in mind
when i'm his Lusitania note of July
q Germany was told that friend
ship itself prompts il TO say 90 the
imperial government that repeu-
tons by the commanders of Ger
man naval vessels I'm contraventiou
OF those rights chose guaranteed
bv international law must be re-
garded by the government of the
United states when they affect
American citizens as deliberately
uafriendly.
To Put IL Up To- Congress
Third-If IL shall be proved that
the solemn pledges given by Ger
many that the rules Of International
law will be scrupulously observed
have been violated. then it must be
assumed that diplomacy has failed
and the president must plan his next
step.
Fourth-Wlth diplomacy exhaust
ed excepting the questioned right %
the executive branch 80 sever diplo-
matte relations. the presidents next
step must ne 90 Law the entire mat
ter before congress and ask its adj
vice and assistance.
Fifth-Nothing In the existing sit
uation would warrant any further
exchange OF more diplomatic notes.
Ambassador Sharp reported from
Paris today that several OF the pas
sengers on the Sussex personally
have assured him that they saw the
wake or a torpedo just before the
channel steamer was wrecked by the
explosion. This viii have a material
effect in determining the question Of
responsibility It is expected that
afidavits from these passengers viii
he sent 10 the state department al
oncA