Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-03-30
CRAVE CRISIS
ARISES OVER
SUSSEX AFFAIR
State Department Using All
Agencies to Gather
Facts 4
BURDEN OF PROOF
ON ADMINISTRATION
Passengers on Various Crafts
Sunk Say Boats Were
Torpedoed

WhSulll6lOl, MdICu o. uc 6Cs
emulation of circumstantial evidence
that Germany has engaged upon 4
campaign of submarine warfare which
has no regard for the rights of Amer.
lean citizens travelling on merchant
ships of belligerent nationality, tho
administration considers, has created
one of the most serious situations
which has confronted the United
States since the beginning of the war.
Every agency opened to the state
department today was being employed
in an effort to gather an unimpeach-
able array of facts regarding the ex-
plosion which damaged the steamer,
Sussex, the sinking Of the British
steamer, Manchester Engineer, Eagle
Point, the Dutch steamship Tubancia,
and the alleged firing of torpedo at
the French steamship, Patria. All OF
these ships carried American citizens
and all apparently were attacked in
violation of Germany's recently re-
newed assurances to the United
States.
Next Step Decided.
The next step is said authoritatively
to have been determined upon. Unless
Germanys reply to inquiries made
by the United States makes some
statement to cause the state depart
ment to change its present intentions.
it is understood that all the recent
aggravating incidents will be COM
bined in one general, formidable in
dictment which will bring the subject
to clear cut issue. Should Germany
admit responsibility for any of the at
tacks, an attempt to satisfy the Unit.
ed States by saying that mistake
had been made, OTTER to make repar-
alton, and to punish the submarine
commander, the issue would not by
any means be disposed Of.
Demands Punishment.
1t is regarded as certain that tho
United States would not accept such
an explanation as satisfactory, unless
it was shown that punishment was
actually meted out to the offending
submarine commander, and whether
any value longer could be attached to
Germany's promise. In the event of
Germany disclaiming any responsible
ity for the disasters. the United States
will proceed with it's investigation to
determine whether the evidence
which now strongly indicates that the
Sussex and other ships were tor.
pedoed without warning can be re-
garded as conclusive proof. The very
number of attacks which have re.
Gently occurred is regarded as parti.
cularly significant.
Secret instructions.
1t became known during the day
that the state department had heard
unofficially the suggestion that Ger
man submarine commanders were act.
ing under secret instructions, such Is
were advocated by Admiral Won I'ir.
pirtz, to torpedo every vessel up.
preaching the British Isles.
The United States was advised the
new orders to submarines which went
into effect March Is provided for the
attacks without warning Of all mer.
chantmen of the Eentente allies.
The British have no ofhcial confirm.
alton whatever of the secret order rc.
ported.
What is described in high admin
istration circles as the extreme grav-
ity of the situation makes it necessary
for the United States to proceed with
the utmost care in preparing for the
next step. While all Of the recent
cases will play an important part In
the final consideration. the case Of
the Sussex will probably form the
cardinal feature.
Returns to Washington.
Count Won BernstorR returneds %
tonight from New York.
He said he had no word Of ny kAa
from his government relating 70 TIE
recent developments.
First official information conceg1ing
the sinking Of the Eagle Point Vas
CONTINUED on Page TWo)