Arizona republican., 1916-03-28
President Wilson Awaits With Deep Concern Con elusive Details of Sinking of Sussex and of Steamer Englishman as We'll
Republican A. P. Leased Wire]

WASHINGTON, March 27.-With all evidence indicating that the British channel steamer Sussex carrying Amer ican citizens was the victim of a tor pedo, it was said authoritatively here tonight that if a German submarine made the attack, the imperial govern ment would disavow the act, punish the submarine commander, offer rep aration and satisfaction to the United States. Thus it seemed tonight that the issue might narrow down to the quesion of whether the United States would be willing to accept such a dec laration from the Berlin government.
 President Wilson is awaiting with deep concern, the receipt of conclusive evidence not only in regard to the Sus- sex, aboard which several Americans narrowly escaped death, but as to the sinking of the British steamship Eng lishman. One American life is said in the last official reports to have been lost when the Englishman went down.
 Already, it was intimated at the state department, the United States has in it's possession information sufficient to warrant the making of an inquiry of the German government as to whether any of it's submarines fired torpedo at the Sussex or the Englishman.
 The president holds the opinion that all the details available should be at hand before definite action of any kind is taken. He described the situation to a caller during the day as being grave, but said no decisive step would be talk en pending the receipt of additional facts.
 It is known that the president is seriously considering going before con- gress and laying the entire question of submarine warfare before that body. Certainly he will communicate the situation fully to congress before talk ing any definite steps which might lead to the severance of diplomatic relations. All phases of the situation probably will be discussed at the cabinet meeting to- morrow.
 Official expression of the attitude of the administration was avoided today but high officials made no attempt to minimize the situation which will con- front the United States if it is estab- lished cOnclusively that a German sub- marine sank the Sussex, an unarmed violation of the rights of humanity, the principle of international law and the solemn assurances regarding the con- duct of the submarine warfare which have been given to the United States by the Central European powers President Wilson was in constant communication with Secretary Lansing 1 during the day and all reports received from consular and diplomatic represen- tatives were sent to the White House as soon as they were received.
 Count yon Bernstorff, the German ambassador, who, it was said witt authority during the day. was chiefly responsible for the retirement of Grand Admiral von Tirpitz, has been out oi town for several days, but is expected to return to the capital tomorrow Ht probably will communicate with Secre- tary Lansing soon after his arrival.
 The discovery of a number of frag. ments of metal aboard the Sussex, in. cluding large piece of bronze found by French naval officer, has been re. ported by Ambassador Sharpe at Paris The naval officer, according to the stat, department dispatches, says the piec, of bronze is a part of torpedo.
 It is realized that testimony of { French naval officer would be regarded as biased by the German authorities and the department is relying upon al expert examination of the other piece. of metal to establish whether they wer, parts of German torpedo.
 | So far as is known, the state depart ment has not yet heard that anyon, aboard the ship saw the periscope of submarine near the Sussex, but state
 ments to the effect that the wake of torpedo was seen are understood t
 have been made. The state depart
 ment, however, withheld much of tn
 information received from diplomati
 and consular representatives on tn
 ground that it was confidential
 The department allowed 1t to becom
 known tonight that the regular cours
 of diplomatic procedure would be fol
 lowed in the case of the Sussex an
 the Englishman.
 Much 1t was said, probably will de , pend upon the nature of statemer , it is expected the German governmer l shortly will make. If the statemer 7 denies that German submarine wa
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