The Washington times., 1916-10-31


news that comes from Queenstown and
London regarding the Marina case.
Consul Frost. acting under explicit
directions from washington. has al
ready set about gathering affidavits
from surviving members OF the crew,
and particularly from Americans.
One thing. officials OF the State De-
partment have time and again observed,
must be borne In mind: The fact that
Americans lost on the merchant ship of
q belligerent nation that has been lille
gelly attacked are members OF the crew
OF that ship, does not act as a mitigat-
ing circumstance. II anything, II makes
the case more serious.
II anything, the department has held.
American sailors engaged In their reeu-
lar occupation are more entitled to
protection than Americans travelling
for pleasure.
Moreover. the department has held In
all its previous correspondence that,
whether or not American lives are lost
by submarine attacks that violate the
rules of law and humanity the mere
fact that their lives are placed in
jeopardy makes II a matter OF serious
consequence.
No Definite Action Yet.
Until full official reports are in, how
ever, no definite action, 1t was stated,
Is likely to be taken.
When the evidence Is all IN hand, 1t
will be gone over carefully. And II It
bears out the present grave view of the,
situation. the American embassy at
Berlin will be instructed without fur
Their delay to bring the matter to the
attention Of the German foreign minis
ter and demand the German version of
the attack.
should this fail TO shake the evidence
already in hand. 1t will rest with Presi-
dent Wilson to make good his threat, or
modify his position. In view of the in
tervening steps that must be taken,
however, 1t Is regarded as unlikely that
the matter Will reach crisis before
election day.
For weeks reports from Berlin and
elsewhere have shown the existence
Of. q strong agitation in Germany for
sSs oS s Of Sn wssta5e
threatened for a time to bring about
q crisis In the Reichstag and an over
throw of Chancellor Won Bethmann-
Hollweg.
The latter weathered, the storm.
however. but INDUCED in a somewhat
cryptic utterance in which he assured
the opposition that the world could
not expect Germany to fail to use any
reasonable weapons at her command
against her enemies.
On top Of this American Ambassador
Gerard returned to this country ION
being accompanied by assertions that
the submarine controversy was once
more threatening to become rife.
again, last week. following an at
tected German frontier town, German
newspapers, disregarding the fact of
the repeated Zeppelin attacks on Lon
dom and other unfortified English cities
the entente powers repudlated such
attacks, Germany would renew her sub
marine attacks with redoubled vigor.
Dispatch From Rome.
On top of this the following press
dispatch was received today from
Rome:
Unofficial advices reaching here
CONT to resumption shortly by Ger
many OF the most extensive employ
H s OF aircraft and submarine war
rare against every nation allied against
ne Teutonic nations. These reports
come closely on the heels Of reports
here that Germany's replies to the
pope,s protestations against unre-
strioted summarizing and the renewed
deportattons from northern France and
Belgium have been persistently eva
siVe;, The Pope. these reports say. has
finally appealed to Emperor Franz
Josef for his ala In influencing the
Kaiser to accede to the Vatican's pro-
testations."
uermaany Is at the present moment
tncins crisis with Norway ON the
subject of submarine warfare
Press reports from Christianiu today
state that the reply of the Norwegian
government to GermaDy's sharp note OF
protest against the decree forbIdding
N9rwegian ports and waters to subma-
rheS.. was completed last night and
protpbly will be delivered toby. The
CONTENTS OF the communication arc
loosely guarded. Before completing the
hote, II Is stated that the Norwegian
m listers held IN extended conferences
With plrty leaders OF the Storthinr. or
Norwegian parliament.