The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1916-10-04
'RE.STATES STAND
ON U.bOAT WAR
But Does Not Fear Its
Early Renewal.
VIEWS OF STATE DEPARTMENT
Germany Is Expected to Stand
By Her Assurances Made
Last May.
URGENT OPPOSITION. HOWEVER

Washington, Sept. 30.-Increas-
ing agitation in Germany for a COM
plete resumption of submarine war
fare, Chancellor Won Bethman-Holl-
wes's declaration before the Reich
stag that any statesman failing to
use Germany's every weapon to
shorten the war deserves to be
hanged" and the recent apparently
inspired simultaneous publication in
German papers of attacks on Amer
lean neutrality, brought forth to-day
an authoritative, though informal,
statement from the State Depart
ment as to the American Govern
ment's attitude toward the situation.
Any action which endangers
American lives through the sinking
of ships without warning or by fail
ing to provide proper safeguards. it
was emphatically asserted, will re-
open Immediately the submarine
question with all it's possibilities
! But SO far, in spite of what is going
on in Germany, there has been abso-
iutely no indication in the official
advices to the department that Ger
many has violated the agreement ar
rived at in the Sussex case.
Reports of the sinking of nearly
800 merchantships since June have
been received officially, but in no
case has~it been proved that Ameri-
can lives were endangered. Until
such proof is at hand, the situation
Will remain just as it has been since
May s, when the American reply
was sent accepting Germany's re-
pudiation, offer Of reparatiOn and
assurances for the future in the Sus-
sex case.
High officials think it unnecessary
to make any formal statement on
the subject. as they feel the Ameri-
can position is fully known both at
home and abroad. No. opposition
was expressed, however. to a re-
statement of the Governments posi-
ton. The possibilities which a
change of Germany's policy might
open up are so great that every eff
fort will be made to have a full un-
Outstanding on all sides.
Emphatic denials that Germany
i,,t Of
lentless campaign of submarine war
fare are contained in confidential ad-
vices from Berlin to diplomatic
quarters here. All dispatches re-
ceived by diplomats friendly to the
TeutOnic Allies are described as
clearly indicating that Germany in
tends fully to live up to her assur-
ances.
1t is acknowledged that there is
considerable opposition in Germany
TO this policy OF the Government and !
that strong party is urging the !
more liberal use of the undersea |
weapon. The situation IS not new,
and. so far as is known here, the OPP |
position to the Governments policy |
Is no stronger now than before.
So far as American officials are |
concerned the recent agitation IN |
Germany has caused various degrees /
of anxiety. Some see In it merely I
the bitter demonstration Of a party
out of power, whose exact strength
is not known, but which is thought
not powerful enough to overthrow
the Chancellor, who is committed
against Illegal submarine warfare.
The Chancellors latest speech Is not
Interpreted in such quarters as fore
his conversion to ruth
less submarine activity. for it Is
pointed ont that he may well hold
that Germany is now gaining all
that can possibly be gained from her
submarine weapon.
Others, however. are inclined to
take the opposite view, believing
that the Chancellor has been won
over to the Won Tirpitz party. They
argue that with the gradual crush
Ing in of the German lines and the
realization that England
Is the super enemy, pressure in Ger
many will become irresistible to
strike in every possible way.
II was reiterated again to-day
hat Ambassador Gerard. now on his