The Washington times., 1916-02-29
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insistont in declaring that no one is
authorized at present To speak as to
the Views OF the Administration con-
cernins the German and Austrian corn
muntcations.
Starts At Midnight.
Tho new submarine campaign Is to
start at midnight tonight. Officially,
the sum and substance OF what the
American Government has been told
IL what this new Teutonic undersea
campaign. I'm which all armed enemy
merchantmen are to be torpcdoed on
sight and without warning, does not
nullify past assurances given the Uni
ted States in the Lusitania case; that
those assurances dealt only with un-
armed liners: and that the submarine
commanders Will not torpedo enemy
merchant craft without warning ''unlesy
the presence of armament on board
such vessels Is proved"
How the proof is to be obtained is
matter of immediate Importance to
the United States. II the proof con-
sists only Of what Is contained In tho
directions of the British Admiralty to
armed merchantmen to attack subma-
rines on sight. there would still rest
with the submarines to determine
whether the vessels they approach are
armed or belong to the Trans-Atlan-
tic fleet of British merchantmen that
are not armed.
reports which the German Admiralty
gets through sccert channels as to the
equipment of individual ships. the risk
Ii present OF the German agents max
ing the same mistake which they did
In the case of the Lusitania. which
Germany first contcnded was armed.
Would Mean Nothing.
II. as Count Won Bernstorff is reported
to have suggested unofficially to Mr..
Lansing yesterday. the submarine COM
manders will look for proof In the actual
use of their guns by armed merchant
men, then, officials say. the new Ger
man campaign means absolutely moth
ing. But the American Government
would prefer to have such assurances
officially from the Berlin foreign office.
Before the new campaign was ever
thought of, II was pointed out subma-
rines always had the right to torpedo
a liner in the act Of resisting capture.
Prior to today's meeting of the Cabinet
the President and Secretary Lansing
had an hours conference, which began
at 10 o'clock. The Secretary and ottl-
cials of the White House refused abso-
lutely to disclose whether any conclu-
slons were reached.
1t Is understood that as far as the
general attitude which the United States
VIII assume toward the new campaign
Is concerned. a decision Is unlikely to
be announced until after the President
and his advisers have. opportunity to
examine the text of the British ad-
mil atty orders, being forwarded 10
Washington by mail from the American
embassy In Berlin.
In the meantime. it is probable, the
United States will watch closely tho
Developments in the new campaign
FROM fnn finnn AZ M VtafAnt trh
nnd will hold itself in readiness to
handle independently any case arising
ir which American lives are de-
stroyed by unwarned attacks on
armed British or French liners.
May Admit Order.
In many quarters the impression ID
growing that Great Britain will
probably admit the authenticity of
the alleged secret orders of her ad-
niralty. but will insist on the JUS
tice OF them as a means of defending
her merchant marine from a weapon
of naval warfare which follows the
practice OF pirates.
Great Britain, II is stated, regards
as worse than useless the assurances
OF Germany that she would net sink
unnrmed merchantmen without
warming and without opportunity
being given for the safety of passen-
gers and crew.
The only way that such safety of
passengers could be provided. II Il
pointed out, Is by placing men. wom-
en-. and children In open lifeboats, A
pTecarious undertaking under most
favorable circumstances.
Following his conferences with Mr.
Lanklng. the President discussed the
question with his Cabinet. No an
nouncement was made after the