The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-10-14
SEES GRAVE SITUATION lHEil
MANY POSSIBILITIES MAY DE.
VELOP OUT OF U-BOAT RAID
ON COMMERCE OFF
COAST.
President and His Advisers Will Hold
Germany Responsible to AbidsI by
Its PrOmises-Bernstorff Says There
Will BE no Breach OF Faith.


tary Lansing, it was announced to-
night, will come here tomorrow for q
with President Wilson CON
corning German submarine raids on
the American coast Mr.. Lansing Il
expected to remain overnight at the
summer residence.
The announcement that the secre-
tary of State would confer with the
president confirmed the impression
gained here earlier in the day that
the American government considiared
the attacks on vessels off the Anieri-
can coast by German submarines as
fraught with grave possibilities. At
the same time 1t was made clear that
nothing in the reports so far re-
ceived show that international law
or earlier promises Of Germany have
been violated. Concern over the SITE
uation centred chiefly about the pos
sibility Of what might happen II the
submarine attacks ore continued.
! The position of the American euv-
eminent and it's determination to
make fun investigation before act
ing were made clear in the following
statement given out by the prpgi-
dent:
This government will, of course.
first inform itself as to all the facts
that there may he no doubt or mis-
take as far as they are concerned
THE country may rest assured that
the German government will be held
to the complete fulfillment OF Its
promise to the government of the
United States. / have no right now
to question it's Willingness to fplnll
them" lass.
Count Won Bernstorff. the GertpAn
ambassador. who came here today To
give the president a(personal letter
from the German emperor on Polish
relief, discussed with President Will
SON the new activities Of German aifb-
marines. 1t was understood, that the
president made 1t clear that whiie
the American government had ~ Ia.
tsAtion OF interfering With the iiSlti-
hAsts scttvitiss of submArlnsl y Il
Al41H(d Ans9lHi "A Tia atgiof jUbs9rS e
~ = tlss lq1sep gtven 5prsvzo5uf an
the German government. TIE aiinbas-
saAor. while expressing al, entirs lxck
OF official information from his gov
ernment on the new submarine& 4 at
tacks. said that Germany had prom
fsed to conduct her submarine war
fare in accordance with the rules Of
cruiser warfare. 49,
The ambassador remained with, the
president only Is minutes and was
smiling when he left. He declared
he was as much surprised as anybody
when the news Of the sinking ottNe
first British ship reached him.
1t Is understood that the talk be-
tween the president and the anbas-
sador was entirely friendly. but that
the president informed the amhassa-
dor Of his determination to act firmly
II the rights of the United States are
infringed.
The president had seriously consid-
cred going to Brooklyn tomorrow to
attend the third worlds series base
ball game but decided to remain here
and keep In touch with the submarine
situation.
Before seeing Secretary Lansing the
president will confer with Jules Jus
serand. tine French ambassadors. who
Is coming to Shadow Lawn to bring
a personal letter from President Poin-
care to president Wilson on Polish
relief.
1t is considered probable that dur
Ing the conference the French anibas-
sador may lay before the president
the view Of the entente governments
that German submarines should not
be allowed to come into American
ports. This point probably will be
taken up by the president with Secre-
tary Lansing tomorrow night.
During the day the executive offices
here were in communication with
Secretary Daniels and received pre-
liminary reports assembled by the
navy department on the submarinelac-
tivities off the American coast.
The general trend Of these reports
was to the effect that, so far as has
been determined. the rules of interna-
tional law had been complied with by
Germany. 1t was made clear. how
ever, that these reports were of a Ore
liminary character. and were not yon-
elusive. Secretary Daniels was in
structed to keep the president fully