Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-04-21
Won BERNSTORfF.
aEADS FOR TIME
Germany Unable to Make
Early Reply to Presi-
dents Note
UNITED STATES FIRM
UNITED STATES FIRM
Insists That Cruiser Warfare Must
Involve Warming. Visit and Search
In Future

Washington, April 21-In spite OF
President Wilson's demand on the
German government for an "imn1e-
diate" abandonment of submarine at
tacks on passenger and freight ships,
no answer is expected from Berlin
in less than a week. The German
ambassador called on Secretary Lans-
ing Yesterday. He was disturbed to
learn from Mr.. Lansing that mas
much as the American note had reach
ed Ambassador Gerard yesterday,
Mr.. Wilson would expect an answer
from the German government by
Sunday. Count Won Bernstortf eX-
planned that reply by Sunday was
scarcely probable. He reminded MIR.
Lansing that today would be Good
Friday, that the next day was scar
cely less generally observed by re-
!igious Germany, and that Easter
Sunday and Easter Monday were
among the most solemn festal days
in the German Empire. The ambas-
sador frankly stated his apprehension
that no reply could be framed on SO
momentous question as the aband-
ment of the whole submarine policy
tefore the latter part OF next week.
Mr.. Lansing is not known to have
Welded completely to the ambassa-
doris representations, but the Ger
man answer, if answer there be, is
not expected as promptly as the word
Immediate" ordinarily indicates. AT
no timt IN the. past, however, has
President Wilson been unreasonable.
Then tension Of the past two days
was measurably relieved yesterday.
Indeed, there is distinct revival OF
hopcfulness based on the belief that
the German government will at least
make an effort to reach an under
standing with this government. 1t
will not be surprising if Germany
complies with Mr.. Wilson's demand
or complete abandonment of sub
marine attack on merchant ships as
the indispensable condition for fu-
ture discussions. This proposal from
Germany is almost confidently eX-
pected.
The State Department has noticed
one phenomenon about the submarine
warfare that may point to this COM
rlete abandonment temporarily for
| purposes of discussing the situation
with the United States. 1t has MOTTO
cd that submarine attacks have come
in cyclones, with intervals of compa-
rative inactivity between. This rs
explained by the suggestion that per-
haps the submarines set out rom
Kiel in force to do their work as
dramatically as possible, then return
for reftting and revictualling. One
Ct these cyclones has just passed
the lull is just beginning and it is
thought that Germany might Off
cially announce suspension of SUBJ
marine activity just at the time when
it was in fact almost suspended any
way.
At present German pledges to the
United States regarding submarines
are two kinds-the sweeping pledge
to practice only Cruiser" warfare II
the Mediterranean, and the more re-
stricted pledge to warn "liners" anc
place their passengers and grew II
safety before attacking within the
war zone around the British Isles
The Mediterranean pledge, it wa
said yesterday, had not been perfectl!
effected" or observed, though thi
might refer to Austrian rather thar
!. to German violations. The othe
pledge has been grossly and repeated
. ly violated.
. The difference between the tw
pledges is easily stated. Cruiser war
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