Connecticut western news., 1916-03-30
EXPECT BREAK
 WITH GERMANY
sussex Sinking Viewed With
 Apprehension.
hlGHT LEAD U. 5. INTO WAR

~mericans Aboard Was Torpedoe
 Without Warning - Secretary Lans
 fns Awaits Official Confirmation-A
 Eyes Are Turned Toward Presider+
 outWardly official Washington ha
 become so calloused to submarine dis
 asters that the atmosphere in officin
 quarters and in congress seems hardl,
 oinerent from other days. yet all off
 aals seemed agreed that if the Suisse,
 was torpedoed the United States must
 Iake some decisive action to show its
 aasapprobati2n cf German policy.
 secretary Lansing, of course, an
 nounced that there would be no deci-
 sa0n as to the course of the government
 until all the facts were obtained. Am
 Dassador Sharp's dispatches to the
 state department left little room for
 0ouDt. They conveyed the following
 Information:
 First.-That the French captain of the
 sussex saw the wake of a torpedo in time
 70 try to reverse his engines and avoid it.
 Second.-Two Americans swear positive
 " they saw the wake of a torpedo several
 seconds before it struck and anticipated
 she shock of the explosion
 Looking For Diplomatic Break.
 In view of the above facts and what
 mas hitherto been regarded as the pol scy certain to be followed by the Wash mgton government, severance of diplo- natic relations with Germany is every where predicted.
 Count von Bernstorff. the German ambassador, on more than one occasion m conversation with Secretary Lan- stng has expressed the view that a break in relations would lead to war Between Germany and the United States. The discontinuance of diplo- | matfc intercourse with Germany Is therefore not viewed as technical or paper affair. From it are certain to How effects of far reaching importance sn the whole international situation.
 Before such step is taken it seems mot unlikely that President Wilson will feel compelled to consult congress. That Body has recently shown a marked apathy toward making the submarine question casus belli or even an issue that might eventually bring about hos ktlities. The fact that the Sussex was probably unarmed and that Americans could take no other vessel to get be- tween England and France in pursuit of lawful errands'' will weigh consid- ! erably with many members, but a com- DIete absence of. any martial spirit or I enthusiasm for a break in relations | was noted in congressional quarters. , The feeling prevailed that from Pres adent Wilson must come some cue as to ahe policy to be adopted, yet there was z An {,rI0 | she opinion of congress would be when snce the president presented the case ' so both houses in special address. -, Cannot Explain Attack. Q Even the friends of Germany here n ire at loss to explain the latest sub- f marine attacks. Official dispatches to " ne American government indicate that e German submarines have been virtual o ? running amuck lately, that little or " 10 distinction has been drawn with fl eference to armed or unarmed passen- 'er steamers and liners and that the c serman policy notwithstanding iter- ted assurances to the United States e as really undergone little change since ne sinking of the Lusitania a year ago. How far the German campaign as ecklessly carried on now reflects the n gal wishes of the civil government O. iement in the German government is '1 uzzling high officials here. .,, Certainly there was nothing in Chan nr eilor von Bethmann-Hollweg's recent tt aIk with Ambassador Gerard about rt eace and relations generally with this o, suntry to indicate hostility to the nlted States. On the contrary the VI cry friendliness and frankness of the h. impressed President Wilson he lat Germany was solicitous of Ameri R, an friendship and that hencefortb a oderation ill the submarine policy na fight, be expected. f.
 Situation Is PuzzIinq.
 The new attacks suggest that per SI ADS after all the resignation of Von Irpitz did not affect the attitude of A, 'e navy itself and that the imperial and the foreign office are Dt fn position to control the radical ,a ,valist element ., Berlin dispatches telling of the pub- n,, ? condemnation of the chancellor for the submarine policies of tb on Tirpitz are cause for reflection in ..rr e light of new developments. If so e latest attacks are the outgrowth of to, ternal troubles in Germany it is pos ev ble that the president. will not act an but will await the turn tal events in BerliR before breaking ith Germany is While it appears that the end of ne wC 'tiation has been reached, q flat pl, by Germany of her in ex Emane policies and a reconstruction no government portfolios unequivocally 1icating Il desire to remain on friend terms with the United States may ( ' affect the attitude of the Washing S n government. nit