Arizona republican., 1916-03-29
Secretary Lansing Instructs Ambassador Gerard to h. quire Whether German Submersibles Torpedoed Sussex and Englishman
NEITHER DEMAND
 NOR PROTEST
General Situation Is Com plicated by Receipt of Re- port That Steamer Man chester Engineer Has Been Torpedoed
Republican A. p. Leased Wire]

N. WASHINGTON, March 2S-Secre- tary Lansing with the approval of President Wilson, has instructed Am bassadOr Gerard at Berlin to inquire of Germany whether any of it's sub marines torpedOed the British Chan mel steamer Sussex. upon which 25 American citizens were travelling, or the British horseship Englishman, which went down with loss of one American life.
 I As the situation now stands, the United States has no conclusive proof that submarine attacked either ship. but all evidence at hand indicates that both were torpedoed without warning. Upon the response of the Berlin foreign office to MT. Gerard's l inquiry may depend the next step of l the American government.
 Al this time it is made clear that any sense may be construed as de- l mand or a protest. l President Wilson laid all the state l departments reports on the subject | before lis cabinet today It was after | the meeting that Secretary Lansing | allowed it to become known that it had been determined to make an in l quiry of the. German government Later it was learned that instructions already had been forwarded to Am hassador Gerard They probably were in his possession this afternoon The general situation was compli- l cated still further tonight with the | receip. Of 9 dispatch from Consul l Frost at Queenstown. announcing that the British steamer Manchester En- l ciEeer had been torpedoed without warning. Two American negro citi-
 Zens who were aboard were rescued.
 Further information which the con-
 sul said he was forwarding will be lawaited before the department under takes to. consider this case
 | If German submarine attacked
 either the Sussex or the Englishman it is admitted that the resultant sit lG2tior will be most serious An un-
 official but authoritative statement lhas been made that Germany. if it Twas found that one of her submarines ltorpedoed the Sussex immediately lwould offer reparation. punish the
 submarine commander and take steps l to satisfy the United States that the
 act was a violation of instructions While official expression of opinior
 was withheld. it was intimated that should such a development occur tho position of the United States would not be defined until it was knowf that the men responsible for violating
 the rights of humanity, the principle:
 of international law and the solem,
 assurances given by Germany actuall, had teen punished
 Il If further developments shoul,
 caIse the president to determine tha
 the breaking off of diplomatic rela tons with Germany was necessary , he would go before congress announc, z his decision. and explain the act leading up to it.
 While the president has full author ity to break off relations. he realize
 that such an act almost inevita bl, would lead to war, and therefor would feel himself obligated fully t Inform congress, the war making bod of the government before taking sucl la step.
 Among high officials of the admin istration there appears to be a differ
 cnce of opinion regarding the cours
 the United States should pursu Il should Germany deny responsibilit
 for the attacks and the American gov
 ernment find convincing evidence tha
 they were the work of German sub ....sx~
 in such circumstances the accumu u lation of offences against the Unite II States would justify the severence c
 diplomatic relations. others do nc = feel that such an action would b
 justified
 Colonel E. M House. the presi
 dents closest adviser. arrived
 n- Trvr-