New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-30

new orders 90 submarines which went
into effect March /. provided for the
attack without warning OF all armed
merchantmen Of the Entente Allies
There has been no official confirmation
whatever Of the secret order report.
However. the number of disasters
which have ovcrtaken unarmed mer-
cbantmcn recently, including those
under neutral flags, caused some ON
cials 10 credit the suggestion that OF
ders Of some kind other than those oil
which the United States IS ADVISED are
What is described In high admins
,ration circles as the extreme gravity
of the situation makes u necessary lot
the United States 20 proceed win the
utmost care I'M preparing for the next
stcp. Especial effort Is beng mace W
have all the essential facts IN each case
developed from the best testimony ana
evidence available. Information is pc
ING or will be collected through Ameri-
can embassies and consulates, naval eN.
merits. officers, crews and passengers or
ships reported 20 have been attacked
and the governments whose flags the
ships few.
Allies Ready TO Aid u. ;.
II is assumed that the British.
French and Netherlands governments
will be quite willing TO follow the eX-
ample set by the Italian government
in the case Of the AncOna and supply
the State Department upon It's request
with all information they have gath
cred through their own sources.
While all the recent cases under in
vestigation will play important parts IN
the final consideration Of the situation
the case Of the Sussex undoubtedly
will form the cardinal feature. On-
Gals are impressed with the complete
ness Of the evidence available regard
ing details Of the Sussex explosion the
declaration of passengers that they saw
the wake Of a torpedo and, above ALL
the fragments Of metal which were
found and which have been described
as parts Of a tOrepdO. these pieces
of metal will be examined by American
experts.
Bernstorf Back ia Capital.
A dispatch from Ambassador Gerard
reporting the result of the inquiries ne
has been directed 20 make momentarily
was expected tonight. II is presumed
that the inquiries already have been
made. They concerned the cases of
the Sussex, the Englishman and the
Manchester Engineer.
Count Won Bernstorff, the German
Ambassador, returned TO Washington
tonight from a visit % New 1ork lie
said he had no word Of any kind from
his government relating 70 the recent
developments.
Further State Department dispatches
to-day regarding the sinking OF inc
steamer Englishman said the vessel
was shelled and torpedoed. AT flrst
this information was taken by officials
10 mean that the ship was trying to
escape when she was sunk. Later, how.
ever, il was made clear that the vessel
was shelled while trying to escape, but
that when torpedoed she had come to
stop.
The position Of the United States Is
that a submarine is operating Within
the law when she shells or torpedoes a
merchant ship trying TO escape AZ
soon as the merchantmen capltulates,
however, she Is entitled TO immunity
from further attack.
The dispatches to the State Depart
ment do not make 10 clear whether all
the members Of the Englishman's crew
were removed before the vessel was
torpedoed, and additional information
en- that point is being sought. II the
members Of tho Grey were removed
difficulty over the case OF the Engllsh-
man may be obviated.