The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-10
Many Possibilities of Com
plications if Submarine
Activities Continue
LANSING WILL GO TO
SHADOW LAWN TODAY
Much Information Has Been Withheld
in Interest of Neutrality-Warn-
ing Sent Out Forbidding
Radio Messages

Washington, October $50 much de-
ponds upon President Wilson's decision
regarding the German submarine opera
tons in the western Atlantic, and there
are SO many possibilities OF complications
if the U-boat campaign proceeds, that
officials here decline to attempt any
statement of what the American govern
ments attitude will be.
Although state department officials are
convinced there has been no violation OF
International law in the attacks off Nam
tucket they realize that prolongation
of operations in waters adjacent to the
United States might create situations
out of which serious diplomatic issues
might arise.
1t is understood here that it is to dis
cuss this feature that Secretary Lansing
is going to Shadow Lawn tomorrow. The
secretary declined tonight to make any
statement regarding his trip or to dis
cuss the U-boat campaign.
Officials would not even admit that the
state department had reached a definite
decision regarding the legality of the
U-boat activities. 1t became known
however, that all of the evidence thus
far collected by the navy department
was regarded as showing that none of
Germany's pledges to the United States
or her obligations under international
law had been violated
Officials indicated that much informa-
ton had come to navy officials which
had been withheld in the interest of neu-
trality. Tonight warning was sent out
to navy, commercial and amateur wire
less stations forbidding dispatch of any
radio messages regarding movements OF
any belligerent war vessels.
1T was emphasized that all the facts
possible regarding the attacks yesterday
and any others that may be reported
will be sought. Each individual case, l.;
was said, would be considered on it's
merits and finally decided separately.
After a conference today between Secre-
tary Lansing and Secretary Daniels it
was announced that Rear Admiral Knight
at Newport had been requested to ex-
pedite complete report of the whole
submarine foray. Affidavits will be
sought from officers. men and passen-
gers of the torpedoted ships.
The danger to neutral submarines
through being mistaken by belligerent
vessels limited at in the memorandum
was suggested to the American govern
ment sometime ago and in consequence
every care has been taken to keep Ameri-
can submarines out of waters where
mistakes might arise.
There was much discussion among Of
ficials today regarding the suggestion
that the proximity of the German craft
might develop as irritating situation
as that which led to a request by the
state department that British cruisers
lowering too close to shore earlier in the
war be withdrawn. The British vessels,
however were only six miles off shore
while the German operations have been
so miles from the nearest land and 20
miles from the mainland.
Many officials think, therefore, that
there will be no complaint on that score.
The state department regards safety
of passengers as an important feature.