Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-31
SINKING OF MANY
SHIPS STIRS IRE
OF UNITED STATES
Some Officials Credit Report Ger
man Subseas Ordered to At
tack All Ships Bound
for Great Britain.
HUNT FOR CONCLUSIVE PROOF
Several Unsrmed Merchant Ships
Carrying Americans Attacked
Without Warning.
VIOLATES RECENT PLEDGE

WASHINGTON, March 30.-Ths
United States government today ia
using every means at its command
tn secure conclusive proof regarding
the disasters which have overtaken
tie Sussex and othe- unarmed mer-
chant ships, all carrying American
citizens.
All circumstantial evidence indi-
Gates that these ships were tor
pedoed without warning and that
German submarines have begun an
underwater campaign in violation of
Germany's recent assurances to the
United States.
Some officials credit the sugges-
tion that German submarine COM
manders are acting under secret in
structions such as we're advocated
by Admiral Won Tirpits, TO torpedo
every vessel approaching the British
Isles. Although official confirma-
tlon is lacking. some officials believe
that the commanders of German sub
merslbles have orders other than
those Of which this country is ad-
vised.
The Next step.
The next step OF the United states is
said suthoritatlvely TO have been deter
mined upon Unless Germany, IN reply
TO the Inquiries made by the United
States through Ambassador Gerard,
makes some statement to cause the State
department TO change it's present inten-
tions, 1t Ia understood that all the RECENTLY
aggravating incidents will be combined
I'm one general formidable Indictment
which will bring the entire subject to a
clear cut issue.
Should Germany admit responsibility for
any of the attacks and attempt TO satisfy
tho United States/by saying that n mis-
take had been made. offer 20 make repara-
tion and TO punish the submarine oona.
mander. the issue would not by any
means be disposed OF. II is regarded as
certain that the United States viii not an-
ccpt such an explanation as satisfactory.
ct loast until time had shown what pun
ishment actually was meted out TO tho
offending submarine commanders and
whether any value longer could be a.
taehed to Germany'F promises.
VIII Proceed with Probe,
In the event of Germany discIairning
responsibility for the disasters, the
\ United states will proceed with It's in
vestigation TO determine TO its own salts
faction whether the evidence which now
strongly indicates that the Sussex and
other ships were torpedoed without
warning can be regarded as conclusive
proof. With such proof before It the
government probably would act promptly.
Officials refrain from discussing what
the nature OF the action would be.
The very number OF apparently unwar-
ranted attacks which have occurred re-
Gently Is regarded by the administration
as particularly significant. The number
is said by officials to have disposed of
| the theory that the explosions might
have been caused by mines. Some OF the
cases, II was pointed out. have occurred
In localities where there is no possibility
OF mino fields having been laid because
OF the depth OF the water and the dis
tanco from shore.
II became known during the day that
the State department had heard unoffi-
cialy the suggestion that German subma-
rine commanders were acting under So
cret instructions such as were advocated
by Grand Admiral Won Tlrpitz to torpedo
every neutral vessel as we'll as belliEer,-
ent-owned approaching the British Isles.
The secret order.
The United States was advised the new
orders to submarine commanders. which
went into effect March 1. provided for the
attack without warning of all armed
merchantmen OF the entente allies. There
had been no official confirmation what
ever OF tho secret order report. However,
the number OF disasters which have over
taken unarmed merchantmen recently, In
Guiding those under neutral flags, caused
some officials to credit the suggestion
that orders OF some kind other than those
Of which the United States is advised. are
in effect
What is described In high admiuistra-
tion circles as the extreme gravity OF the
situation makes It necessary for the
United States to proceed with the utmost
care in preparing for tho next step. Es-
pecial effort Is being made to have all
the essential facts in each case developed
from the best testimony and evidence
available.
VIII Collect Data.
Information Is being. or will be, coll
lected through American embassies and
consulates. naval experts. officers, crews
and passengers OF ships reported 70 have
Continued on Page Two. Column Four.)