Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-05
BERLIN ADMITS
CRISIS is AT HAND
Kaiser Seeks to Avoid the
Humiliation Demanded
By United States


Appam cases.
After six days spent in the mid.
die west in urging stronger ma.
tionai defenses and describing the
Grave possibilities OF the Interna-
tionaI situation. he was returning
to decide international questions
Of great Importance.
The president was due to arrive
In Washington at p. m. He slept
until 4 late hour today to recover
from the effects Of his strenuous
trip.
Berlin, Feb. Information reach
Ing The Associated Press today indi-
Gates that under no circumstances will
Germany admit the sinking OF the
Lusitania was an illegal act
The new Instructions. forwarded to
Ambassador Won Bernstorn, according
TO this information, contain simply one
phrase Of the new formulation Of the
proposed note of regret for the sink
ms OF the Lusitanla. The suggested
sentence Is short, consisting OF only
eight words and does not contain the
word "illogal" It represents the ex-
treme limit Of Germany's concessions
in the Lusitania case.
The view is entertained here that
one Of the most serious crises Of the
war has arisen In connection with the
Lusitania case, and that it is impos-
sible to toresee the outcome from any
indications here. The result Of the
negotiations appears to hinge solely on
the one word Illegal
In the way Of an agreement between
the United States and Germany stand
only those seven letters, expressing
the conception which President VIII
son and Secretary Lansing insist must
be embodied in the German formula
expressing regret for the loss of Amer
lean lives aboard the Cunarder.
The Associated Press is informed
positively and authoritatively that
Germany cannot and win not desig-
nate as illegal the sinking Of a liner
by any submarine.
No Other Barr.
Virtually no other difficulties tn the
new instructions forwarded to Ambas-
sador Won BernstOrff on Tuesday con-
tain merely the new formula by which
It is hoped to satisfy Washington with
put humiliating this country.
Although the suggested sentence,
according to reliable version, con-
sists Of only eight words and does not
contain the word Illegal" or charac-
terize the sinking of the LusMania as
such, it goes otherwise to the furthest
bxtent possible toward meeting Ameri-
can desires.
VIII Fight n Need BE.
The Kreuz zsitupg interprets Presi-
dent Wilson's present warlike course,
rs dictated to some extent by political
considerations. It says both the
American and European press have re-
garded the presidents attitude
throughout the war as being influenced
by the approaching campaign, but that
no one considered such an interpreta-
ton Of his utterances as especially un-
friendly to him, regarding it as thing
10 be expected. Assuming a more
serious tone, the paper adds:
AT the moment it seems best to
emphasize the point on which the Ger
man people are most completely
agreed; namely, that nobody, Of course
would regard a conflict with the United
States as slight matter, but that we
Are all resolved nevertheless to take
on US this new enmity if it can not
be avoided without sacrificing our
self-respect and dignity, without lay
Ing on ourselves fetters that hinder
Dur freedom of movement in the strug-
gle for our existence"
The vossische Zeitung and the
Tageblatt hold that the announcement
IN regard to the latest instructions
sent to Ambassador Won Bernstorff are
pot so sweeping as generally supposed
The Tageblatt says the language used
was very reserved and. could not war
rant any hasty or far reaching con-
illusions.
Continued on page 81