New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-09
California Attack Hela
Not To Be Overt
Act
TURING KILLING
NOT "OFFICIAL"
Washington Is Convinced
Final Step Cannot Be
Delayed Long
BY STEVENSON H. EVANS


Washington, Feb. S.-Watchful
waiting for the hour Of still more
frightful German atrocities at sea
begins TO get on the nerves Of the
responsible heads of the government.
They continue in the determination
to preserve the attitude of peace
with Germany, despite the rupture
in diplomatic relations, but they
don't like to talk about it.
The killing of an American negro
fireman on the British steamer
Turino is given no official" consid-
Grafton. No official report on the
sinking of this steamer has been re-
ceived, and until one comes the gov
ernment will ignore the case.
Bad as the California case is and
squarely as it comes within the
terms Of the Presidents definition OF
an overt act, it was stated at the
close of tense day in Washington
and stated with authority that this
government would not consider the
torpedoing Of this passenger liner,
without warning or the slightest care
for the innocent victims, as the casus
beIli which, all realize, cannot be long
delayed.
No Appeal to Congress Yet
Even in the light of to-night's
news that among Che missing is
family, the children born in PhiA
delphia, the best opinion in Admin
istration circles was that the Presi.
dent would not yet make his appeal
to Congress ito ask that authority
be given to use any means that may
be necessary for the protection Of
our seamen and our people in the
prosecution Of their peaceful and
legitimate errands on the high seas"
Mr.. Wilson's mind, apparently,
seeG degrees of overtness. The Ger
mans may shoot at US, but as long
as they do not hit US we will not
further resent it. Even if they hit
us, and do not slay by drowning or
gunfire, still will we believe that they
don't mean it.
Although these brief paragraphs
truly describe the attitude in Ad-
m.nistration circles-and that is an
accurate reflection of the Presidents
present attitude-all, at the same
tine, are of the actual opinion that
the Germans do mean it.
Germany Sure to Strike.
The demonstration has satisfied
them. The fateful hour of war is
about to strike. Delay as he will,
continue patience under affronts as
he will, the President can do nothing
to restrain the Germans from the
commission of such crime that all
America will stand aghast.
1t may take the loss Of an Ameri-
can ship and American lives as well
neither one alone-to induce Mr..
Wilson to act further. He will 90 to
the extreme of waiting, but at best
it cannot last long.
So anxious is the Administration
to display the greatest reluctance to
take the next step, which means war,
that they W re busy to-day finding
excuses for the German govern
ment's treatment of the American
Ambassador, Mr.. Gerard.
The forcible detention Of Mr..
Gerard and other Americans in Ber-
lin means, as the State Department
thoroughly realizes, that an ambas-
sador, whose person is sacred among
all civilized people, is being held as
hostage. But, Mr.. Lansing says,
it is because the Germans do not
understand. They think somebody
has seized their ships. which they
themselves ordered ruined before
Count Won Bernstorf presented his
threat. They fear the German Am
bassador will not receive safe con-
duct home.
There is no possible excuse for de-
tanning an ambassador, but Mr.. Lam
sing is finding one.
Waiting to Satisfy History
Some Of Mr.. Wilson's friends ssy
that he wants to be able, in the years
to come, to look back on these cri''
cal hours with the satisfying refec-
ton that he avoided MT only aggres-