South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-02-01
ACTS
IN NEW CRISIS
information As to What Has
Been Done RefuSed-ln-
termed Ship Sunk.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE oNE)

attitude that he expected a diplo-
matte break although he entertained
very slight hope that the United
States would accept the German
position as one of retaliation only
against her enemies and would not
force the issue. The ambassador
declined TO make any comment
whatever this morning onthe situa-
ton. He had the newspapers brought
TO him as soon as they were avail
able and carefully studied the edi-
torial comment in them.
1t was admitted in Official circles
today that Pres't Wilson has expect
ed Germany to adopt the policy
announced yesterday. Ambassador
Gerard told the state department
that this action was planned last
Saturday but il had been hoped by
the president and the few officials
that were in his confidence that the
efforts being made by the United
States 70 bring about peace would
prevent its being put into effect for
some time to come. A hint that this
would not be so reached here just
previous to Tuesdays regular cab
met meeting and resulted in a gen.
Of German relations.
Atlantic Fleet Ready.
The Atlantic fleet is in a splendid
strategic position in Guantanamo at
Al saTu
are assembled in the deep harbor
there the battleships Pennsylvania,
Admiral MayO's flagship; Connect
cut. Michigan. South Carolina, New
York Delaware, oklahoma, Texas.
Florida. Utah, Wyoming, Nevada,
and Arizona; the destroyers Fan
ming. Jarvis. Balch, Aylwin, Parker,
Duncan. Drayton. Mccall, Cushing,
McDougall, Winslow, Nicholson,
Wadsworth. Conynham, Porter,
Tucker, Wainswright, Davis, Welkes,
Cassin and Cummings; the supply
ships Celtic. Cyclops, Jupiter Kan
awha. and Neptune, the mine depot
ship Baltimore; the repair ships
Promethus and the tenders Yankton
and Dixie.
Any or all these vessels can be
rushed to the Panama Canal at a
moments notice as all are in battle
trim.
Lansing Reaches Office.
Sec'y Lansing reached his Office
shortly after o'clock. He was
grave faced but refused positively
to comment on the German note.
lie said that he expected TO confer
with the president before noon.
When asked whether action would
be decided on at that conference, he
said: Better wait and see"
Shortly after Mr.. Lansing got TO
his desk Secretary of War Baker
called on him but il was denied that
the foreign situation was under RS
cussion.
Senators and representatives were
early at the capital. They were
anxious for news of what was TAX
ing place at the white house and the
state department. The concensus
OF opinion was that Germany's action
had forced the hand of the United
States and that drastic action hard
ly could be avoided.
Views on L. =. Hostility.
Two opposing views of American
hostility have been allowed TO pass
the German censor The first was
that the harm the United States
could do Germany as an active
enemy was no greater than as a
neutral supplying munitions and
loans 10 the allies and that the Grip
pling of allied shipping would be
the turning point of the war. This
apparently is the view now adopted.
The other view, known 10 have been
held by some high officials here. was
that Germany might in desperation
seek TO involve the United States as
an actual enemy on the ground that
her influence at the peace confer
ence would be a generous one.
Officials here, stunned at the sud
denness of the German action. do
not hesitate to conceal their dis
quietude over the mental unpre-
paredness of the American public
for what may be coming The recent
| flood of peace discussion started by
German offer, increased by the pres
dents note and again by the entente
reply. are thought to have turned
public opinion in this country en-
tirely away from the posi- bility OF
war and TO have focused attention
on the terms Of near peace.
Expect Frightful War.
A revulsion is expected to take
place in the entente countries, with
| the result that the world war will
enter a period of frightfulness un-
| imagined heretofore. With the mass
/ ing for huge offensives by land and
| the announcement of ruthlessness
! by sea. officials look forward 10 at
least a spring and summer of un-
! precedented slaughter.
The German note sweeps away all
| the issues that nave previously
/ doomed so large, such as what arma-
ment a merchant ship can carry.
where il must be located, how it
may be used whether the ship is
chartered requisitioned. or still
| private. and replaces them with one
/ clear issue which cannot be brooked
or ignored.
In this situation Prest Wilson's
previous policies offer the only in
Il