The Washington herald., 1917-03-15
CHINA-GERMANY
BREAK MAY KEEP
U. S. FROM War
Peking's Move Expected to
Bring Further Action
From Neutrals.
WOULD RESTRICT "SUBS"
Sinking of American Liner Fails to
Change Issue. Say
Officials.

Hope for more or less general action
on relations with Germany, as a orotest
against submarine -uthlessness was re-
vtved in Washington last night. Reports
to the State Department and he Navy
Department that China had broken with
the German government led to the hope
eral break by the neutrals. expressed in
his original address to Congress. might
yet bring forth fruit.
Administration officials believe that a
concerted cutting OF OF relations by sew
eral of the important neutral nations
would soon bring the German submarine
campaign to an end. and possibly avert
the war which. day by day, approaches
more closely to the United States.
TIE Chinese break, officials believe,
ina open the way for further neutral ac-
tion. and last night it was suggested that
certain South American nations were
considering following the lead OF the
United States in combating the sub
marine warfare. China's determination to
break with Germany was announced in
cablegram from Minister Paul S.
Reinsch at Peking. who reported that the
German Minister would be handed his
passports today. The ranking American
naval officer in Chinese waters reported
that China had seized all inter1ed Ger
man shipping at Shanghai, and had
brought the crews of six ships ashore
Under guard.
Algonquin Latest Act.
The sinking of the American liner
Algonquin without warning in the sub
marine zone added another item to the
long account which the United States
has charged up against Germany The
Algonquin. Consul Joseph G. Stephens
reported from Plymouth, England, was
sunk by shell-fire The crew of the
American ship. after taking to the boats
sought aid from the submarine, but
were turned away. The Algonquin crew
was saved. At the State Department
the Algonquin incident was accepted as
conclusive proof that Germany does not
contemplate any modification of her
'"clarati ton of submarine warfare against
american as well as all other shipping
No further move by this government will
h" predicated on the Algonquin case,
however. as President Wilson Is de-
tCrmined to base the whole American
case on the armed ships now being fitted
to defy the war zone
The loss OF the Leyland liner Norwegi-
an, with mails. grain. munitions and
general cargo aboard was reported tc
the Department last night by Consul
Frost. at Queenstown.
The Norwegian was beached after
an explosion. 1-2 miles of Galleyhead
at 11:2O a. m, thirteenth" said Consul
Forst's report. Submarine was never
seen. Explosion NAV have been due to
mine. Carried protective At inch gun
and wireless. Explosion killed instantly
fourth engineer, storekeeper and three
n
John w Vincent. Oak Bluffs, Mass, is
safe. but had narrow escape as his
galley was wrecked by the explosion
FOrty-two survivors out of complement
Of forty-seven. Mails being saved.
skinner Reports Rescue.
CONSUL General Skinner, at London. re-
ported the saving OF the entire crew
Of the British steamer East Point, bound
from London to Philadelphia. The East
Point was torpedoed without warning.
Two Americans were among the res
Cued crew. They were John Webber
Of 80 Fougeron street. Buffalo, N. Y,
and Edward Ellis. of 565 Courtland ave-
nue.. Brooklyn. y. Y.
Full details of the torpedoing OF the
Belgian relief ship Storstad were for
warded to the department yesterday by
the consulate at Liverpool, where the
captain of the sunken ship made aff1-
davit to the circumstances. He describ-
ed in detail the elaborate precautions
taken by the Storstad to notify the at
tacking submarine of her charitable mis-
sion.
The Navy Department announced that
there would be no relaxation in the pre-
cautions taken to guard with absolute
secrecy the details of the movement OF
armed ships leaving American ports.
Newspapers published at various Atlantic
ports have complained that the customs
officials have been too stringent in sup
pressing all information as to ships and
cargoes, but It was stated last night
that there will be no modification of
the orders to Treasury Department off,
cials.