The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-09
FULL EVIDENCE
OF OVERT ACT
STILL LACKING
President Does Not Wish TO
Appeal to Congress to Act
Until in Possession Of
Clear-Cut Case.

washington. Feb S.-The American
government still is without the official
evidence of an overt act by Germany
considered necessary to justify Presi-
dent Wilson in going before congress
for authority to use necessary means
to protect American seamen and
people.
Therc no longer is any doubt that
the ruthless submarine campaign is in
fun swing in defiance OF the warning
of the United States EVERYWHERE II
Is believed that if no American ship
mas been destroyed it is because
American ships are lying idle In their
harhors instead of plying their usual
trade: if no American life" has been
lost it is due entirely to chance.
1t also is generally conceded that on
the basis of preliminary reports the
torpedong without warning of the
passenger liner California. with an
American on board, makes out a clear
cut case of technical violation of the
rights of the United States.
Wants Complete Evidence.
President Wilson. however is rcp.
resented as determined not to plunge
the country into war on n tcchnicalitv
When he moves II will Id on complete
evidence OF an outrage aaou, which
therc can be no question. Then he
expects TO have the American people
and congress bchind him,
tnoI'icial dispatches today told OF
IN" killing of an American negro
sailor named George WASHINGTON In
tn" sinking of the British steamer
Turino. Few details were given and
The state department tonight had
heard nothing officially The Incident
VIII be considered as soon as roports
ar" received.
Additional cause Cor unoasiness was
given the government in the receipt or
Information regarded ns confirming
reports that Ambassador Gerard and
American consuls in Germany virtually
arc being detained in Germany be-
ca"S" OF uncertainty in Berlin over the
p'lhS i"r Ambassador Won Bornstorff
and as Il result of reports that Ger
man ships in American harhors had
boon seized, It is understood that
there has been no formal action In this
, connection, the German government
merely delaying arrangements for tho
t departure of the Americans.
Severance Forced.
In taking stock OF a whole new
world situation precipitatcd hy the
, Official Washington looks upon the
, German action as having forced the
. severance of relations and brought
this country to the verge of war. an
having left 100000 prisoners for
whom this country was caring, In a
serious situation; and as having
brought down on Germany the moral
\ indignation OF practically all the rest
Of the world.
Some officials also think that the
last three days have shown the pos.
n sibility that the German threat to iso-
late England may be made good, with
$1,000 tons today and $4,000 tons the
two previous days, the undcrsea boats
are reaping Mt tho rate which both
German naval critics and the British
" Manchester Guardian say would rem.
der England helpless.
Immediate changes are looked for ir
"a England first as to methods of fight.
Is Ing the undersen boats and second n,
-. to safeguarding the country against
:, starvation.
I. Promise Safe Conduct.
T. Word was received from Great pri
10 tain and France during the day tina
safe conducts for German diplomats |,
this country would be arranged. This
as well as the fact that German ship
w. have not been seized. was communi
ct Gated to the Berlin government and n,
J. further difficulty is anticipated.
l. From several neutral nations cam
" Information that while they would no
I'd brealo diplomatic relations with Ger
-. many they had or would send protest,
O. which would align them against IN
j. new campaign OF ruthlessness. Agai
lc there were some suggestions of a com
or bination OF neutral nations either Z
n prevent trouble between, the Unite
g. States and Germany or TO make cIea
a neutral rights, but no definite plan
n. We're made public.
The last word received by the gov
eminent from Ambassador Gerard wa
dated Berlin. February s. at : D. III. Fl
81, Is now allowed to communicate her
,r only indirectly through Copenhage
bo and without code. The state depart
"a ment communicates with him and wit
r. the German government. through Il