The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-21
Nothing But a Revolt in Ger.
many to Change Government
viii Keep 1t From Clash
With u. S.
BUT PRESIDENT MAY
HOLD OFF ACTION TO
MAKE PREPARATIONS
Believed Generally He Will
Take No Action Changing
Existing Status Until Coun-
try Is Prepared to Strike.
(By T.. TX. SARTWE-IiL. International
News SerNirn staff COrreSI,Onl1entl

tBY Il. X SARTWEIL, international
News Service Stan Correspondent
Washington, March 20.-Grayely
and soeInnly. President Wilson and
his cabinet today spent more than two
hours reviewing the Incidents OF the
German submarine campaign which
have brought the United States to the
edge of the great war In Europe, To-
night IN added weight Of concern and
apprehension lay over Washington. a.
the members OF the presidents
cabinet, shaking their heads gravely.
said that no change in the attitude OF
the United States towards Germany
Lad yet been ordered. Under a pledge
&C secrecy the members OF the presi-
dents official cabinet declined to dis
cLss the result of the days discussion.
There was no effort, however. to dis
guise the gravfry4 OF the situation, AMI
several members Of the cabinet have
made II plain that they believe that
the events of the past few weeks have
precipitated state of war" between
the two nations.
No Leak" Now.
From the White House came the
statement that the cabinet had thor
oughiy discussed the entire interna-
.ional situation. but that nothing fur
her ccul5 be said at this time. Some
members of the cabinet intimated
that the extraordinary session of con-
eress, called for April Is, would be
called together at once, in order that
the president may have the legisla-
fte branch of the government on
hand for any grim eventuaiities the
future may bring forth. 1t WAS stated
that an announcement on this phase
Of the situation might be expected to-
morrow Neither the White House
nor members of the cabinet, however.
would venture a direct or positive
statement as to the probability of an
extraordinary session 1t was learn
cd however, that this whole ques-
tion had been carefully considered by
The cabinet, and that some cabinet
members believed that an immediate
call for congress would he construed
by Germany as practically declara-
ion of war They advised that tho
president await the converting of the
extraordinary session called for next
month and devote the interim to ex-
trting every effort TO hasten the coun-
try's preparedness plans, through the
'uavy department and the war depart
ment. An Immediate call, these cab
net members asserted, would give
Germany an opportunity to strike
more vigorously at American shipping
''tlOTS run PItpdt toulO ~
made 10 meet an attack. On the
ether hand, severa members Of the
cabinet believe that the country is al
ready In a state OF war, and that the
.erious nature of the situation make
il practically imperative that congress
hould he In Washington ready to act
at once in support of the president.
II was understood tonight that tho
president himself feels that the full
power OF the government should bo
modified to confront the dangers
which have now become apparent -
every administration official,
Fifteen Of yigilancia's Crew Lost.
While the cabinet threshed over
the critical situation, the state de-
partment received Official reports
that fifteen OF the crew of the Ameri-
can ship Vgilancia sunk without
warming had been lost. Several OF
these were Americans. The reportA
transmitted by Consul General Skin
ner at London, were sent at once to
the White House where the presi3
dent and his advisers went over them.
1t was stated that the death list add
ed materially to the gravity Of the
situation. and that the dispatches
tieepened the conviction OF the adj
ministration that the German cam.
paign OF ruthlessness has become In.
tolerahle,
Consul General Skinner transmit
ted a report from the consul At Ply.
mouth IT described In detail the at
tack on the Nigilancia. saying tho
submarine fired two torpedoes a. the
vessel when she was las miles from
the nearest land. The first torpedo
missed. but the second was effective
and the ship sunk in ten minutes.
Drowned In Taking To Boats.
NO other ships were in sight," aaid
the report. Crew Of forty-ive men
attempted to abandon ship In two
lifeboats Twenty-Five men were
wiped out of one boat by ocean
swels. or these. ten were saved and /
fifteen drowned. Among drowned
were third engineer, Carl Adeholde.
native American citizen, and third
officer. Neils North. a naturAli1o4
American citizen. Some u the Gfew