Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-02-09
u. S. Without Overt Act TO
Justify a Break With
Germany.
AWAITING CLEAR CASE
President Not to Open
Hostilities on Techni-
calities.

WAsHINGTON, Feb. S.-The
American government still is without
the official evidence of an overt act
| 10y Germany considered necessary TO
! Justify President Wilson In going be-
fore congress for authroity to use
necessary means TO protect American
| seaiuen ana people.
Theer no longer Is any doubt that
the ruthless submarine campaign is
in fun swing in defiance of the warn
ing Of the United States Everywhere
! II is believed that II no American ship
has been destroyed, 1t Is because
American ships are lying idle in their
/ ihprs instead of plying their usual
trade, II no American life has been
lost 1t is due entirely to chance.
One American Killed.
II also is generally conceded that
on the basis OF preliminary reports
the torpedomg without warning Of the
! passenger liner California with an
American on board makes out a
clcar-cut case OF technical violation
of the rights of the United States.
President Wilson, however. Is rep
resented as determined not To plunge
| the country into war on technical
| ity. When he moves II viii be on
! complete evidence of an outrage
about which there can be no question.
Then he expects To have the American
people and congress behind him.
Unofficial dispatches today told OF
the killing Of an American negro
sailor named George Washington in
the sinking OF the British steamer
rurino. Few details were given and
the state department tonight has
heard nothing officially. The incident
win he considered as soon as reports
are received.
To get in personal touch with all
steps taken To prepare the country for
4 whatever may come. the president left
the White House this afternoon and
made another quick round of the
state war and navy departments.
When he returned to the White
liouse Z was stated officially that
Information on all the torpedoings OF
vessels involving Americans was being
gathered as rapidly as possible. but
that up to that time there had been
no change in the situation. The pres
ident himself said that his visits were
not due to any new development Of
Importance.
L. 5. Consuls Detained.
Additional cause for uneasiness was
given the government in the receipt
| Of Information regarded as confirming
reports that Ambassador Gerard and
! American consUls In Germany Nir-
/ tuully are being detained I'm Germany
| because Of uncertainty in Berlin over
| the plans Of Ambassador Won Bern
storff and as q result of reports that
| German ships in American harbors
| had been seized. II Is understood
that there has been no formal ac-
/ tion in this connection, the German
government merely delaying arrange
mcuts for the departure Of the Amerl-
! cans.
Word was received from Great
Britain and France during the day
that safe conducts for German diplO-
mats In this country would be ar
! ranged This. as well as the fact that
German ships here have not been
seized was communicated to the
! Berlin government and no further diff
/ fiCulty is anticipated.
Other Ncutrals to Protest.
From several neutral nations came
| information that while they would
not sever diplomatic relations with
! Germany they had or would send pro-
| tests which would align them against
the new campaign of ruthlessness.
| Again there We're some suggestions OF
| "a combination OF neutral nations
either to prevent trouble between the
| United States and Germany or To
make clear neutral rights, but no
definite plans were made public.
In taking stock OF whole new
! world situation preCfpltated by the
! German pronounccment of February
l. official Washington looks upon the
! German action as having forced the
/ severance of relations and brought
this country to the verge Of war, as
! having left one million prisoners for
whom this country was caring In
, 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
sibilty that the German threat to
isolate England may be made good.
| with $1,000 tons today and 56, 500
tons the two previous days, the
| undersea boats are roaping at the
! rate which both German naval critics
and the British Manchester Guardian
say would render England helpless.
Immediate changes are looked for
i'm England first as TO methods of
fighting the undersea boat and Sec
ond as TO safeguarding the country
against starvation. Whether better
protection would be had by heavier
armament of merchant vessels. con-
lNoy, provision of sea lanes. or a SUI
preme attempt to root out the German
fleet, are subjects of Interested specu-
lation.
Divert Scandinavian Trade.
Diversion Of all scandinavian trade
from examination at Falmouth or
other English ports to Halifax al
ready has been suggested In Scandi-
navian circles as possible method
whereby Danish, Norwegian and
Swedish ships could again take to the
high seas without having to run thru
the German zone. The United states
is willing to second these efforts Just
as far as possible informally, as It Is
to American interests as well that
trade between the countries be kept
open Whether England would con-
sent to this diversion is uncertain, as
IL would be harder to control shipping
to Scandinavia thru Halifax than thru
Il British port.