Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-02-11
formal In nature ;hsn those m:'ir at
Siirst.
.TO EXERCISE EVERY CARE
IN CASE: or NEUTRAL SHIPS

F.AC GApUShsts Nv FIJI SShfs
IN CASE or NEUTRAL SHIPs
Some light also was thrown upo,
"a iermsnS's point of view WHOM II Nas
learned to-day that While tho Hcrir
& government was Arranging for tho nov
i scampsiGn OF ruthless warfare. certain
q German diplomats in various parts vi
Z tho world were notified that whilc
military necessity" prevented Tic
grating Of IA period in which uoutrals
4 might adjust their maritime interests
every care would be exercised that
n neutral, and especially American. pas
senger-carryims ships would not lie
\ subjected TO unwarncd submarine at
tack.
/ The manner in which the neN Ger
man proposal was received iii c,licial
4 quarters lef, the impression tina, there
was little possibility OF favorable
response here The attitude o: of
! fetal. has been tina, onl: two courses
Z are open to Gcrmany--that She must
i. either pursue her ruthlessness at the
hazard or wxr with this country. OF
restore her rcpudtSied pledges given
Il in the Sussex case. II has been felt
here thai Germany has been warned
Z moro FULLY than She had any right 10
expect regarding the attitude Of the
United States. and that she decided on
her course with full knowledge OF its
results. /, is not felt that Germany
will be in q position 10 negotiate III
tho matter until She has withdrawn
from a campaign which the United
states has condemned with tho most
serious step Ii could take short oil
war
OFFICIALS NOT SURPRISED
At GERMANI's ACTION
Officials, however. apparently arc not
!. surprised at the German action. In
I one diplomatic quarter IL was char
acteriZed tonight as calculated 10
shift to the State Department RESPONSE
bility that Germany's own actions MAY
lead to. II IS realized also that i,
will have an effect on the pacifist and
pro-German elements in this country
which will be embarrassing to officials
here.
Late reports OF ships sunk by Ger
man submarines we're scanned eagerly
by government officials to-day for a
double reason.
First. there was the ever. present
fear that any hour might bring 4 dis
patch saying an American ship had
been sunk without warning OF. Amer
lean lives lost. thus driving the United
States TO use force to protect its rights.
Second. yesterdays reported failing
off OF aggregate tonnage sunk pro-
ducsd wonder as 20 whether the fail
urs was only temporary. or whether
Great Britain has already done some
thing to lessen the force or the sub
mersibles' attacks
pronounced break with Germany. il is
disclosed that the precise course Of
the United States has been determined.
President Wilson will not ask Con-
.rcss for declaration OF war, but only
for authority to take necessary meas
ures 10 protect neutral rights This
would still leave tho first act Of open
hostIities TO Cicrmanys choosing. The
conveying Of merchant vessels by
American war craft might be ordered.
INTEREST BASED
on LLOTDS REPORTS
Practical interest III tho progressive
success OF the submarine campa ign WAS
based on Lloyd's reports reaching here.
indicating that not much more than
10000 tons total shipping WAS sunk
Yesterday. although about $1,000 tons
was reported sunk ON Thursday. and
about $4,000 tons each Of the two pre-
ccdtnS days. \ daily destruction Of
$4,000 tons would he necessary 10 main
lAin tho rate which the German Nd
mirAlty believes sufficient L. ISOLATE
England.
reports that Great Britain is ar
ranging 10 convoy great Aects of MGR
chantmen through the war zone gained
credence here, Naval observers Won
dcred whether any sreat number or
submarines arc being destroyed. or
whether other causes arc responsible
for the reduced showing of effective
ness.
One OF the prinoipa! questions dis.
Cussed at the Cabinet meeting late yes
tcrday was the threatened hampcrinc
or American industries II slips arc
held UP In American port much longer
b. fear OF risEins submarine dangers.
!, was stated authoritativoly after the
Cabinet meeting that no new situation
had developed 10 change tho policy OF
the government.