The Sentinel=record., 1917-02-08


 among the victims it merely was a fortunate accident and that ii can be only matter of hours before Amer jeans are caught in such wholesale destruction
 The California, which was bound from New York for Glasglow, ia the first big passenger steamer to he de. Stroyyd since the Arabia was tOpedo' ed in the Mediterranean months ago. Her sinking has about swept away the last lingering hope here taat Germany after all would permit passenger car, riers to escape in an effort to avoid driving the United States to hosti!i' ties
 The message from Consul Frost came at the close of another day de- voted to energetic preparations for the war, regarded as virtually meyita- ble. and to guarding against any act ny the United States which might precipitate hostilities.
 The most important step taken dur ing the day was the sending of telc- grams by Secretary Lansing formally notifying American ship owners that the state department could not advl7e them as to whether their vessels should sail on voyages through the war zone, but at the same time stat ing that the rights of American yes sels Co traverse all parts of the high seas are the same as they were prior to the issuance of the German declar- ation and that a neutral vessel may take any necessary measures to pre- vent or resent attack if it believes il is liable to be attacked unlaNtully.
 With the California the immediate issue. officials were deeply impressed by the complete thOroughness of the German undersea campaign and its promise, on the figures of the last two days. of carrying out Germanys threat 10 isolate England completely Lloyds reports received here show a total of 56 5000 tons for two days, or destruc- ton at the rate of S5o000 a month.
 German naval experts have said it would be necessary to cut off one million tons a month to completely i7- plate England. If the present rate of S5000G d month destroyed is main taiued, fl is suggested that the bal ance will be more than made up by the enormous amount of neutral ship ping held in port by the various neu- tral governments and private ship pcrs
 Hereafter the government will seek 10 have kept secret the fact of the departure of vessels for the war zone in order not to invite unnecessary risks. The treasury department has previously issued strict instructions against the publication of maniiest9 and every effort will be made from DOW on to allow as little information as possible to find it's way to German submarine commanders.
 The statement to shippers was sem today to all who had previously re- oGested a ruling by the department and included both freight and pas. senger carrying vessels. Among oth- CTS it went to the Standard Oil Com pany, whose officers had ordered all their huge oil carrying fleet to hold to port. Whether the implied invita- tlon given shippers to arm if they saw fit will cause that policy to he adopted, is unknown, but information at the navy department shows that guns are available in practically all b4f h quickly provided
 The Austrian situation seemed more hopeless today than at any time since the German declaration. Charge ZViednck called at the department but no details were given out either as to his visit or as to whether in formation explanatory of the Austrian note has been received from Vienna. An interview cabled from there, how ever. indicated Austrias total adhe- sion to the German policy and about dispelled what li,tle hope remained oi averting a break
 The most of the neutral world will line up behind this country, at least to tho extent of protesting against the German campaign, became evident to- day with reports that Spain. Norway, Sweden. Denmark, Brazil, Bolivia and probably other Latin-American coun' tries would publish their replies short lv. While 1t is not beliyed that any of these nations particularly the Eu- ropeans contigous to Germany, VIII formally sever relations as this eoun- try has done their protest is valued as a means of normal condemnation.
 After consultation with the prest dent. Secretary Baker issued state meni pointing out that German ships