Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-01
AMERICA FACES A
BREAK WITH GERMANY


Continued from First Page)
than that a course had been decided
upon.
1t was disclosed that President Will
son and Secretary Lansing had con-
ference last night. although it was
then denied they had conferred at all.
1t was indicated today that before
the course of the United States was
made public there were certain neces.
sary steps to be taken.
| Senator Hitchcock. democrat. mem
Der Of the Senate foreign relations
early today. but said he did not dis
cuss the submarine question.
Col. House Is Summoned.
| President Wilson conferred with
Col. E. NJ. House, his friend and ad.
wiser. who was hurriedly summoned
from New York. Early today he had
not called any meeting Of the cabinet
nor any conference with the foreign
affairs committees of Congress. who
have been assured of being taken into
| matte relations are broken off.
| Germany's sudden declaration Of her
intention without warning to destroy all
shipping over a wide area comes as the
climax to a long series OF aggravated
| cases in which the United States has
gathered evidence that her pledges 20 re-
spect international law at sea have been
| broken. score of American lives have
been lost since the slate was wiped by
Germany's promises in the Sussex case.
But in each instance there were conflict
peated assurances from the German en-
bassy here that nothing would be per-
mitted to disturb relations with the
United States After each of the new
slnktngs came informal assurances that
Germany was ready to make amends II
her submarine commander had violated
orders. In fact, the embassy here was
the brightest spot in the situation which
| American officials viewed as constantly
growing darker.
Bernstorf Softened Note.
bassy here to keep relations tranquil is
found in a comparison of the note hand
ed yesterday to Secretary Lansing by
Court Won Bernstorf with the one hand
ed by the Berlin foreign office to Am
bassador Gerard.
The note published in Berlin an
nounces in bold terms the determine
ton of Germany to WELD every weapon
at her command without quarter, while
the note presented to the American
State Department says the same thing
in softened language.
The German embassy for months has
L,,fI =
hopefulness and at one time 1t was said
that Won TirpitZ, who originated the
campaign of ruthlessness, actually had
been forced from his high position by
influences brought to bear by the Ger
man ambassador here in an effort to
preserve good relations with the United
States. Now it is frankly disclosed that
Won TirpitZ was deposed because he
did not carry his campaign of ruthless
ness far enough: that he was unpre-
pared with an insufficient number of
undersea ships to make this force eff
fective. and was punished for his short
sightedness.
Huge Submarine Fleet.
Now the officials who speak for Ger
many in this country unhesitatingly
announce the plan to starve out Eng
| land with a fleet of submarines which
| they estimate between 300 and 500. and
| they think they can cut off the food
supply of the British Isles completely
within sixty days.
| American officials are not convinced
that Germanys announcement of a
campaign of ruthlessness reveals the
entire situation. There have been in
timations Of dissenson between the
entente allies all eof which. however
have been officially denied, and there
are other circumstances which have
| come into possession of the American
| government, but are not being dis
,closed, which give ground for the pos
sibility that the new submarine block
ade may be only the forerunner of
something else equally startling. Meth
er is there any assurance that the new
warfare will be confined to changes on
| the seas.
| The air of confidence which was
openly expressed at the German en-
bassy was generally interpreted as an
| indication that the Berlin government
was very sure of the success of its
plans.
Interned Ships Peril.
| The new crisis, however, brings new
dangers to the very shores of the
United States. where score or more
| of German and Austrian ships have
been laid up since the beginning of the
war and where several German COM
merce raiders are informed.
! REPORTS of ships being armed secret
| Nv for a dash to sea, of plots to sink
| them at their wharves or to block
American harbors by destroying them
| in the channels have been under in
vestigation for many months.
! This was diplomatic day at the State
Department, a set occasion for receiv-
ing representatives of foreign govern
ments. Secretary Lansing. however.
cancelled it and those who had routine
business were taken into conference by
lesser officials The British ambassa-
| dor. Sir Cecil Spring and the
Jauanese ambassador, Mr.. Sato. were
| among the early callers.
| Diplomats who asked for Secretary
lansing were told he was very busily
engaged preparing something for Pres
ident Wilson.
Chance Of Guarding Commerce.
Naval officials do not believe that q
material increase in the damage to al
lied commerce is to be expected. Of
hcers think it quite possible tina,
Great Britain may assemble fleets OF
merchantmen and take them through
the danger zones under heavy guard OF
light. swift submarine destroyers. A
| circle of such boats about the mer-
| said would n1alxo