The Washington times., 1917-02-24
WILSON WITHHOLDS
ACTION IN CRISIS
Awaits Psychological Moment
to Go Before Congress to
Ask Power.
Continued from First Page.)

he Is to invite a sensational and pro-
tracted debate. For this reason, his
admirers intimate, he has desired to
hold on as long as possible.
In the meantime conditions are un-
derstood to be rapidly shaping up for
the severance OF relations with Aus
tria. II Is the announcement of this
severance, well-informed officials de-
clare. that will give the President a
handle" for his next appearance be-
fore Congress.
II is understood that the depart
ment is at present sounding the allied
governments regarding a safe-con-
duct for Count Tarnowski back to
Austria, and the suggestion Is made
in some quarters that delay in OBJ
tanning these guarantees may also
Influence the President to postpone
his Congress address for a few days.
Lansing Away.
Secretary of State Lansing, who
left Washington yesterday for a week
end sojourn at White Sulphur. Springs,
will not return until Tuesday. 1t is
thought that the President probably
would wish him to be here when he
breaks with Austria
The circumstances reported in to-
days dispatches from American con-
suls regarding the latest sinkings in
the war zone were matters OF COM
ment as indicating that some of the
submarine commanders at all events
are exercising more caution In the
way in which they attack neutral
vessels.
Consul Osborne, at Harve. for ex-
ample, reported the destruction OF the
Norwegian steamer Skrim. The YES
sci, in ballast, en- route from Treport
to Cardiff, was stopped by warning
from a German submarine twenty
miles from Treport on February 10.
Waited TIL Crew Got on.
After the crew Of fourteen. including a
Porto Rican citizen Of the United States.
Louis Pinto, had taken to the life boats.
the crew Of the submarine exploded
bombs on the vessel, sinking her. The
crew remained In the life boats twenty
hours before being picked up.
Consul Frost. at Queenstown. reported
that the Norwegian bark. Blenheim, LOS
tons, bound from Pensacola. Fla, to
Greenock. was sunk by shell fire from a
submarine. after warning had been
given. The attack took place thirty
miles southwest OF fdStnel
The master Of the Blenheiri1 after be-
ing signaled to haul to. stopped at the
first shot. The crew of the bark were
given opportunity to get into life boats.
and the submarine towed the boats until
a British naval patrol was sighted. The
boats reached Baltimore. ireland. at $50
O'Clock that night
One American. Solomon Troiche,
was a member OF the bark's crew.
His birthplace was given in the re-
port at Porto Rico, and the present
address of his parents as 1885 Mont
gomery street, San Francisco.
BeIated Reports.
BeIated reports from Lloyd's agency
on previous sinkings reached the de-
partment today from Consul General
Skinner, at London.
They cited the following ships as
victims of submarine attack: The
British steamer Corso, 1000 tons; the
British steamer Perseus, three OF
crew missing: British steamer Ro-
sale. 26s2 tons; Swedish steamer
SkogIand, 1887 tons, and the British
fire. crew landed.
The state Department was unable
to give an opinion today as to
whether the German submarine which
attacked the Athos without warning
was acting within its rights in view
of the reported presence of troops on
board the Athos.
1t was in this attack, reported yes
terday, that the Rev. Robert Allen
Haden, an American Presbyterian
rniasIonary was killed.