New Britain herald., 1917-02-08


between the United States and Ger
many is growing wider hourly and
hope that hostilities can be avoided
has almost been swept away.
Germany's submarine campaign of
ruthlessness is developing with a fury
which many officials here believe soon
must confirm the worst fears that
has been held for it and produce the
overt act which President Wilson has
said would be the signal for war.
The president himself, holding from
the first the hope that after all the
German threat of unrestricted war
fare on the seas would be tempered
in execution, awoke today to find that
a continuance Of the onslaught of sub
marine attacks had reached a climax
in the destruction without warning
Of a big British transatlantic liner.
Consul Frost's report that the An
Choir line steamer California with one
American aboard and rescued, had
been sunk in violation of international
law, did not reach the capitol last
night until the president had retired
and it was the first thing to come to
his attention today.
Until all the facts are esta blished
the president is not expected to in
dictate whether. he considers that the
California case presents an issue in
! the submarine action. In his address
to congress, he said he would come
again before that body to ask for au-
thority to take further steps, "if
American ships and lives should in
fact be SACRIFICED"
1t was pointed out that so far as is
known, no American was lost on the
California and no American ships
have been sunk without warning since
Germany announced her new cam
paign.
Every effort was made today to
clear up the details of the liners de-
structlon while preparations went
steadily forward in every branch of
the government to make the country
ready for whatever the decision NAV
be.
The senates endorsement of the
break with Germany was given yester-
day by adoption of the Stone resolu-
ton by vote of IS to S.
Might Arm Merchant Ships.
American ship owners today has Of
fetal notice from the state depart
ment that it could not advise them
whether their vessels should sail
through the war zone, but that In gen
eral they still had the same right to go
anywhere on the seas they had before
issuance of the new German subma-
rine notice. In effect, thep were told
that they might arm their ships for
defensive purposes.
Secretary McAdoo announced in
creases ranging from 1875 to 900 per
cent. on war risk insurance for ship
ping issued by a federal bureau. This
came simultaneously with Lloyes re-
port that ships of $500 tons aggre-
gate were sunk by submarines in the
previous two days, a rate nearly equal
to that which German naval authori-
ties have declared necessary to cut off
England's supplies eventually,
Bill to Commander Ships.
To give the president authority to
commander American merchant YES
sells and other broad powers relating
to shipping in time Of war or threat
ened war, a new bill was pending in
the house Secretary Lansing has asked
congress to appropriate 100000 to
help get Americans out of Germany.
The United States felt assured today
of the moral support of most neutrals
in the protest against Germany's
course, although 1t appeared improb-
able that any would follow the lead of
the United States and break relations.
Preliminary, reports of the neutrals
replies to Germany indicated they
would denounce the new sea war plan
as illegal.
Hope of maintaining diplomatic re-
letions with Austria has about fled
Attack Not Overt Act.
On the basis of reports received on
the destruction Of the California and
other ships so far, it is stated author
itatively that none of the cases con-
stitutes the overt act which will lead
to war with Germany. Officials OPEN
~ express the belief, however. that
the overt act is merely a question OF
time.
While regarding the destruction of
the California as plain evidence that
Germany has fully abandoned her
pledges to United States, it was stated
that the government will not be hur-
4 IA q d I'd