South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-02-01


,r the ruthless use Of her subma-
rines against an shipping There
was. however. no possibility OF con
frmation of this as an inquiries at
both the white house and the state
department were returned unan-
swered
The only word permitted came
from white house sources and was
as follows:
1T would be improper 10 say THAI
nothing has vet been done IN the
matter"
No explanation OF this cryptic
statement was forthcoming. IL was
learned during the morning that
Sec'y Lansing and Pres't Wilson had
a secret conference last night which
lasted for an hour and a half. Tbs
entire German note was gone over
carefully and a plan OF definite ac-
ton was considered.
Pres't Wilson rose before s
o'clock this morning although be
had gone TO bed after midnight lie
sent the white house automobile 20
the station to meet his close ad-
wiser. Col +. NJ. House. who had
hurried here from New York on the
midnight train The latter reached
the white house at 7-25 "a. m and
Immediately went 10 the presidents
study. There secluded from the
world the two men discussed the
situation with the official text of the
German note before them.
House Refuses To Talk.
No word came from the confer
ence which was continued at tbs
breakfast table. Col. House posi-
lively declined 10 talk before he
went tothe white house. impatient
" brushing aside all would-be in
reviewers His usually grave face
seemed even more so and he i'm
pressed everyone who saw his SER
ious mien.
White house officials declined O.
say whether the president would
hold a special cabinet meeting to-
day. He had talked with Sec'v
Lansing several times through the
night and again this morning over
the private telephone and was ln
fun possession Of all details The
secretary planned personally 20 con
fer with the president at the latters
convenience.
Congressional leaders said that q
the president desired TO lay the sit
uation before congress joint
session could be arranged at an
hours notice. They anticipated
that II the president decided 20
order a diplomatic break immedi-
ately he would take congress into
his confidence without delay. At
the time Of the Sussex controversy
the president promised the members
of the two houses that he would
keep them in touch with an devel-
opments.
War to Follow Break
While 70 was carefully pointed
out that a diplomatic break did not
necessarily mean war. there were
few officials who paid any very ser
ious attention 20 this claim. To was
realized that Germany will stop st
no move that her military chief
tains consider necessary % carry
her point and IL relations are sever
ed il is considered certain that Am
erican ships viii fall under the sub
marine ban.
Because OF the danger OF war
steps were taken 20 safeguard
American Interests everywhere. The
Atlantic fleet, gathered az Guam
tanamo. was In direct touch with
the navy department. Orders have
been sent % the Panama Canal
20 guard against ans at
tempt 20 disable the great water
way by the use OF dynamite IL was
considered certain that ia the event
OF the United States becoming in
yoIved. the canal would be an object
OF hostile attempt in order 70 sut
onthe Chilean nitrate fields from the
short route 90 the Atlantic. And.
one dynamite bomb placed az the
lock gates could cause damage that
would take weeks % repair
Am bassador Won Benrstorf re-
manned az the EN- bassy here WAITING
He admitted privately that Goa his
opinion that the German note meant
exactly what r. said and that l-
would be put into effect~0n schedule
time. IL was very plain from ms
..a-.n--r,r arr~