Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-25
ANOTHER INVASION
OF RIGHTS ON SEA
Norwegian Steamer, With
American Aboard, Reported
Attacked Without Warning.
WEEK MAY SEE ACTION

Developments yesterday in the inter-
national situation were viewed as tend
ing to hasten eventualities.
President Wilson's plans for meeting
the crises with Germany and Austria
Hungary. and for carrying out the adj
ministration program in Congress before
the session ends next Sunday. showed no
outward evidence of alteration. but an
other apparent violation OF international
law was added to the list accommodating
from Germany's submarine warfare en-
pha sizing the expectation that whatever
action President Wilson decides TO take
in regard to submarine warfare will be
based. as one administration official re-
Gently phrased It. on something like rtha
whereases in the Declaration of indie
pendence."
did not discuss the international stu
alton with his callers yesterday. al
though Postmaster General Burleson
spent an hour with him in his study
at the White House in the morning.
| the Vice President and a group of SEN
ators saw him in the afternoon and
Speaker Clark called early last even
ing.
Action May Come Tuesday.
In most quarters IL is believed that
there will be no important announce
ment by the administration before
Tuesday, when Secretary Lansing re-
turns from a short vacation. Tho pos
sibility that Secretary Lansing may be
preparing an important document for
the President while away was given
some credence here, especially in dip
lomatic quarters.
In the Senate. a renublican attack ON
the administrators failure to take
more aggressive measures in regard to
submarine warfare was followed by the
| introduction of a resolution by Sena-
| tor Fall, republican, authorizing the
President to use the armed forces of
| the nation to protect American rights
on the seas.
Although three submarine disasters in
which American seamen were involved
! were reported to the State Department
yesterday only one seemed OIL first in
| formation to constitute an invasion OF
American rights. American consuls re-,
ported that the Norwegian steamer Skrim
| and the Norwegian tark Blenhein1. each
| with an American seaman aboard. had
been destroyed, but that in all instances
provision had been made for the safety
Of the crew.
Attacked Without Warning.
tdispatch from Consul Osborn at
steamer Alice had been attacked and
shelled without warning. and that Theo-
dore Joseph. an American negro. was
among the survivors.
Complete information on the Alice
case had not been received last night.
and for the present il takes its place
with several others about which the
State Department is preparing evil
dence President Wilson is understood
70 he
request he may make for further au-
| thority shall have behind 1t incon-
testtble proof that such authority 10
| needed to protect American rights.
Germany's raid on Dutch shipping
was given particular attention. be-
cause it is understood here that the
vessels virtually were In the service Of
the Dutch government A serious crisis
is expected to result. though IT is real
ICED that Holland would be 1oath to
risk the consequences OF actual hostil-
| tiles with Germany because most of her
| canals, comprising her main line of de-
Tense, are reported frozen and in
condition to flood the necessary dis
| tricts. A large body of German troops
| also Is understood to be concentrated
| on the frontier.
Watching Moves Of Neutrals.
Omcials here are watching closely tho
attitude of the European neutrals. Hol-
lands situation is regarded now as the
| most desperate. with foodstuffs so
| scarce that slaughter Of her immense
cattle droves is contemplated as the
| only way out. Sweden is reported in
\ the throes of bitter dissension as to
| the sending out OF Swedish ships to
| face the German sea terror. Norway
and Denmark already have been re-
| ported as heavy losers. Spain is known
| to have reached a serious stage in her
relations with Germany. while Switzer-
| land has been forced to adopt a war
| rations program, with two meatless
DAYS a week and other restrictions.
1InIr0R limit UPHELD