The Washington herald., 1917-03-21
SAY IT'S FOOLISH MOVE.

SAY ITS FOOLISH MOVE.
An immediate call, these Csbinel
members asserted would give Ger
many an opportunity to strike NOR
vigorously at American shipping be
fore full preparations could be mad
to meet an attack.
On the other hand, several mem
bers of the Cabinet believe the coun
try is already in state of war, ani
that the serious nature of the Situs
ton makes it practically Imperative
that Congress should be in Washing
ton ready to act at once in support
of the President. 1t was understood
last night that the President himself
feels the full power of the govern.
ment should be modified to confront
the dangers which have now become
apparent to every administration Off
cial.
sitastion More Grave.
while the Cabinet thfeshed over the
critical situation, the state Department
received oficial reports that fifteen ot
the crew OF the American ship VIgfiancis,
sunk without warning. had been lost.
Several Of these were Americans Ths
reports. transmitted by Consul General
Skinner. at London, were sent at once
TO the White House where the President
and his advisors went over them. Ie
was stated that the death-list added ma
terially to the gravity OF the situation.
and that the dispatches deepened tho
conviction Of the administration that the
German campaign of 'ruthlessness" has
become intolerable.
Consul General Skinner transmitted q
report from the consul at Plymouth Iu
described in detail the attack on the
Vigilancia. saying the submarine fred
two torpedoes at the vessel when she was
l45 miles from the nearest land. The
first torpedo missed. but the second was
effective and the ship sunk in ten
minutes
No other ships were in sight" said
the report. "Ckew Of forty-fve men at
tempted TO abandon ship in two life
boats. Twenty-Five men were wiped out
OF one boat by ocean swens. OF these.
ten were saved and fifteen drowned.
Among drowned were Third En-
gineer Carl Adeholde, a native Amer
lean citizen. and Third Officer Neils
North. a natursliIed American citizen.
Some of the crew drowned were Amer
ican citizens. Crew adrift in lifeboats
from Friday morning at 10 o'clock
until Sunday afternoon at 4 o'clock.
Submarine of unknown nationality fol-
lowed lfeboats at distance Of fifty
yards from 10 o'clock Friday night un-
til Saturday morning. Submarine and
lifeboats did not speak. Survivors
landed St Mary's in own boat after
suffering greatly from cold, wet and
fatigue. One seaman. Spainard,
paralyzed from exposure. Crew coming
to Plymouth today"
Demand Immediate Action,
The advisors Of the President who
feel immediate action should be taken
to combat the submarine warfare,
pressed their contention vigorously
following the receipt of this dispatch.
They declared that the Eigilancia case
made it plain that Germany is deter
mined to force her campaign OF ruth
lessness to the limit against American
merchant shipping, and that only i'm
mediate and aggressive reprisals can
meet the situation
Secretary of the Navy Daniels. after
new orders had been issued. and the
situation remains unchanged" He said.
however. that the administration plans
for pressing the work Of preparing the
navy for any action that may be neces-
sary would be continued with vigor and
with all the speed the government can
make. No announcement was forthcom-
ing as TO what further steps to protect
American ships at sea were under con-
sideration.
Deny secret Alliance.
Reports OF negotiations for cooperation
between the United States and the entente
allies to clear the shipping lanes of the
Atlantic Of submarines met with vigorous
denials yesterday. II was made plain
that the United States could not enter
into any compact Of this nature 30 long
as the present policy OF ARMED neutral
ity" is continued. and that all OF the
steps so far taken by the United States
were solely and entirely without regard
to the action Of the belligerents opposed
to Germany. Both the State Department
and the Navy Department asserted that
reports of a concert OF action between
the United States navy and the warships
of the entente powers was absolutely
without foundation.