The Washington herald., 1917-02-24
AMERICAN DEATH
IN ATH0S SINKING
Drowning Of Missionary In
jects New Complication
Into Situation.

The death of an American missionary
in the sinking of the French liner Athos
in the Mediterranean added last night q
new complication to the international sit
uation.
Consul Wilbur Keblinger. at Malta.
cabled the department that when the
Athos was torpedoed without warning by
a submarine which carried no flag, Rob-
ert Allen Haden. a Presbyterian field
worker at Soochow. China, was drowned.
Consul keblinger was ordered to make a
fun and complete report at once, and Of
nclal washington once more sought to
determine whether the long dreaded
overt act'' had been committed.
Consul Keblinger reported that the
Athos, one OF the most luxurious liners In
the Mediterranean trade, was torpedoed
2lO miles east of Malta on February II.
He said that he had been unable to con-
hrm reports that the vessel was carrying
troops. State Department officials said
That II 1t developed that the Athos was
In use as transport, the sinking might
nave been within international law, and
would not form the basis for the next
step in the German crisis.
Died as Hero.
In Consul Keblinger's report, It was stat
ed that Haden could have saved himself,
but that he was lost in an effort to res
cue several Chinese who we're drowning
The address of the lost American was
given as care OF Mission Board" Nash
vile, Tenn.
The whole range of the international
problem was threshed over by President
Wilson with his Cabinet at a regular
meeting yesterday. Afterward It was
stated that no radical change in the in
ternational policy had been decided upon,
and that no new problems had arisen.
me FEELING was apparent, however, that
the President would go before Congress
early next week in order to seek all the
authority which may be necessary to deal
with the situation.
What form this request for authority
VIII take, however, was still a matter of
debate and legislative conditions in Con-
gress which make it possible that an
extra session OF Congress will be forced
led to the belief that the President might
delay his demand
An apparent determination by Senate
Republicans to force an extra session bv
delaying imperative legislation was look
ed upon as a means of forcing the Pres
ident to make his international Intentions
clear at once, or to insure the presence
OF congress In extra session as a check
upon the President should conditions be-
y.
VIII Not Arm Ships.
The administration yesterday adhered
10 It's determination not to place naval
guns and gunners aboard American NOR
chant ships. II was stated at the Navy
department that another effort Of p. A.
S. Franklin to secure snavs- ssmners to
man guns on the ships OF the American
Line had proved futile, and that nothing
would be done at this time The entire
matter. 1t was stated, had been referred
TO the President and no move would be
made until the President himself had de-
termined the policy 20 be pursued.
Ohcial Washington was convinced In st
night that the diplomatic break with Ger
many must soon be followed by a break
with all OF the Teutonic allies. 1t was
shown that the advices to the State De-
partment from Vienna, Constsntinopie
and Sofia have been far from encourag-
ing, and that the State Department is
about convinced that Germany has sue
ceeded in mobilizing the sentiment of all
of her allies behind her declaration Of
ruthless submarine warfare.