Evening star., 1917-03-14
Administration Leaders Point
Out Arming Ships Only Rem
edy Short of War.
SAY CONGRESS ALONE
CAN TAKE FINAL STEP
Although Awaiting Detailed Account
of Occurrence. Authorities Fail to
Find Mitigating Circumstance.

In the absence of official dispatches on
officials withheld comment, but the un-
official view was that nothing in the in
eident changes the situation between the
United States and Germany.
President Wilson already has taken
steps to place the nation in state of
armed neutrality. which, with the break
ing of diplomatic relations with Germany.
is practically the last measure possible
short of war. American ships now are
being armed to defend themselves against
unlawful submarine attack The general
view today is that arming Of ships is the
only answer to submarine operations
short of declaration of war, which may
be made only by Congress.
The circumstance that the Algonquin
carried foodstuffs. which are contra
band. and that she recently was trans
ferred from British to American regis
try, a transa action Germany might plead
she would not recognize, are not taken
to outweigh the fact that the ship was
reported destroyed without warning.
Neither does the fact that apparently
no lives were lost mitigate the situa-
ton.
War Declaration Only Resort.
But the real fact. as unofficially ex-
pressed is that while the destruction
of an American ship in such manner
is very serious, the American govern
ment already has taken all the steps
IL toll fn af
it wishes to take the last step and de
clare war.
The real issue Of peace or war is
expected to come when an American
armed ship has clash with German
submarine.
A series of distinctions of American
ships probably would arouse Congress
to declaration of war. II indeed Ger
many should not declare war on the
United States. az many expect. as a
result of the first encounter with one of
her submarines.
Up to the present, in the absence Of
action by Congress, all that could be
done to meet such a case as the de-
been done. 1t is generally accepted. or
first reports, as not being the overt
act"
Anxiety at White House.
The news of the sinking Of the American
steamship Algonquin was first received at
the White House this morning through
newspaper sources. and it was immediate
ly communicated to President Wilson in
his study by Secretary Tumulty. Admin
istration officials generally received the
information with deep anxiety, although
the fact that the lives of those on board
were saved somewhat lessened the tension
at first created.
For the present, the sinking of the AL
gonquin is regarded still another rea-
son why the administration should hasten
the carrying out of the previously an
nounced policy OF arniing American ships,
and placing them in a position to defend
themselves against the German sub
marines which attack them. or attempt to
attack them, AS is reported in the AL
gonquin case in news dispatches, without
warning or otherwise illegally.
IF the inforation contained in the dis
patch is correct, it is very grave mat
ter, and the consequences may be seri-
GUS was the comment of Senator
Salisbury of Delaware. democratic
member of the foreign relations COM
mittee.
Senator Salisbury was asked if he con-
sidered the sinking Of the Algonquin IAN
overt act. He replied that he did not
care to make further statement with
out official information in regard to the
act