The Washington times., 1917-02-06

NAlS VI DCAlAil.
At all events the President is deter,
mined that II the hopes Of the Gov
ernment are not justified and that, IL
Germany forces this country TO eX-
tremes, history will be able to say
that the United States did everything
possible to avoid the break and only
entered the war when no possible al
tentative remained.
Erroneous Reports.
Already, it was pointed out today,
have there been two cases OF ships
sunk since the war zone decree went
into effect which. at first blush,
seemed to give the necessary cause
for war. Both cases under eXamina-
tion shaved the first reports to have
been erroneous.
II was stated at first that the Housa-
tonic was sunk without warning; Off
cial reports showed that the submarine
followed strictly the line Of the Sussex
pledges.
1t was stated at first that the British
ship Eavestone. on which one American,
Richard Wallace. OF Baltimore, was KILL
ed. was shelled without warning and
that shells were fired at the crew taking
refuge in the life boats
Provisional Collier.
Consul Frost's report today showed
that the Eavestone was under charter
to the British Government in the capac-
ity Of a provisional colIier.S ordinar-
fly. State Department officials indicated
today. a collier is regarded asa ship
Of war, and. as such, not entitled to the
immunities of merchant ship.
Just to what extent this view is
modified by the provisional service
of the vessel is concerned is mat
ter which the department is invesu-
eating.
II it develops that she must be re-
Earded as & war vessel, the depart
ment, it was stated, must examine
into the circumstances OF the sheN-
ing of the open lifeboats.
Would Destroy Immunity.
The fact that the vessel was she'll
ed. rather than torpedoed, officials
explained. opens up the possibility
that she was in the act of fleeing
from the submarine, a circumstance
which, even in the case of merchant
ship. would rob her and those on
board her of immunity from imme-
diate destruction.
American Ambassador Page has
been instructed to investigate all the
circumstances with the utmost care
and 10 report to Washington as
quickly as possible. ,.
THIS does not mean, ofnclals "ere
prompt to add, that the Ihlteo
States will seek, as in the past Ior
the German version of such attacks
The time for that is past.
On Interpretation
II war is to come it will be based
on the Interpretation of the United
States Government of the circum-
stances in the "casus belli." This in
itself, the Presidents advisers state,
emphasizes the importance OF not
acting with rashness.
At the same time officials of the
State Department realize the extreme
Importance of not permitting the un-
justihable impression to go forth that
the United States is in any sense
weakening from its threat.
War sure to Follow.
1t can be stated, aha stated with
what is believed. to be absolute con-
fdence as to the situation now exist
ing that If an covert act" is COM
mitted, and is known to have been
committed beyond peradventure of
doubt, the Government of the United
States will declare war on the i'm
periaI government of Germany.
Count Won Bernstorff, the German
ambassador, has not yet left Wash
ington. In the minds of many here
this confirms the idea that something
is expected from Germany that will
have an important bearing on the en-
tire situation.
Actually his departure has been de-
layed through the difficulties Of COM
pleting tthe final arrangements for
his going. 1t is possible that he may
be using the interim in final effort
to make his government modify its
proposed course of action-a course
of action which Count Won Bernstorff
has realized from the beginning must
lead inevitably to war.
One Feature Lacking.
In the meantime the work of prep
aration by the Federal Government
for possible eventualities goes stead
fly ahead, but with one feature lack
ing which the military experts regard
as absolutely essential to any program
of sensible preparation, namely, the
immediate passage of a universal mil
itary training bill, which would en-
able the War Department to assemble
as quickly as possible and train a re-
serve army of several millions of men.
Offers of aid and cooperation con
tinue to flood in upon the White House
and the War and Navy Departments.
For example. the National Aerial
Coast Patrol, a voluntary organiza-
tion. wired President Wilson this
morning offering aid and suggesting
the immediate construction of 1000
hydroaeropianes for coast defense
duty and immediate steps for the com
puIsory training of aerial pilots to
man them
Secretary of War Baker today di.
rected Quartermaster General Sharp,
of the War Department, to proceed
at once to repIenish all regular army
and reserve supplies and stock that
have been exhausted by the recent
activities and mobilization on the
Mexican border.
THE WEATHER REPORT.
District of Columbia-Fair tonight