New-York tribune., 1917-11-27
Senator Says Declaration
by Congress Would Sim
plify the Situation
SchuylkiIl Sinking
May Cause Break
Lansing to Determine Ma
tionality of U-Boat That
Attacked Vessel

WASHINGTON. Nov. 26.--"Declara-
tions of war against Austria. Turkey
and Bulgaria seem exceedingly advisa-
Bile 10 simplify a situation now anoma-
Ious.~ said Chairman stone of the SEN
ate Foreign Affairs Committee to-day
1--WE are, in fact" said he. NOW at
war with Germany's allies
Inquiries regarding the nationali'y
Of the submarine that sank the Ameri-
can steamer Schuylkill made by the
State Department have developed that
the periscope was black and white wi'h
A spiral design. Data in possession ol
the government do not reveal whether
this indicates an Austrian vessel.
The State Department is continuing
its inquiry through consular oincers al
Mediterranean ports. and should 1t be
established that the SchuylklH was
sunk by an Austrian submarine the
state Department, it was said to-day.
,ould have in it's possession the essen
,iol factors upon which 20 ask Coh-
cross for an expression Of its VIII re.
S,ardinV me further maintenance OF
peaceful relations with Austria.
Naval authorities of Allied countries
N Wasbingtt n have declared that Ger
man submarines operating in the Med
,terranean have used Austrian bases;
that submarines displaying marks Oh
Austrian nationality have beeh oPeI
ated bv German crews. and the Aiilee
admiralties are said to have prG9!ol Vl
Austrian submarine operations uiIec'-
ed against American vessels.
Has Stones Support
Senator Stones only reservation was
that declarations of var on Ger
manv's ally by Congress should De III
harmony with the policy Of the eAeeI-
tive branch of the government. Al
though he voted against the deCiaia-
tion Of war on Germany, Senator Stone
has reiterated that the war, once
begun. has his whole support MS
statement to-day was taken as lhItea'
tive of the agitation for war on u ueI-
many's allies, which VIII lace Consil L.. go
when it convenes week from Quay
"There should be an understandings
of course" said Senator stone, oe-
tween the two branches Of the gov
ernment before any action IS taKen'
Rut we are in fact now at war win
Germanv's allies. The situation Is
anomalous. Ii would, in my opinion,
simplify matters greatly II We sh0ulu
formally declare war against ueI
rnanv's allies. IL seems TO me eNeeeu-
ii have understood that some. II not
p large number OF, Austrian troops
have been on the " estern front. lney
NAV now, or soon, be actually hghlih9
against the American forces, the TWO
forces firing at each other. anyway,
the Austrians are desperately engaged
with Italy, which IS one o. oCr aliisS'
lust as much as France or England
To have war formally declared
against the German allies also, sen
ator Stone thinks, would simplify mat
ters of domestic concern, such as
measures to prevent espionage.
Austrians Killed Americans
Senator Lewis, the Democratic whip,
expressed views similsr 10 Senator
stones.
AT the same time" said he, we
should be careful to distinguish be
tween Austrians and Hungarians and
Bohemians. We should also distinguish
between Austrians and Poles
Americans lost their lives on the
Italian liner Ancona, destroyed in the
Mediterranean, and the American tank
er Petrolite also was attacked there.
While the submarines carried the
Austrian flag. IL was established that
the boats themselves really were Ger
man made and German manned. Ne
gotiations in these two cases were
pending when DR.. Dumba, the Austrian
Ambassador, was recalled at this gcv-
ernment's demand because Of his &C
tivities in bomb plots. Austria would
not admit responsibility for the attacks
and this government did not press the
cases after the departure of DR.. Dumba