GRAVE SITUATION ARISING FROM SUSSEX TRAGEDY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16205, 15 April 1916, Page 7

GRAVE SITUATION ARISING FROM SUSSEX TRAGEDY.

UNITED STATES CONSIDERING ITS DECISION. TENSION INCREASED BY PROMISCUOUS SINKING OF SHIPS, i SHIPPING DESTROYED ESTIMATED AT OVER 2,000,000 TONS. (Received April 14, 5.5 p.m.) London, April 13. A telegram from Washington states that the State Department is considering what action it will take as a result of the situation arising out of the Sussex case, it is believed with some gravity. Mr. Wilson appears to be convinced that Germany does not intend to keep c her promises. Action is believed to be pending in the direction of breaking off diplomatic relations. Mr. Bonar Law, Secretary of State for the Colonies, interviewed by the American press, said the British Government did not desire to say what action the United States should take when its citizens were barbarously murdered, but the world's hope lay in making outrages against civilisation impossible. A statement has been'made that 43 British, 10 allied, and 13 neutral vessels have been lost since March 1. The total tonnage ' sunk v to date is 2,201,822, leaving 36,000,000 tons afloat,'excluding the enemy and the American lakes shipping. Half the British total of £0,000,000 tons has been requisitioned by the Government, Tho Times correspondent at •Washington says that Germany's denial of guilt of the" crime of torpedoing the Sussex has not lessened the .tension,, and the situation is aggravated by tho promiscuous sinking of unarmed vessels.