Show ram 3 11 R U fig F GERMAN A RESIDENT OF UNITED STATES MEETS DEATH WHEN BRITISH LINER IS SUNK government may act in case as germany had been warned that death of americans by such means would be grave matter washington while no official notification fi of the death of an american leon C thresher on the british liner balaba sunk by a german submarine has reached the american government officials view the situation as fraught with grave possibilities on wednesday secretary bryan said he bo expected ambassador page in london to submit a full report on the case it advices advises there confirmed the reports of threshers Thre death buy bu added that no inquiries had bad been received by the de apartment part ment nor had any been made of mr page it is known however that in view of the language of the american note of inquiry tithe to the german notification of a submarine blockade of england the facts in this case will be awaited with the greatest interest that note contained a plain warning that the loss of american lives through the german program of sinking sin it merchant vessels would be viewed as an unfriendly act it has suggested ted in some circles that the german position would be to place responsibility for the destruction of the balaba upon her captain contending that his effort to escape rendered his vessel liable to attack under the rules of international law on the other hand however it was said that while the rules of international law heretofore applied permitted the destruction of merchant craft which resisted search by belligerent war vessels it appeared that the balaba only attempted to escape and did not resist |