The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-12-30
SINKING OF LINER
FIRES JAP ANGER
Attack on Shipping May Lead
Nipponese Kingdom to Take
More Active Part In
Great War.

Washington, Dec. 2S.-American con-
sui Bristow at Port Said, cabled today
that no warning was given the Japan
ese liner Yasaka Maru before she was
torpedoed and sunk in the Medlter-
ranean last Tuesday by a
Of un~established nationality. The lin
er. he added, made no attempt to es-
cape.
The consul's dispatch. which came
in response to Secretary Lanslng'S call
for reports on the disaster. was the
first official information on the incl
dent, which probably will be the sub
ject of further diplomatic c~Orrespon-
dence with the Teutonic powers.
Today's report said the submarine
was not seen until after the liner had
been torpedoed and that then only her
periscope was visible. The general as
sumption is that h submarine must
have been German Oh Austrian.
The Yasaka Maru a S is generally
regarded by officials and diplomats
here as surrounded with wide possibil-
tiles. 1t has been suggested that Japan
might answer the challenge to her ship
ping by a wide participation In the
wal even to the extent OF taking part
in the operations in Europe.
AS Germany has already given as
that her submarine commands
ers were under Instructions not to at
tack liners without warning, there was
a disposition to believe the attacking
boat was an Austrian. If hat ssump-
ton proves true, it is feared the stu
alton over the sinking of the italian
liner Ancona will be further complicat-
ed. and the diplomatic correspondence
with Austria will be broadened to AXE
in the general subject of attack with
out warning, as 1t did in the last OF
the negotiations with Germany.
Unofficial reports of favorable reply
by the Vienna foreign office to the last
Ancona note have not served to alter
the attitude of the state department in
the AncOna case.
Toxic, Dec. 27.-Detafled advices re-
oeived here today from Port Said con
corning. the sinking of the Yasaila
Maru ~corroborate previous statements
that the steamship was torpedoed with
out warning. 1t Is said she was at
tackled at 2:35 p. m. by a submarine
whose presence had not been observed
No flag was visible.
Shortly after the torpedo was dis
charged, two periscopes, one long and
one short appeared above the water
within 400 feet of the steamship. They
' moved to q position eff the stern on
tie starboard side, the advices relate
as though ready to discharge a Sec
oud tor pedo If necessary.
After the Yasaka Maru sank a con-
| nlng tower was visible for a brief timc
at a point about a mile away.
The reports describe the manner In
which al on board the steamship en-
tered the boats safely, this having beer
accomplished within 10 minutes of the
time the torpedo was discharged. The
captain caused the boats to be tied to-
f~;t.t;,er. Sails were hoisted and in ac-
cordance with a plan arranged pre-
viousiy by wireless, a southeastern
curse was taken. This was held I'm.
til midnight when the French gunboat
which rescued the passengers and crew
was met.
During the evening the periscope d
the submarine reappared, only a few
yards from h boats, but the sub
marine itself was not visible. The pas
sengers praised the captain and crew
for their GOODNESS and discipline. There
was no sign of panic throughout tn,
long ordeal.
According to a statement made to tn.
diet by the finance minister there wa,
on board the Yasaka Maru gold to th.
value Of 1000, 900 yen (s500. 0oO).