The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-12-28
Complication
HAmeriCan
Was Aboard

WASHINGTON. Dec. 2T.-The sink
ing of the Japanese steamship va
saka Maru will be made .he subject
OF diplomatic negotiations by b.
United States II IL is established that
an American citizen was on board
when. as described in official advices
received today, a submarine OF I'M
known nationality torpedoed the yes
sci without warning. This became
known tonight after the state depart
ment had officially announced that IL
had no record of an American pass
port having been granted TO w. ].
Leigh. a survivor OF the disaster, who
has been called In consular and press
dispatches ar American citizen
Should IT develop that Leigh &C.
tually Is IN American citizen the state
department viii feel justified In ad-
dressing inquiries to Germany. Aus
tri-Hungary and Turkey in an effort
TO establish the nationality of the sub
marine. II is considered practically
certain, however. that the crart was
Austrian. as Il Is said in Teutonic
quarters here that there were no Ger
man or Turkish submarines operat
ing IN the Mediterranean near where
the Yasaka Maru was attacked.
State department officials are
awaiting confirmation In regard to
Leigh with considerable anxiety. IL
he is entitled TO the protection or the
United States. the fact that he was
aboard the liner undoubtedly will com
plicate the negotiations with Austria
over the sinking Of the Italian steam
ship Ancona-
No Developments.
There have been no developments
in the Ancona negotiations and none
is expected before the reply OF the
Vienna foreign office is received, prob
ably some tim this week
Officials here do not seek to mini.
mize the seriousness OF the situation.
as there has been no indication that
Austria will accede to the American
demands. On h contrary. a strong
tntimation has come from an authori-
tative source that the reply may not
meet with h approval OF the United
States.
In Vienna the view apparently is
rather optimistic, according TO cont
Dental advices from Ambassador Pen
field. The ambassador has capled a
brief review OF Austro-Hungarian pub
lie opinion which makes II appear
that the tone OF criticism and com
ment there has softened TO a marked
degree. This is regarded as a devel-
opment favorable 10
An Amieable Adjustment
Official news received today of the
torpedoing of the French steamer
Vile de la Ciotat added still another
a~ggravating circumstance to the stu
alton. While there are believed to
have been no Americans on board the
French vessel. the incident las served
TO emphasize the Importance OF an
immediate understanding with Aus
tria as to the right OF a belligerent
warship to sink an enemy merchant
man without warning and without pro-
Viding for the safety Of passengers
and crew.
The state department today IN
structed Edward Lyle Bristow, con-
sular agent at Port Said. to interview
Leigh and attempt to determine
whether he is an American citizen.
Press dispatches have indicated that
he was born In China, of American
parents and was on his way from
England to China aboard the Yasaka
Maru. II these reports prove true,
state department officials said, and
Leigh has failed 10 announce his citI.
zenship, he has lost his right to
claim protection from the United
states government.