Evening star., 1915-12-27
DENIES JAPANESE
LINER WAS WARNED
Consul BristoW Also Cables
Yasaka Maru Did Not Try
to Escape.
U-BOAT WAS SEEN FIRST
AFTER TORPEDO ATTACK
Report of American Representative
at Port Said to Be Rasis for
Note to Teutons.

American Consul Bristow a,
Port Said cabled today that nc
warning was given the Japanese
liner Yasaka Maru before she
was torpedoed and sunk in the
Mediterranean last Tuesday by a
submarine of unestablished ma
tionality. The liner, he added
made no attempt to escape.
The consul's dispatch, which
came in response to Secretary
Lansing's call for reports on the
disaster, was the first official in
formation on the incident which
probably will be the subject OF
further diplomatic correspond
ence with the Teutonic powers.
U-Boat Seen After Attack.
Today's report said the submarine
was not seen until after TIE liner hal
been torpedoed and that then. only her
periscope was visible. The ship sank
in forty-nine minutes and the survivors S
-12O passengers, including an Amer
lean. W. J. Leigh. and the 1872 men of
the crew-w'ere picked up by a French
cruiser and landed at Port Said. from
where the first reports of the sinking
came last week.
The general assumption is that the
submarine must have been German or
Austrian. Renewed efforts will be
made to determine it's nationality, and
instructions to that effect probably
will be sent out today by the State
Department.
If it can gather the necessary infor-
nation on which to proceed, the United
States is prepared to include the in
cident in it's diplomatic representa-
tions against the sinking of non-com-
batant ships without warning.
Speculation as to Outcome.
IS generally regarded by officials and
diplomats here as surrounded with
wide Possibilities regarding Japan's
future course in the war. 1t has been
suggested that she might answer the
challenge to her shipping by a wide
in the war, even to the
In Europe.
AS Germany has already given as
surances that her submarine command
ers were under instructions not to at
tack liners without warning, there was
a disposition to believe the attacking
boat was an Austrian. II that assump-
tfon proves true. it is feared the situa
tion over the sinking of the Italian
liner Ancona will be further compli-
Gated, and the diplomatic correspond
an ,.,{f AUG ri xxyi11 l,o do -,
take in the general subject of attack
without warning. as it did in the last
stages of the negotiations with Ger
many.
Status of Ancona Case.
Unofficial reports of a favorable re-
ply by the Vienna foreign Office to the
last Ancona note have not served to
alter the attitude of the State Depart
ment in the Ancona case, and there are
direct indications that nothing but
meeting the demands of the United
States fully will leave diplomatic rela-
tions between the two countries un-
impaired.
The word that the reply will be
guided with concern for the good rela =
tions" between the two countries,
omcials take it,. means that Austria
Hungary proba bly, expects more diplo-
The United states is disinclined to en-
ter into any such negotiations.
Should it develop that an Austrian
submarine torpedoed the Yasaka Maru
without warning the Vienna foreign
office undoubtedly will be asked to dis
dvow the act and to give assurances to
govern future conduct of her sub
marine warfare. AS was done in the
correspondence with Germany, the
United States will hold to the position
that IL Submarines fail to give warning
their commanders cannot be sure that
an American life will not be placed in
danger.
The State Department has not been
advised what Instructions. if any. have
been given commanders of Austro-
Hungarian submarines.
-.