The Washington times., 1916-01-04

there will BE- an identical note served on
all oermanic powers that the United
States. ita endurnnce and patience WE'LL
uigh exhausted by acts in conflict with
promises, now demands. once and for
all. q thorough understanding Of how
far each and all OF. the central powers
are going to abide by the rules Of hu-
manity and international law
AZ the sanae time there are strong
indicatIOna that the UnIted states
will address 20 the entente powers
ltn belief that under the circunl-
stances OF subInarine warfare, pas-
Sengeru should not be carried on
liners armed with guns.
The dispatches received at the De-
pertment Of Ctate TODAY from Skinner
and Keblinger did not throw much adj
tho United States is desiring TO clear
uD. The one from Consul General Skim
ner at London stated that in the of
c,Si LIST q a srrviycTs from the Persia; sSs
2ane Of Consul McNeelv does not ap-
ppar, although the name OF Charles
VI. Grant doees. The disDntch from
Kcblinger at Malta said in substance
ELEVEN survivors OF the Persia
landed at Malta anuary 3. in
cluding Lord MontaCu. Seven OF
the indian members of the crew
picked up. clinging TO damaged
lifeboat. bv the Chinese steamer
Hing Chow. All say tho Persin
was torpedoed without warning.
Secretary Lansing has directed Keb-
linger to getA affidavits from all survi-
vOrs. Ambassador Penfield. at Vienna,
who has been directed to inquire OF the
Austrian government as to what II
knows of the attack on the Persia.
has not been heard from as yet. Because
Of the difficulties of communication II 10
believed he did not get the message
from washington until today.
Nor has the department received any
confirmation of the sinking OF other
liners and fiHighters reported to have
been sent to the bottom by submarines
since the Persia was sunk.
Although admitting that the Amcri-
mite proof that the Persia was torpe-
docd or struck mine, officials OF the
are skeptlcal ef the mine
theory, in view of the fact that the
Persia, when sunk was 200 miles from
the nearest port Of any Of the entente
powers, namely Alexandria They are
unable to believe that a mine field had
been planted 80 far from any belliger-
ent harbor.
On the contrary, with press reports
to pile in regarding the con-
tinued submarine activities in the East
efn Mediterranean, Officials are be-
coming more and more convinced tnat
Austrian submarine commanders, iS-
nOF4ng the fair promises of the govern
ment at Vienna to the United States.
are desperately trying 70 sink as many
ships OF the enemy as possible before
they are forced by their government
to call, q halt.
IN connection with the statement
issued at the White House this morn
ing, officials recalled similar state
mentS issued by the President at the
time OF the Lusitania crisis. On May
S,f19tk, immediately after the Lust-
tania was sunk, Secretary Tumuity,
after conference with the President,
gave out the following:
aOf course, the President feels the
dlstPeSs and the gravity of the 1tt-
uatlOn to the utmost, and is eOnsld-
eFinE very earnestly, but veKy calm
IN the right course to pursue. He
KNOWS, that the people Of the cOun-
try wish and expect him to act with
and Arnnesa.n
Four days later. when the course OF
action had been determined upon, the
White House issued the following:
~The course Of the President has
been determined. It Will be annOunc-
ed Just aa soon ~ 1t Ii proper to
publish the note in preparation"
The text of the first note TO Ger
many was published few days later.