New-York tribune., 1916-01-03

severely punished.
Il is understood that Baron Zwie-
Ginek will cali upon Secretary Lans-
ing tomorrow for the purpose OF in
formally conveying his views on the
subject and endeavoring 10 gain an
understanding of the views O. the
United States for the information
Of his government.
Sunk Without Warning.
That the liner was sunk without
warning and with the loss of at
least one American life was estab-
lished by a report from the Ameri-
can consul at Alexandria, Mr..
Garrels. The State Department
made public the following summary
of his report:
persia sank 500 miles northwest
of Alexandria at 1908 on the after
noon of December 80. Steamer sank
in five minutes. No submarine was
seen. but an officer on the Persia saw
its wake. One hundred and fifty
five out Of 400 passengers and crew
were landed at Alexandria January
/. Charles II. Grant among sur
vivors. but McNeely was probably
lost. as he was last seen in the
water"
President Wilson IS still at Hot
SDrinqs. and in his absence there is
marked uncertainty among officials
here as TO the attitude this govern
rnent is likely 10 take toward the new
igsue. To admit that the Persia trae-
edv is q direct result of Austrian bad
faith would be 10 destroy entirely the
",ictorv" so joyfully heralded when
the Ancona note was received. To fail
20 take action because OF some teen
nical lack of proof IN case when pup
lie opinion has been fully convinced
further will weaken the whole Amer
lean position, both at home and aoroaa'
and will expose the administrator 10
the charges that il is dealing wholly IN
words, not facts, and that a friendly
note is allowed 20 outweigh the death
of hundreds Only the President can
decide what course TO take in the crisis
and till his verdict is received from
Hot Springs no clearing Of the air mere
is expected.
Recall Hesperian Case.
In connection with the present stu
tion. the Hesperian case Is being re-
called here tonight. The circum-
stances Of the attack on the two YES
sells were almost the same The Hes
perian was sunk soon after Ambassa-
dor Won BernstorF had given his
famous pledge in the Arabic case. No
warning was given, no submarine seen,
and there was then, as now, every
prospect Of a crisis that would call IN
question the good faitt Of the pledges
the Kaiser had given through his am
bassadOr.
But the State Department has
shelved the case because Of a techni-
cal flaw in the evidence Fragments
picked up on the deck Of the Hesperi-
an after she was hit have been pro-
nounced parts of a torpedo by techni-
cal experts Of the Navy Department.
The British Embassv has submitted
afidavits that several such fragments,
evidently parts Of q torpedo, were
found on the deck. But there Is no
affidavit from the man who picked up
the particular pieces which the Navy
Department analyzed.
In any case, it is admitted here the
popular effect Of the "AncOna victory
IS zone. While the government mus;i
in diplomatic language, "give full fal;n
and credence" TO the resentations Of
a friendly power, the nation has ceased
TO think that the Ancona note was any
thing but impudent hypocrisy. Prom
iscs which are broken before they can
be transmitted TO the people they were
meant 10 deceive are declared 20 have
little political value
Since this government must "havo
faith" i'm Austria, however, u must
accept Austria's statement In default OF
direct evidence Austria can deny
fatty that the Persia was sunk by ono
of her submarines. Or she can claim
as is already being claimed by Gcrmaa
svmpathizers here tonight. that the
submarine mistOok the liner for a
transport. Unless this government rs
prepared 20 disregard technicallties,
either Of these answers viii have to be
accepted.
!. To those not concerned with techni-
! calities, however, neither answer VIII
! seem convincing, il Us pointed out here.
dhe supposition that the ship may have
IL d mine is declared entirely unten-
e. No mines have been reported by
belligerent from the neghborhood
ere the Persia was blown up. That
submarine may have been other
Yhan an Austrian is declared equally in
credible.
During the tense days after the An
coma case, when Germany's good faith
was being impugned, a statement, ap-
parent}v from German Embassy
sources, denied that any German SUBJ
marines were in those waters. Tonight,
however. the German Embassy correct
cd the statement so that IL would eX-
press only a belief, thus leaving the
question open so far as 10 is concerned.
But the fact that Austrian submarines,
pogsibly OF German build, have been
busy in those waters has been known
for months.
Sunk in Daylight.
The excuse that the liner was mis-
taken for transport might have had
some reason In different circumstances.
But she was torpedoed I'm broad day
light, when her character was easily OBJ
servable. and the dresses Of the women
on her decks must have been visible 20
the submarines commander. Moreover,
the recent cases of the Hasaka Maru
and the Vile de la Ciotat backed up
bv the dispatch from Vienna stating
that on her own showing her sub
marines have tOrpedoed thirty-tour
merchantmen, as against thirty-three
transports and troOpships, give the lie
20 any claim that an effort is being
made to spare none -cOmbatants.
One sign giving hope that Austria
will follow Germany's course in this
Arabic case and disavow and apologize