The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-01-06
ROBERT NJ. McNEELEY, NEW AM.
ERicAN CONSUL AT ADEN,
ARABIA, is MISSING, SAYS
DISPATCH.
AUSTRIAN ENVOY ASKS U. S.
TO WAIT FURTHER REPORTS
Zweidinek Indicates That Dual-Mon.
archy Will Be Quick to "Satisfac-
torily Adjust the Matter II Aus
TRAN Commander Dis 3beyed
Instructions.

Washington, Jan. Anxiety over
the news of the sinking of the British
steamship Persia increased in official
circles here when a consular dispatch
brought the information that the ship
had been torpedoed without warning
and that at least one American citi-
zen, Robert N. McNeely, new consul
at Alden, Arabia, was missing. At the
same time officials were much graft
fed at the indication, e%manating from
Baron Erich Zweidinek, charge OF the
Austro-Hungarian embassy here that
the Vienna government would be
quick to Satisfactorily adjust" the
matter should it develop that an Aus
trian submarine commander had dis
obeyed instructions in regard to tor
pedoing passenger carrying ships
without warning.
United States Asked To Wait.
Judgment should be Withheld pend
ing receipt OF the real facts surround
Ing the sinking of the steamship Per-
sia," said Baron Zweidinek. ut may
have happened in many ways. In the
first place, II is not yet proved that
a submarine sank the Persia. II it
was an Austrian submarine, it must
be determined whether the circum-
stances were such as to warrant the
action taken.
II am confident. at least | hope that
h final explanation will be quite sat
isfactory. IL the commander Of the
submarine disobeyed his instructions,
j feel sure my government will not
hesitate to satisfactorily adjust the
matter.
From the answer made to the last
note on the Ancona alone, it is quite
evident that the Austro-Hungarian
government will not countenance any
act which is wrong
Would Disavow Sinking.
Complete confidence prevails Il
Teutonic diplomatic circles that If an
Austrian submarine sank the Persia
without warning the act would be dis
avowed promptly, reparation made for
Americans lost and the submarine
commander severely punished.
It is understood that Baron Zweid-
mex will call upon Secretary Lansing
at once for the purpose of informally
conveying his views on the subject
n ~endeavoring to gain an under
standing Of the views of the United
States for the information of the gov
eminent.
One Dispatch Received.
Only n dispatch concerning the
sinking CT the Persia was received
by the state department. 1t came
from Consul Carrots at Alexandria.
Egypt, and indicated that Consul Nc
Nicely on his way to his post had been
lost. He was last seen in the water
before the steamship went down.
Consul Carrots reported also that
Charles Fl. Grant, of Boston, another
American who was aboard the Persia.
was among the survivors. No sub
marine was seer by the survivors, ac-
cording to the consul's report, but
an officer of the ship said he saw the
wake OF a torpedo. The Persia went
down In five minutes. This dispatch
was Immediately forwarded to Presi.
dent Wilson at Hot Springs.
Lansing Is Silent.
While Secretary Lansing declined
to comment upon the situation. con-
fronting the United States, 1t became
known that he and other administra-
tior officials were awaiting full infor-
nation before forming an opinion and
determining upon any action.