The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1916-01-07
more LOSS OF
AMERICAN life
SINKING OF LINER PERSIA PRE-
SENTS NEW INTERNATION-
'e AL CRISIS.
SUNK WITHOUT WARNING
President Wilson Hurries Back To
Washington To Confer
With Leaders.

Washington, Jan. 4.-The new
submarine crisis was practically at a
standstill today while the govern
ment awaited developments of the
exact facts of the operations of the
Teutonic submersibles in the Medi-
terranean.
Late today, after comforting with
President Wilson. Secretary Lansing
sent orders to the American consuls
at Alexandria. Malta and Cairo to
gather at once all available afiidavits
from the Persia survivors and to
cable summaries.
The idea is to bring in definite in
formation speedily.
There were evidences that admin
istration leaders, while not In the
least minimizing the dangers and
possibilities of the latest complica-
lions brought on by the destruction
OF the liner Persia, were anxious
that the public mind should not be
infiamed further while the Presi-
dent and his advisers were trying to
suspend judgment and all the agen-
cies of the government were in mo-
tion to collect all the facts upon
which the next move may be made.
Secretary Tumulty issued this
statement from the President:
THE President and the Secretary
of State are taking every means
possible to obtain the full facts in
this grave matter and will act just
as soon as the information is OBJ
tanned"
For the first time since foreign
relations became delicate during the
war, President Wilson today conferr-
ed with the leaders of the Congress
sional committees which deal with
the subject, and it was afterward an
nounced that they were to be ad-
vised of the steps and developments
in the situation.
This action met the appreciation
OF many Senator's and Representa-
tives who have been contending that
in such serious situation as the pres
ent promises to become. Congress
should be consulted in any moves
which may involve the country In
measures at least short of war.
Attack Deferred.
An expected attack on the admin
istration's policy probably was avoid
ed by hasty adjournment of the
Senate within ten minutes after 1t
assembled. and there was no indica-
fion of an outbreak in the House. A
meeting of the State Foreign Rela-
lions Committee tomorrow. at which
the subject was expected to come up,
was deferred until later In the week,
awaiting further information, lead
-ers said.
At the White House and at the
State Department the tension of the
crisis was evident. but there was an
atmosphere of moving carefully and
surely.
The President, who arrived this
morning from Hot Springs, Va, in
structed Secretary Lansing to bring
Immediately to the White House any
new information which came to hand,
and then busted himself reading the
official dispatches SO far received
and getting in touch generally with
the situation.
The Administration is depending
largely on the inquiries which Am
bassador Penfield has been instruct
ed to make at Vienna and that which
consuls are gathering elsewhere, to
establish the nationality of the sub
marine which Is said to have sunk
the Persia and to develop the facts
in the case generally.
Baron Erich Zwiedinek. the Aus
TRAN charge here. has asked officials
of the Washington government to
withhold judgment until all the
facts are at hand, and is said to
have given assurances that II an
Austrian submarine commander dis
.obeyed instructions the Vienna gov
ernment would make amends.
& There was no indication today of
what the prospects were for the
UaikAd States formally acQuaintins
6Sjsasia and Turkey OF its position
~ the question Of submarine war