Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-01-03
President to Return From
Hot Springs to Take the
Reins at Capital.
DETAILS ARE LACKING
further News of Persia Dis
aster Awaited-Had Gun
on Board, Report.

London, Jan. 3.-The exact num-
Der of lives lost in the sinking of
the Persia is still unknown. Adj
vices from Cairo and Alexandria
Indicate that 15s survivors have
been landed. of whom 50 were pas
sengers. Hope that others have
been saved is diminishing.
No further word has been re-
cpiyed concerning Robert n. Nc
Neely, American consul at Alden,
Arabia, and there seems little
doubt he drowned. The safety of
Charles Grant of Boston having
been established, it is thought Mr..
McNeely was the only American
who persisted.
Washington. Jan. 3.-After Sec
rotary Tumulty had telephOned to
President Wilson at Hot Springs
early today it was said at the
White house that the president
was preparing to return. probably
tomorrow to take charge of the in
ternational situation.
President Wilson will return to the
capital tomorrow to take charge OF the
new crisis in foreign relations caused
by the submarine campaign in the Med
iterranean with loss of American life.
After conferences over the telephone
between President Wilson and Secre-
tary Tumulty and Secretary Lansing ii
was announced al the White house and
also at Hot Springs, Va, that the pres
tonight, arriving tomorrow.
Considers Situation Grave.
It was stated authoritatively that the
destruction of the British liner Persia
with loss of American life and the de-
struction of the British ship Glengyle
had put such a grave aspect on the re
lations of the United States with the
Teutonic powers that the president
considered it necessary to return tC
the White house at once for confer
ences with Secretary Lansing and the
other members of the cabinet to shape
the course Of the government.
The situation as it exists today was
described in official quarters as paral-
telling the crisis which was caused BY
the sinking of the Arabic close on Ger
many's assurances in response to the
representations Of the United States
on the destruction of the Lusitania.
Tension Is High.
While American officials are keep
ing their minds open until they they
have all the facts in the Persia case of
fcially and know whether Americans
were endangered in the sinking of the
Glengyle, the gravity of the situation
is not minimized, and the declaration o
Baron Zwiedenik. the Austrian charge
that he was confident he final explain
alton would be satisfactory has no
lessened the tension.
Gun Question Perplexing.
One new fact delevoped in the Persi;
case. The American consul at Alex
andiR reported that the ship carried
one Al inch gun but did not stat,
where the gun was mounted. This ma.
become a factor in the case. TIL
Hague convention, however, provide
that merchant ship may carry a gdl
mounted on the stern for the purpos
OF defense without being considered a
armed ship
The official view here is that tn
question whether a gun was mounte'
on the Persia will depend entirely o.
where It was placed. II mounted for
ward, officials realize the Austrian gov
eminent could contend the Persia wa
armed for destruction Of submarine
and had instructions to ram or de
stroy the submersibles. The disposi
ton is not to assign the incident Of tn
gun to a place in consideration OF tn
case until all facts are known.
Regard Crisis as Parallel.
Officials consider that the Austrian
submarine campaign in the Mediter