The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-01-06
Gey Associates Press.l

Washington, Jan. 4.--President Viii
son will return to the capital tomor.
row to take charge OF the new crisis
caused by the submarine campaign in
the Mediterranean with loss of Amer
lean life. After conferences over the
telephone between President Wilson
and Secretary Tumulty and Secretary
Lansing, ii was announced at the
White House and also at Hot Springs
Va, that the president would start
back to Washington tonight. arriving
tomorrow.
Lansing Asks Facts.
Secretary Lansing announced that
he had Instructed Ambassador Penfleld
at Vienna to ask the Austrian govern
ment for any information which might
establish the nationality OF the sub
marine which is said to have sunk
the Persia, and which would develop
the facts In the case.
1t was stated authoritatively that
the destruction OF the British liner
Persia, with loss OF American life and
the destruction OF the British ship
Glendyle had put such a grave aspect
on the relations of the United States
with the Teutonic powers that the
president considered II necessary 10
return to the White House at once for
conferences with Secretary Lansing
and the other members of the cabinet
to shape the course of the government
The situation as IL exists today was
described in official quarters as para
telling the crisis which was caused by
the sinking Of the Arabic close on
Germany's assurances I'm response to
the representations of the United
States on the destruction OF the Lusi-
tania.
While American officials ara keep
ing their minds open until they have
learned all the facts I'm the Persia case
officially and know whether Americans
were endangered in the sinking of the
Glendyle, the gravity OF the situation
is not minimized and the declaration
of Baron Won ZweidenilS. the Aus
trlan charge. that he was confident
the final explanation would be satisfac
tory, has not lessened the tension.
Gun May Make Difference.
One new fact developed today in the
Persia case. The American consm at
A!exandria reported that the ship car
ried one 4.7-inch gun, but did not state
where the gun was mounted This
may become a factor in the case. The
Hague convention, however, provides
that merchant ship may carry gun
mounted on the stern for purposes Of
defense, without being considered an
armed ship.
| The official view here is that the
question of whether a gun was mount
ed on the Persia will depend entirely
on where 1t was placed. II mounted
| forward officials realized the Austrian
government could contend the Persia
was armed for destruction or subma-
rines and had instructions to ram or
destroy the submersibles. The DISPOSE
ton is not to assign the incident of the
| gun to a place In consideration OF the
case until all the facts are known.
Officials consider that the Austrian
submarine campaign in the Mediter
ranean has brought on such crisis as
| did the German submarine campaign
in the declared war zone around the
British isles. Coming close on the con-
ciliatory assurances in Austria's An
| coma note, the continued submarine ac-
tivity, principally around the entrance
| to the SueZ canal, has alarmed and
amazed American officials who have
grave apprehensions over the develop
ments OF the next few days