Evening star., 1916-01-07

L
today still unnformed as to whether
or not the vessel was torpedoed, and
if so, the nationality of the submarine
and other details which would de-
termine the nature of the action the
White House has announced it viii
take.
Will Await Official Advices.
Developments continued today to indi
| cate that'the American government would
withhold action pending official advices
determining these points.
Overnight developments included the re-
ceipt of dispatches from Ambassador Pen
field at Vienna asserting that the Aus
trian government was without informa
ton concerning the incident up to the
Garrels at Alexandria, Egypt, stating that
he had obtained affidavits from twenty
one survivors, including Charles H. Grant,
an American citizen. and that all con-
firmed previous statements that nc
warning was given and no vessel was
seen.
Ambassador Penfield's dispatch added
THAI Baron Burian, the Austrian for
eign minister, has asked what infor-
nation concerning the incident was in
possession of the United States.
Officers and crew of the Persia, Con-
sui Garrels reported, have left Alex
| andria for England. Their affidavits
State Department officials believed
would be obtained upon their arrival
there.
Cabinet Agrees With President.
plain that the members agreed with
the President that in the case of the
Persia nothing can be done until all
the facts were at hand. Some members
expressed the opinion that it might
never be learned whether the Persia
was sunk by submarine, and. if SO,
what nation was responsible.
Regarless of the outcine of the Persia
case. however. the majority of the
cabinet members are represented az be-
lieving that the time has come for maxi
ing certain that no further attacks on
merchant ships carrying Americans will
be r1ade. The administration leaders are
said to feel that continued loss of Amer
ican lives will lead the United States into
hostilities.
The Persia incident was taken up
only briefly at the cabinet meeting
because Secretary Lansing had no def
mite recommendations to make in the
absence of specific facts regarding the
sinking of the ship. One cabinet mem
Der said that the mention of the for
elgn situation at the meeting was
only superficial"
Secretary Lansing said he expected
to confer with Count Won Bernstorff,
the German amba ador, later toda v
over the Lusitania negotiations An
early settlement has been indicated
Hoped for Definite Information.
State Department officials had hoped
that Inquiries of the Vienna foreign
Office would result in information
which might clear up the doubt regard =
ing the circumstances of the disaster
II was considered still possible that the
Austro-H Hungarian government might
obtain the desired information later
This was based upon the supposition
that submarine operating where the
Persia was sunk might have been 50
far from it's base that it's commander
would be unable to report promptly.
Ofhclals expressed the belief that the
Vienna foreign office would advise Mr.
Penfield should the information be re-
ceiNed in the future
No Present Reply to Austrian Note.
II was disclosed today, after the Of
fetal text of Austria's reply to the sec
ono American note in the Ancona ca Sc
had been made public. that no response
would be made until the facts in the
case of the Persia are cleared up or il
is found impossible to do so
The official text varies only in trans
lation with the unofficial version ca bled
in press dispatches from London. IL is
! regarded as meeting all of the Amer
lean demands.