Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-01-03

torily ADJUST the matter should 1t
develop that an Austrian submarine
commander had disobeyed instructions
in regard TO the torpedoing of passen-
ser-carrying ships without warning.
Judgment should be withheld
pending the receipt of the real facts
surrounding the sinking Of the steam
ship Persia" said Baron Zwedinek.
1T may have happened in many ways.
In the first place, it is not yet proved
that a submarine sank the Persia. If
it was an Austrian submarine, it must
be determined whether the circum-
stances We're such as TO warrant the
action taken.
Confident Of Explanation
Il am confident, at least l hope, that
the final explanation will be quite
satisfactory. If the commander of the
submarine disobeyed his instructions,
feel sure my government will not
hesitate TO satisfactorily adjust the
matter.
From the answer made 70 the last
note on the Ancona alone il is quite
evident that the Austro-Hungarian
government will not countenance any
act which is wrong"
Expect DisavowaI
Complete confidence prevails in
Teutonic circles that if an Austrian
submarine sank the Persia without
warning the act would he disavowed
promptly. reparation being made for
Americans lost and the submarine
I
1t is understood that Baron
Zwiedinek will call upon Secretary
Lansing tomorrow for the purpose Of
informally conveying his views on the
subject and endeavoring to gain an
understanding of the views of the
United States for the information Of
his government.
Consul McNeely
/ Only one dispatch concerning the sink
ing of the Persia was received today by
the state department. It came from Con
sul Garrels at Alexandria, Egypt, am
indicated that Consul McNeely, on hi:
way to his pest. had been lost. He wa:
last seen in the water before the steam
ship went down. Consul Garrels report
ed also that Charles Fl. Grant Of Bos
ton another American who was aboard
I the Persia, was among the survivors. NJ
submarine was seen by the survivors, &C
cording TO the consuls report. but al
officer of the ship said he saw the wax.
of a torpedo The Persia went down il
| five minutes. This dispatch was imme
diately forwarded to President Wilson a
/ Hot Springs.
TOW 81, 4
! clined TO comment on the situation con
fronting the United States. il BEGAN,
known that he and other adninistratio,
! officials were awaiting full informatio,
before giving an opinion and deternn
ing upon any action,
4 No Submarine Visible
Officials expressed themselves as no
being convinced that a submarine SAM
the Persia. They were impressed by tn,
/ statement in the dispatch from Alexan
drfa that the wake of the torpedo ha,
/ been seen, though no submarine was Wis
! ible.
Navy officers who were consulted sal
! they would consider it out of the ordi
! nary, although not impossible, that
torpedo fired by a submerged submarin
! SHouiu leaNe a visible wake.
Discussion of the case TODAY Shove
! that officials generally felt that the TINT
! ed States had about reached it's limit il
! conducting diplomatic negotiations Owe
| submarine warfare. There was no incl
nation to minimize the gravity OF IN
| situation that would develop if il wa
| proved that an Austrian submarine san
the PERSIA and prompt disavowal fror
Vienna was not Forthcoming.
May Follow Germany
1t is thought possible however. tina
| the Vienna government may see fit 10 fol
low the example set by Germany upo
! the sinking Of the Arabic The Arab,
was torpedoed ct g time when it appear
| ed that the submarine controversy wit
Germany was on the road to settlement,
/ A week later, Count Won Bernstor1
| the German ambassador. received in
! structions to assure the United State
| government that full satisfaction
| more than a disavowal" would b.
given by the Berlin government shoul
the circumstances as they were thel
represented, prove to be correct. Shoul,
the developments warrant it and shoul
| the mystery surrounding the nation
| ality of the submarine unsolved, tn
| United States, it was said, probabl,
| will address inquiries to Austria Hun
| gary, Germany and Turkey. the onl
nations whose submarines might be il
the eastern Mediterranean. The in
| quiries necessarily would have to b
| sent to all three nations, although it j
believed certain in all quarters tina
Austro-Hungary is the only one of tn
Teutonic allies with submarines there
! This belief is based primarily upon ;
statement recently made by Coun
Bernstorf to the effect that no Ger
man or Turkish submarines wer,
known to be operating there.
h Any action taken by the United State
will be based upon affidavits from pas
| sengers, particularly Americans rath
er than from officers Of the ship. Fina
| decision as to what action, if any, i
to be taken will be made by the Pres
ident who will return to Washington
from Hot Springs in day or two.
1 Several points remain to be cleare,
up. The state department especial,
desires additional coroboration Of tn
statement that the wake Of q torped