Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-01-06
VIENNA IS ASKED
FOR INFORMATION
ON LINER SINKING
Ambassador Presents L. S.
Request Concerning Persia
to Austria
UP TO FOREIGN RELATIONS
All Available Matter in Inter
national Situation Before
Committee
UP TO FOREIGN RELATIONS

Washington, d. c., Jan. 6. - AM
bassador Penfield cabled to-day he
had presented informally to the
Vienna Foreign Office the American
governments request for any infor-
nation on the destruction of the
British liner Persia and at the time OF
filing his dispatch had received no
reply.
American Consul Garrels at Alex
andria reported that the affidavits he
has gathered from the Persia sur
vivors gave no more proofs that a
submarine torpedoed the liner, or re-
garding its nationality than were con-
tanned in his first dispatches.
Ambassador Penfield was instructed
to ask the Austrian government in
formally for any information it
might have on the Persia which would
develop the facts in the case and help
the American government decide how
the liner was destroyed. Consul Gar
rels was instructed to get affidavits
for the same purpose.
So far the only actual statement
tending TO prove that the ship was
torpedoed came from one of the Off
GERS of the ship. He said he saw what
he thought was the wake of a torpedo
No submarine was seen at any time.
Further dispatches from AM
bassador Pentield are expected at the
State Department probably late to-
day and AT any event Tomorrow
Meanwhile other consular agents
along the Mediterranean coast are,
like Consul Garrels, seeking further
information.
Before Foreign Committee
The general International situation,
including the crisis in the relations
between the United States and the
Central Powers over submarine war
fare, will be considered at a meet
ing tomorrow of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee. The meeting
has been called by Chairman Stone.
The committee had before it to-
day a mass of data bearing upon
Great Britain's attitude toward neutral
shipping and negotiations with Ger
many over submarine warfare. The
information was sent by Secretary
Lansing in response to a Senate reso-
luton. All available data on the de-
struction of the British steamer Per-
sia also was said TO be before the
committee.
President Wilson and Secretary
Lansing still were without definite in
formation upon which official action
in the crisis arising from the Persia
incident is to be based. Meanwhile,
officials are still reserving judgment.
Two Americans Drown
The Rev. Homer r. Salisbury, of
this city, the Seventh Day Adventist
missionary superintendent for India,
who sailed on the liner Persia for
Marseilles, is given up for lost, in
report which the Peninsular and
Oriental Line has transmitted to the
American embassy in London. The
report was transmitted to-day to the
Senate Department. DR.. Salisbury
was born at Battle Creek, Mich, in
1870.
Senators Simmons and Overman, of
North Carolina, asked President Will
son to-day if any further Information
about the death of Consul McNeely
had been received. McNeely was
from North Carolina. The President
told them that no new facts had come
to the government within the last two
days. but that every effort was being
made TO obtain additional informa-
ton.