Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-04
TO TAKE PERSONAL
CHARGE Of CRISIS
NATION IS FACING
Regarded as Most Serious
Since Beginning of Sub
marine Operations.
EXPECTED TO LAY FACTS
BEFORE CABINET TO-DAY
Subject Probably Also Will Find
Way to Floor of House
and Senate.
TRYING TO KEEP OPEN MIND
United States Determined TO Take
\ Any Action That Facts May
Establish.
EXPECTED TO LAY FACTS
BEFORE CABINET TO-DAY
TRYING TO KEEP OPEN MIN,
United States Determined to Ink,
/ Any Action That Facts May
Establish

WASlI1NGTcN. January 3.-Presi
dent Wilson started to Washington
from Hot Springs. Va. Tonight 10 ;,L,c
personal charge of the nations foreign
affairs in the new crisis brought about
by the sinking of the British Steamship
Persia. with Il loss of at lcaS, one
American life. The situation is re-
sard"d in official circles as being tho
most serious TO confront this govern
mcnt since the submarine operations
ot the central powers began
lhe President probably will Law tho
facts mus far established before his
Cabinet tomorrow. The destruction of
the Persia. following closely upou ,hc
crisis preciptatod by the Ancoua dis
astcr. may result in the United Statas
determining to settle imme lately ali
the questions involved in the submarine
warfare. The subject is expected to
una It's WAY Ia the floor of the House
and Senate tomorrow. when Congress
! reconvenes after the holiday
I President Wilson decided to cut short
/ ms honeymoon and return to the capi-
tai at once after telephone conferences
with Secretary Lansing and Mr.
Tuinulty. his private secretary
! IL was found. however. that he could
not conveniently start until S:45 o'clock
tonight. He should arrive at O'Clock
tomorrow morning
The United States is reprcseutcd to-
night as being prepared and deter
mined TO take any action that the facts
concerning the Persia, yet to be cstab
liShe'l, may warrant. Officials still are
trying TO view the situation with an
open mind. but it is apparent that they
are disturbed by the reports received
from consular agents at Alexandria and
Cairo, Egypt.
WILL. TAKE No STEPS
UNTIL ALL FACTS ARE KNOWN
Every effort will he made TO estab-
llsh the truth OF the report that tho
PerSia was torpcdoed without warninr
Secretary Lansing contemplates taking
no step until the complete details ore
known.
'ihcials ftnd one source OF gratifica-
'.oh III assurances given by Baron
Erich Awicdinek, charge Of the Austro-
hungarian embassy. TO Secretary Lans
ing. during u conference to-day at tho
state Department. Baron Zwiedine,x is
SAID to have suggested that Judgment
be withheld until the facts were known
ana to have expressed the belief that
inc maj explanation of the latest in
cident would he satisfactory He ia
Said TO have assured the secretary or
ms belief that If an Austrian sub
marine commander violated the prip-
cipieS OF International law and th.
rules OF humanity. his government
would be quick TO take action which
would fully satisfy the United States
baron Iwiedinck also sought informa
t'on ior the beneht OF his government.
Secretary Lansing to-day instructed
AihnasSador fentie!d. At Vienna TO
make inquiries which might lead to
the establishment OF the identity OF
the submarine which sank the Persia
or the receipt OF information concern
ing me circumstances of the attack
II was understood that Indications
received from an undiscloscd sonrco
were mat no submarines OF other than
Austrian nationality were known TO
he operating near the point where the
lcrsia Went down. No specific instruc
ions were given 10 Amba ssador PEN
Heiu cihcialS here are not definitely
convinced hat Il submarine was respon
sihle FOR the sinking OF the Persia and
Still see remote possibility that the
vessel might have struck a uoatinr
mine which had drifted to thar nart
OF the sea from some adjacent field of
operations.
POSITION IN REGARD
TO ARMED MEHCiIANTNE<
the report that the liner WAS carry
ing ~ served TO revive discussion
"t the position taken by the Cn;t.,Ss5f
states in regard to armed ,ns--< ..,t-
men, In the early days 1sf1gS.r war 4,
was announced that mer<lsiant ships he
longing TO belligerents might he al
lowed to enter and leave American
waters with guns of skin caliber
or less mounted upon their sterns NJ
that time cruisers of the central powers
had not been swept from the seas
Later Great Britain and France at The
suggestion OF the United states agreed
that their ships coming into American
waters should not be armed thus
eliminating the possibility OF a con-
troversy over that point so far as ves-
sells plying out OF ports OF the United
states were concerned,
Since then all craft Of the Teuton!e%
allies, with the exception of subma-
rines, have disappeared from the high
seas. Consequently. 1t is asserted
III some quarters that merchantmen