Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-01-04
ENDS HIS HONEYMOON
To TAKE UP SINKING
OF STEAMSHIP PERSIA
Situation Is Parallel to Ger
many'S Sinking of Arabic Be-
fore Negotiations Concerning
LuSitania Had Been Finished
CBy Associated Press.)


WASHINGTON, Jan. president
Wilson will cut short his honeymoon
and return to the capital tomorrow to
take charge of the new crisis in foreigns
relations caused by the submarine cam
paign in the Mediterranean with loss of
an American life.
After conferences over the telephone
between the president and Secretary
Tumulry it was announced at the White
House and also at Hot Springs that the
president would start back to Washing
ton tonight and arrive tomorrow
The president will leave Hot Springs
! at S:45 p. m. ana expects to arrive in
Washington tomorrow morning at
| o'clock.
Secretary Lansing ANNOUNCED he had
instructed Ambassador PenfeId at
Vienna to ask the Austrian government
for any information which might estab- 4
lish the nationality of the submarine
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 Persia and the Glen
gyle had put such a grave aspect on
the relations of the United States with
the Teutonic powers that the president
| considers 1t necessary to 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 ii exists today was
described in official quarters as parallel
/ ing the crisis which was caused by the
sinking Of the Arabic close on Germany's
assurances in response to the representa-
| tons OF the United States on the de-
struction of the Lusitania.
Chairman Stone OF the senate foreign
lrelations COMMITTEES conferred with se4
Rotary Lansing at the secertary's inyi-
tation. Senator Stone admitted that the
submarine crisis had been discussed and
that he expected to confer with Presi-
dent Wilson tomorrow. He said he did
not know whether the crisis would be
considered by the foreign relations com
mittee, Just yet"
There seemed to be a growing impress
sion that tomorrow the president may
call the congress leaders together and
acquaint fully with the situation.
AMBASSADOR SEES LANSING,
Although American officials are keep
ing their minds open until they have ali
| the facts in the Persia case officially
and know whether Americans were en-
dangered in the sinking of the Glengyle,
the gravity of the situation is not mini
mixed and the declaration of Baron
Zwiedinek, the Austrian charge, that he
was confident the final explanation
would be satisfactory. has not lessened
the tension.
/ During the morning Baron Zwiedinek,
| charge of the Austrian embassy. called
| on Secretary Lansing and asked that
| judgment be withheld until all the
facts were known, and expressed his be-
/ lief that a final explanation would. be
satisfactory. He also sought any avail
| able information for the benefit of his
| government.
Baron zwiedinek also assured Score
| tary Lansing that if it were proved that
| an Austrian submarine had sunk the
Persia his government would give full
reparation and satisfaction.
PERSIA HAD GUN.
One new, fact developed today in the
Persia case. The American consul ar
Alexandria reported that the ship
mounted 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 provides, however,
/ that merchant ship may carry a gun
mounted on her stern for purposes of de-
Tense without being considered an armed
ship.
| The official view here is that the cues
ton of whether a gun was mounted on
the Persia will depend entirely on where
it was placed. If mounted forward, Off
Gals realized the Austrian government
/ could contend the Persia was armed for
destruction of submarines and had in
structions to ram or destroy the subma-
rines. The disposition is not TO assign
the incident of the gun to place III
consideration of the case until all the
facts are known.
officials consider that the Austrian
submarine campaign in the Mediterran-
can has brought on just such a crisis as
did the German submarine campaign in
the declared war zone around the British
/ Isles Coming close on the concilIiatory
assurances in Austria's Ancona note, the
continued submarine activity principally
around the entrance to the Suez canal
/ has alarmed and amazed American off,
Gals who have grave apprehensions over
the developments of the next few days.
Mr.. Lansing was asked today what the
attitude of the state department would
be if investigation developed that Aus
trian submarines in the Mediterranean
were commanded by German naval Off
lcers The secretary said the department
was inclined to let the nationality of the
vessel itself determine the responsible
ity, taking the view that a submarine
flying the Austrian flag wo udlbe con
sidered as responsible to the Austrian
government by whomsoever commanded.
From the inquiries which Ambassador
/ PenfieId has been directed to make, the
/ American government hopes to sift what
evidence there is for the conclusion that
the Persia was torpedoed. No submersi-
BILE was seen, but one officer of the Per-
STA said he saw the wake of a torpedo.
/ 1t is possible that later Ambassador
| Gerard at Berlin may be instructed to
| seek information.
/ Secretary Lansing said mat some ac-
! ton would be taken to formally notify
/ Turkey and Bulgaria of the attitude of
the United States toward submarine war
! fare so that all the central power bel
| figerents operating the Mediterranean
might not be uniformed.