The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-01-06
B Associated Press.1

Washington, Jan. 4.-President VIII
son will return to the capital tomor-
row to take charge of the new crisis
caused by the submarine campaign in
the Mediterranean with loss Of Amer
lean life. After conferences over the
telephone between President Wilson
and Secretary Tumulty and Secretary
Lansing, it was announced at the
White House and also at Hot Springs,
Va, that the president would start
back to Washington tonight, arriving
tomorrow.
Lansing Asks Facts.
Secretary Lansing announced that
he had instructed Ambassador Penflel6
at Vienna to ask the Austrian govern
ment for any information which might
establish the nationality OF the sub
marine which is said to have sunk
the Persia. and which would develop
the facts in the case.
1t was stated authoritative1y that
the destruction OF the British liner
Persia, with loss of American life and
the destruction of the British ship
on the relations of the United States
with the Teutonic powers that the
president considered it necessary to
return to the White House at once for
conferences with Secretary Lansing
and the other members Of the cabinet
" SIldpe lHe course VI lie government
The situation as it exists today was
described in official quarters as para
telling the crisis which was caused by
the sinking Of the Arabic close on
Germany's assurances in response to
the representations of the United
States on the destruction of the Lusi-
tania.
While American officials arc keep
ing their minds open until they nave
learned all the facts in the Persia case
officially and know whether Americans
were endangered in the sinking of the
Glendyle, h gravity of the situation
is not minimized and the declaration
of Baron Won zweidenik, the Aus
trian charge. that he was confident
the final explanation would be satisfac-
tory, has not lessened the tension.
Gun May Make Difference.
One new fact developed today in the
Persia case. The American consul at
Alexandria reported that the ship car
ried n 4.7-inch gum, but did not state
where the gun was mounted. This
may become a factor in the case. The
Hague convention, however, provides
that a merchant ship may carry n gun
mounted on the stern for purposes Of
defense, without being considered an
! armed ship.
The official view here is that the
question of whether a gun was Mount
GU on tIfe FerSla VIII depend entlreiy
on where it was placed. IF mounted
forward officials realized the Austrian
government could contend the Persia.
was armed for destruction of subma-
rines and had instructions to ram or
destroy the submersibles. The DISPOSE
ton is not to assign the incident Of the
gun to a place in consideration Of the
case until all the facts are known.
Officials consider that the Austrian
submarine campaign in the Mediter-
ranean has brought on such crisis as
did the German submarine campaign
in the declared war zone around the
British isles. Coming close on the con-
ciliatory assurances in Austria's An
coma note. the continued submarine ac-
tivity, principally round the entrance
to the Suez canal. has alarmed and
amazed American officials who have
! grave apprehensions over the develop
ments of the next few days.