The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1916-01-05
AMERICAN CONSUL
ON SUNKfN SHIP
Steamer Persia Sunk With
Loss of Life
DETAIL S AWAITED
OF THE DISASTER

Washington Officials, while not Deny
ing Gravity Of tho Situation, With
hold Comment until Further Details
are Secured from Survivors.
London, Jan. 1.-The British liner
Persia, carrying more than 200 pas
sengers and crew Of between $50
and 800 men, was sunk by an uniden-
tilted submarine at ! o'clock Thurs
day afternoon off the island of Crete,
in the eastern Mediterranean. Re-
ports to the Pcninsular and Oriental
Steam Navigation company said that
nearly all on board were lost. Robert
McNeely Of Monroe, N. c., American
consul at Alden, Arabia, and Robert
Grant Of Boston were on the liner.
Four boats are known to have got
away from the sinking vessel, each
capable of carrying GO persons, but it
is not known if tho boats were full.
The rescued were picked up by a
steamer bound for Alexandria, where
they are expected to arrive today.
Pcninsular and Oriental line officials
said they received no details concern
ing the disaster and did not know
whether the Persia received warning.
They also were unable to give any in
formation concerning Americans on
the ship.
Washington, Jan. 3.-President Will
son started to Washington from Hot
Springs, Va, tonight to take personal
charge of the nations foreign affairs
lin tho. new crisis brought about by
the sinking Of tho British steamship
! Persia with tho loss OF at least ono
American life. Tho situation is re-
garded in official circles as being tho
most serious to confront this govern
mcnt since the submarine operations
Of the central powers began.
The president wild probably lay the
facts thus far established before the
cabinet tomorrow. The destruction Of
the Persia following upon the crisis
precipitated by the Ancona disaster
may Result in the United States deter
mining to settle Immediately all ques-
| tions involved in the submarine war;
fare. The subject is expected to find
Its way to the floor Of the house and
senate tomorrow when congress re.
convenes after the holidays.
President Wilson decided to cut
| short his honeymoon and return to
the capital at once after telephone
conferences with Secretary Lansing
and Mr.. Tumulty. his private secre-
tary 1t was found however. that he
could not conveniently start untiA
S:45 tonight He should arrive at 2
o'clock tomorrow morning.
The United States is reported to-
night as being prepared and deter-
mined to take any action that the facts
concerning the Persia may warrant.
Ohicials are trying to view the sirua-
tion with open minds, but 1t is APP
parent that they are disturbed by tho
reports received from consular agents
at Alexandria and Cairo, Egypt.
Every effort will he made to es-
tablish the truth Of the report that the
Persia was torpcdocd without warning
Secretary Lansing contcmplatcs talk
ing no steps until the complete details
are known.
! Onials find one source Of gratifi-
cation in assurances given by Baron
Erich Zwiedinek, charge of the Aus
tro- Hungarian embassy, to Secretary
Lansing during a conference today at
the state department. Baron Hwied-
Inek IS said to have expressed the be-
lief that the final explanation of tho
latest incident would be satisfactory.
He is said to have assured the sccrc-
tary Of his belief that If an Austrian
submarine commander violated the
principles Of international law and the
rules OF humanity his government
would take action which would fully
satisfy the United States. Baron
Iuu;oainok a1co conpht infcrma tiOn for