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P, PSTX -Tfrjp :W.rT'' f -,r- " v v 2 THJ HINGTOX TB( DNIUY, JANUARY 3, 1916. in Jw f "W'.V -f flags or other insignii they may carry, they are neverthe less German-made and, as far as officers go, are German manned. There is no concealing the fact that the gravest anxiety ia felt in official circles generally. At the White House and State Department tension is everywhere manifest. , TheJ opinion seems to be that unless some general understand ing is reached with all the central powers at once, it will be Impossible to avert a break. Both Ambassador Penfield at Vienna and Ambassador Gerard at Berlin have been directed to make inquiries of the Austrian and German governments for any informa tion they have on the Persia attack. TO FIX RESPONSIBILITY. The United States wants particularly to know wheth er either of these governments acknowledges the attack and is going to defend it, or whether both governments will say that a mine was responsible. Baron Zwiedenek, the Austrian charge d'affaires, who has expressed confidence that Austria will be able to give a satisfactory explanation to the United States if the Persia was sunk by an Austrian submarine, conferred for , some time this afternoon with Secretary of State Lansing, but declined on leaving to say anything. It was evident, however, that he had been impressed with the gravity of the whole situation as viewed by the United States. The charge conferred later with Count von Bernstorff , the Ger man ambassador, who is expected also to call on Mr. Lans ing. Both Zwiedenek and Secretary Lansing refused to discuss the object of the former's visit, but it was learned the Austrian charge had called to ask for any details this Government might have regarding the Persia. The in formation of the Austrian embassy has come through press ' dispatches. The Secretary gave the charge all the infor mation in hand from consuls abroad. Later in the day Baron Zwiedenek said: "I feel just as sure today as 1 did Saturday upon the "arrival of the Ancona note, that American and Austrian relations will continue friendly. It seems to have been eiieiilly overlooked that there never has been an inten sion on the part of submarine commanders to torpedo ships .without warning." t Before the Austrian called, Senator Stone, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called and discussed the situation; Except to say that he would un doubtedly confer with the President after the latter's re turn to Washington, the Senator would not discuss the new developments. Secretary to the President Tumulty also .had a long talk with Mr. Lansing, during which, it is un derstood, he transmitted certain instructions which the President gave him over the telephone this morning. INFORMATION IS LIMITED. Thus far, with the exception of brief dispatches from Ambassador Page, at Rome, and the American consul at Marseilles, France, confirming the sinking of the Persia, the information of the department is limited to the follow--ing canlegrams. The first is from Consul Garrels at Al exandria: , "P. & O. liner Persia, carrying 4.7 gun, sunk five minutes past one afternoon, December 30, about 00 miles northwest Alexandria. Presumably tor- iedo no submarine was seen, Second Officer Brom-' ey seeing torpedo track. Vessel sunk in about five ninutes. Two American citizens aboard. Charles 1. Grant, manager Vacuum Oil Co., Calcutta, is lafe, Alexandria. Robert Nay McNeely, assigned jonsul of the United States at Aden, most probably lost. Of a total 400 passengers and crew, 155 landed Alexandria, January 1. McNeely last seen in water. In view of the fact sunken vessel being armed, does the department desire the affidavits? "GARRELS, Consul." The second cablegram to the State Department came from Consul Arnold at Cairo, and was as follows: "P. & O. steamer Persia torpedoed forty miles southeast of Crete, Thursday, 1 :05 P. M. without retary, Bigham, is survivor. Can obtain affidavit if warning. Nationality submarine "unknown as not visible. Sank in five minutes. About 550 passengers and crew, including many women and children, about 150 saved. Survivors pidked up after thirty hours by British destroyer, Mallard. Reported that Ameri ' can consul, proceeding to post at Aden, lost. Details given me by high commissioner, whose military sec- ' desired. ARNOLD." Consul Arnold has been instructed to get the affidavit, and affidavits have also been asked from Consul Garrels. ThexUnited States is particularly anxious to obtain an ac count of the attack from Grant, hope for McNeely having been abandoned. IS NOT ESTABLISHED. xw"Mb "w ""jn" mnvw ui lilt, gUU Ull UUiWU UlC Persia, the State Department intimated today that while, in rererence 10 oeiugerent merchant vessels leaving ports of the United States, this Government has taken the posi tion mat iney nave me ngnt to purposes," it has not definitely josmon wm De witn respect jomannes. Zwiedenek. it was later that Austrian submarine jucted to torpedo merchant vessels without warning, , he expressed confidence, that if an Austrian submarine f; responsible for the attack on the Persia, the govern nt at Vienna-would quickly disavow the act, punish the lanaer, ana mane satisfactory reparation. mount guns for "defensive been established what the to armed liners attacked by learned. n.ur.H Mr lane commanders had never been IMF WST FOR 5 YEARS Health Department Report Shows 6,494 Deaths, Larg est Number Since 1910. Figures made public bv the TToalih Department today show that the death rate In the District for the year 1913 wo th highest since 1910. Posths from all cntiscs numbered ".431 an compared with 5.SM durlnp- the pre ceding year, an increase of 028 or 10.7 per cent. The death rate per 1,000 In creased from 16.53 to 18.13. nccent correspondence with fourteen other cities showed a decrease In tho death rate between January 1 and De cembcr 10 Jn all except Now York. "Why Increases should appear only In deaths tn Now York city and Washing ton, and why the Increase In thl 'lty should be so largo as compared even with tho Increase In New York city, re mains," the department states, "to be determined." Department's Statement. Following is the department's state ment; ' "Among whites, deaths Increased from 3,493 to 3,913, with a corresponding rise In tho death rate from 13.64 to 15.11. Among colored, the number of deaths increased from 2.373 to 2,581. and the rate from 2l.3lio 26.12. The white death rate Is tho highest since 1907, und the colored, tho highest sinco 1912. "The Increase In the number of deaths was not limited to any one age period. Deaths In the first year of life increased from 716 to 777: between one and four Tears, from 225 to 242; between five and nineteen years, rrom 235 to S3; between twenty und sixty-nine years, 3,424 to 3.720; and at seventy years and ovor, from 1,207 to 1,430. Computed upon the number of reported births, the death lWern thousd1 ffi.M. r8e "'m ' . Conspicuous Increase. "Deaths from tho diseases of middle and advanced life, sometimes called the degenerative disease, showed an In - crease that was by far the most consplcu- ous feature of the year. Deaths from dis- eases of the heart Increased from 737 to 853. Deaths from (hionlc inflam mation of .the kidneys increased from 688 to 620. From acute Inflammation of the kidneys there wero 74 deaths ns compared with 61 for tho preceding year, an Increase probably bearing some relation to the increase In the number of deaths reported from chronic kidney diseases. Apoplexy showed on Increase from 419 to 138. Deaths from arterio sclerosis Increased from 143 to "Among acute diseases pneumonia showed the most conspicuous increase, from 463 to 668. Tills was offset, to un almost negligible extent, by a decrease In the number of deaths duo to tmm chltis, from 96 to S6, and In the number of deaths from pulmonary congestion from 13 to 6. Tuberculosis cf the lungs showed nn Increase from 611 to K)7. which was probably related to the In creased mortality from pneumonia. "Cancers caused 391 deaths as against 344 during the preceding year. Death from dlarrhoeal diseases among children less than two years old rose from 112 to 167. Increases In deaths from com municable diseases were genoral. but deaths from these diseases do not now play a very important part in the gen eral mortality of the community. Whooping Cough Kills 19. "Deaths caused by whooping cough rose from 18 to 19; by measles, from 1 to 5; by epidemic cerebro-splnal menin gitis, from 5 to 6. and by scarlet fever, from 1 to 8. Decreases occurred In deaths due to dlpthcrta, from 31 to 23, and in deaths due to typhoid fever, from 45 to 42. "The Increase in tho number of deathsi was not limited to dlseaso processes, but extended also to deaths from vio lence. Deaths from accidents lncteascd from 215 to 220; from homicides, from 29 to 3S; and from suicides, from 67 to S7. Itecent correspondence with other cities showed variations In the number of deaths reported between January 1 and December 10, or thereabout, as fol lows; "Baltimore showed a deciease In the total mortality rrom 10,531 to -jyjtx, and In infant mortality from 1.954 to 1,561. "In Chicago, deaths from all causes fell from 33,952 to 31,918, and deaths in the ilrst year of life fell from 6,880 to 5.BU. "In Cincinnati, a decreaso from 5.WM to 5,799, for general mortality, and Irom 687 to 5C9 for Infant mortality. "In Cleveland, a general decroase from 8,266 to 8,027, and a decrease umong Infants from l,46 to 1,717. "In Detroit, therd was a decrease from 8,383 to 7,794 In total mortality, and from 2,231 to 2,034 In infant mortality. "In Indianapolis, there was a decrease In the total mortality from 4.362 to 3.740. and a decrease in deaths during the tirst year of life from 781 to 617. Decrease In Milwaukee. "In Milwaukee, a general -J-- i Infnnts fpin 1 11A W hn ' infants from 1.119 td 993. "In Minneapolis, deaths from all causes decreased from 4,113 to 3.561, and deaths in the tlrst year of life fell from 658 to 636. "In Nowaik, a general decrease from 6.S09 to 5.693. and a decrease among In fants from 1.111 to 886. "In New York city there was an In crcaso from 70,639 to 71.358 In deaths from all causes, and an Increase from 12.614 to 13,000 in deaths during the first year of life. "In Philadelphia the general decrease THE WEATHER REPORT. The forecast for the Dlstrlrt of Co lumbia Fair and colder tonight; tem perature close to freezing; Tuesday fair. Gentle to modcrnto northwest winds. Maryland Fair and colder tonight; temperature about freezing In north portion; Tuesday ralr. Gentlo to mod erate northwest winds. Virginia Fair and somewhnt rolder tonight; Tuesday fair. Gentle to mod erate northwest winds. TEMPERATURES. U. 8. DUREAU. AFPLECI' '8. 8 a, m vi 9 a. m 43 10 a. m 41 11 a. 43 12 n 41 l.p. 46 8 a. m 44 9 a. m 46 10 a. m 48 11 a. m 49 13 noon si 1 p. m 5 E TABLE. i. m. and 6:20 p. SO n. m, HI m. t 4J S' TAIILR. 10 Sun sets at Sun LI lie lanl 55 al I 5,29 p. m. I from 4,920 to 4.322 'and a decreaso amomrl' KcbPONSIBLE y Convert msane, Kills Mother SYRACUSE, N. Y., Jan. 3. Ed G. H. Buchenau, promi nent Syracusan, killed his mother with a hammer this morning while buffering from a fit of religious mania. He was a Billy Sunday trail- hitter. After saying that he and other members of the family had hit the trail, Buchenau de clared he wanted his mother to go to heayim, where she would not have to work so hard. Buchenau is about twenty-eight years old. The Buchenau home, when en tered by the police, was found literally plastered with' pic tures of Billy Sunday and members of his party. ro U'"1 to 'a'U5- and the decrease a?,lK lnfint from ,5U to 3.790. P rrom sfflst,iugJ!L tt cneral rfcreao f?oSuWto1.67f4' anU amnK lnfant8 acctoae from 3,W to'3.067. and a do cr.?lseJn Infants from r to 6S. 2 MtJw0' ft neral decreaso from 271 to Ml ' nmn infants from T Aviator Urges Commercial Air Routes Before Pan-American Conference. Willi. Jennln,. Bryan, plead.ng for a more thorough Pan-American iom mcrclal education: .HanVsDumont. urg- hig commercial aviation route, nml bankers of North and Mouth America 1 advocating uniform currency In nil I American republics, furnNlu-d the high I lights for the opening session of the second week's meeting of the I'an Americnn Scientific Congret today. The former Secretary of State und the aviator are speaking tills afternoon ; the former at the Pan-American Union and tho latter at the Wew Wlllanl Hotel. A8k Monetary Uniformity. The bankers made their plea for a monetary uniformity in tho Western Hemisphere at tho Nev Wlllard tnia morning, with Prof. .(iufllcrmo Kuhnr caseaux, professor ottaoliUcal economy in the University of Chile, making the most striking recommendation, that of the establishment of a monetary union In America similar to Hie I.atln mone tary union of Kuropc. The entire Question of uniform cur rency was thrcshid out thoroughly, and was characterized as one of the most Important factors In tho niItivntlon of commercial co-opcratlon ! elwcen the Amrricun nations. Other experts taking part'Tn the dis cussion besides Prof. Subcrcuseuux were Prof. K. W. Kcnimeror. of Prince ton, and George !. Koborts, of the National City Bank, of New Vork. Prof. Kcmmercr said the condition nt present Is especial! favorable to tho securing of Pan-American monetary unity because United States gold coins comprise about four-fifths of the gold coins of the Americas, while our gold dollar, or Its equivalent. Is the unit of 60 per rent of all American population. Looks For Dollar Standard. Though ten of the twenty-one repub lics are not now on a gold basis they intend to go back to such a basis, ulti mately, he said, and that fact makc.i the securing of tho United States gold dollar as a unit extremely hopeful. Prof. Subrrcaspaux suestcd that, since each country would guard Jeal ously the exercise of Its sovereign rights, any Pun-American monetarv union would havo to be patterned after the Latin Monetary Union, formed by a convention composed of Prance, Bel glum. Switzerland. Italy and Greece, which Is still In force. Would Limit Reculntion. Itntionnl limits to railroad regulation were urged by Pror. Emory Jt. Johnson, of the University of Pennsylvania. Ho said competing railroads should be per mitted to work together In arranging services, under appropriate supervision. In the scientific meetings. Rimer A. Hperry, of New Vork. inventor of the gyroscope, gave a demonstration of his devlco, explaining Its application to aeroplanes and ships. Solar power was discussed by Prof. A. E. Douglass, of tho university of Arizona, and Prof. H. II. KiniDnll. of tho Wenthr rjn. reau. Eight hours of sunlight at Tuc son, Ariz., according to prof. Douglass' instruments, develops enough energy to produce Jl.OOO.OOO worth of electric pow er. .-. . FOR STOLEN AUTO Court Holds Owner Cannot Be Liable For Thief's Recklessness, An accident resulting from the reck less driving of a stolen automobile Is not attributablo tp the owner of the niachlno even if his agent rcgllgcntlv left tho switch-key in It, and thus per mitted its theft, according to a de cision handed down today by Associate Justice Joslah A. Van Orsdcl in the Court of Appeals of tho District. The case was that of Mary I,. Squires agulnst Leo C. Ilrooks, heard on ap peal by the plaintiff from u Judgment sustaining a demurrer to the declara tion. The negligence alleged in the declara tion against tho defe nda.tt, and on which tho action was 'lased, vas that his agent left the defendant's automo bile standing In the street unattended and without having removed the awiteh pln, or locking the "lover, throttle, or switch,'' us required by law. Prominent Attorney Dead in Petersburg PETERSBURG. Va. R. McKenney. one Jan. 3. William of Peloreburg'A prominent lawyers, died this mornlne ni I m r i! I r ew - l pneumonia. lie was counsel In Pcters- hlire for tile Renhnnrri Air T.lno ..ml ., Inifinber of city council, of which both be was one president Ho was ulso a member of the (ty finance committee lie was slty-tlire vears old. He Is urlvcd by hU widow und on son. SCIENTISTS TO BRYAN AND DUMON HEBREWS HERE MEET JAN. 20 Appeal for Relief of Jews of Russia Will Be Made in Temple. A great mass meeting to raise fund.1 for tho rellof of tho homeless, war strlckcn Jews of Poland, Gallcla and Russia will bo held In this city on the night of January 20 at tho Eighth Street Temple. Tho Rcv. Dr. J. D. Magnes, -whoso eloquence so stirred a New York gath ering a few nights ago that 31,000,009 was subscribed, will bo the principal speaker at tho Washington mooting. President Wilson, members of hi Cabi net, Senators, Congressmen and other officials havo been Invited to attend. Arrangement for the mass meeting hero are being' made by a committed consisting of Simon Wolf, chairman, Julius Peyser, treasurer, and tho ifov. Dr. Abram Simon, secretary. Al ready thore havo been renponses to the appeal In behalf of the suffering Jews of Europe. Mr. Wolf announced today that tho following" early con tributions have been received: Large Contributors. Simon Kann, of 8, Knnn Sons & Co., J300; Chris Heurlch. $230; John R. Mc Lean, 1100; Mrs. William J. Doardman, $100; Miss Mabel Roardmun, S23; Charles O. Glover. 50, and many smaller con tributions. "There are nt least ono million home less, sultcring Jews In the European war zone," said Mr. Wolf, today. "There Is needed now S10.000.000. and 1f the war continues this will be but temporary teller. Jewish aid up to this time has been confined almost entirely to tho co-religionists of the European sufferers, but the appeal Is mndo to all. Jews Aided Belgians. "The Jews of Washington nnd else where have been contributors to various relief funds for the Belgians, Armenians, and othurs. and now their own people arc in direst want. We expect a great mass meeting on the evening of January 20, and Dr. Magnes Is coming to describe the conditions In Russia, Poland, and Galiela. where the suffering centers." The Washington committee, headed by Mr. Wolf, was named b ythc national Jewish relief committee, whose ieiid- qurtcrs are In New York, a city that oulcklv raised Jl.OOO.OOO to aid the Euro pean Jews. Food on Every Side, Oscar on the Tide; Little Squirrel Died It Might Have Given the Jitney a Spurt If They'd Let the Starving Pet Eat Bert. By BERTON BIIALEY. WITH FORD PEACE PARTY. CIiniSTIANIA. Norway. Dec. 19 (by mall to New York). So busy wero the delegates, -with welghtv work of peace; so plunged tn various mental states by words that did not cease; so woll engrossed In hosts of things of Import extra high; so deep In wirelessing to Kings, they let the smilrrel die. They let the little squirrel die, within his cago of wire, although with mutely pleading eye he showed his dumb desire for Just a nut or two for food to spur his flagging breath and so amid this noble brood the squirrel starved to death. They brought this little pet along upon this merry trip, yet no one In the highbrow throng that flllad tho peaceful ship had tlmo to feed the ebbing strength that faded day by day. and so they let him starve at length tho saulrrel passed away. Although tho saulrrel was a Joke. a Jest of low degree, what shall we think of peace shin folk who brought him oversea, and then while talking hand on heart of lovo with every breath, allowed his spirit to depart, and let him starve to death? ALLEGED GAMBLING ' COSTS EMPLOYES PAY Pending a 'further Investigation by Public Printer Ford, flvo employei of the Government Printing Office, sus pended nt the close of the day Friday for nlleged betting on horse' races In tho bulldjing. will remain suspended without pay. The Tublic Printer Is giv ing his pcrsonat consideration to the matter, tho suspensions resulting from a personal Inquiry on his part. Investigation followed the receipt of nnonymous communications declaring that betting on the races was prevalent. Tho Public Printer made !t clear that his Investigation was purely nn almlnls tratlve om though ho wns aps'sttd by Department of Justice Investigators. ttm:mumm::ammmmm:mttm3ttt I NOSE CLOGGED FROM g A COLD OR CATARRHS Apply Cream in Nostrils to! Open Up Air Passages. ". ' " 8 :aamumm:smnmtt:tamw8m Ah! What rellof! Your clogged nos trils open right up, the air passages of your head ure dear, and you can breathe freely. Xo moro hawking, snuffling, mucous discharge, headache, dryness no struggling for breath nt night, your cold or catarrh Is gone. Don't stuy Bluffed up! Get a small bottle of Ely's ''ream Halm from your druggist now. Apply a little of this fragrant, antiseptic cream In your nos trils, let It penetrate through every ulr liabsagu of tho neud. hootlio and heal the swollen, "nflamcd mucous mem brane giving sou Instant relief KIj'h l nam ilalm is lust what every cnlil nnd rutarrh sufferer has been sceklAB. It Jus; splcndiiL-AdvU ' W I A ID .PAN-AMERICAN PROGRAM . FOR TOMORROW - r . ' j Women's Pan-American Conference, Continental Mcm6rial Hall", morning. Special meetings: - Section 2, Carnegie Institution, afternoon. , " Section 3, the Raleigh, morning and afternoon. ' Section 4, Pan-American Union, morning and afternoon. , "" Section 5, the Raleigh, inorning and afternoon. Section 6, the Shoreham, morning and afternoon. Section 7, the Raleigh, morning and afternoon. Section 8, the New Ebbitt, morning and afternoon. Section 9, the New Willard, morning and afternoon. Juan Domcnjoz will give exhibitions with a Blcriot monoplane on the White Lot. " Reception to members of the congress by the trustees of the Carnegie Institution, Sixteenth and P streets, 0 p. m. P TO E 1 AUTOMOBILE SUIT Appellate Court Holds Roper Had Right to Terminate Col lection Contract. The action of the District Supreme Court in refusing to enjoin tlw Pcst ofllce Department from terminating a contract for automobile service in the collection of mall in tho Dlstrictvwas upheld today by the Court of Appeals In ruling on the action brought by Jo sephus Wells against Dunlel C. Boner. First Assistant I-otmastcr General. The upper court held tho action brought uy wells was against the United States Government and could not bj main tained. Tho suit grew out of a notice sent Wells by Mr. lloper that his contract for collecting the malls would termin ate In ntnelv d'.us. Wells, who had -a. contract, for lour ears, only half ot wnicn period liud niapseu, sought to en join the Government official frm can celing1 tho contract. The lower court hld viith tho defendant and refuted tho injunction In appealing, former Justice Daniel Thew Wright and T. M. Wample.. ap pearing for Wells, conceded that Roper was acting for the Government, but that his act was an "unlawful" one The Appellate Court disagreed with this view, and held that the act was one of a Government official, and that suit could not be maintained against the United States Government, and on this ground ordered the dismissal of the bill. In pleading the case. Wells' attorneys contended that he had expended $32,00) to equip himself for the work the Gov ernment contracted for. Assistant Dis trict Attorney Arch, appearing for the Government, argued that a clause In the contract gave the official prlvilego to terminate tho agreement by giving nine ty duys' notice. Tho contract .was for Jl.IOo a month. ST. u Ht. John's College, in Vermont ave nue, near Thomas Circle, Is to have a military company, and military In struction after today will form a regu lar part of the curriculum. This became known when orders were Issued by the War Department as signing Major John A. Dapray as pro fessor of military science and tactics at tho school. , Major Dapray has begun tho organi zation of a battalion of cadets, the enrollment already havlnb reached ISO. Appointment ot an officer of the reg ular army to St. John's College, follow- ! TU Ml IIIBIUUUUII Ul umi IllOlllUKUII wj the War Department, and was made as a part of the general scheme of military preparedness, and encouragement of military training. It is the first time that any but the public schools of Washington have had military Instruc tion from an officer of the army. Georgetown, and Gonzaga Colleges, each havo had cadet companies In the past, however. Military training at St. John's will not be confined to cadet drill. A reg ular preparatory course in military sci ence and tactics will be given by Major Dapray, to prepare graduates for en trance to West Point and Annapolis, and for appointment direct to tho army, navy, and marlno corps. It Is believed that this training will help solve the problem of officering American troops in tlmo of emergency. Major John A. Dapray has had wide experience in teaching military science a ndtactlcs, having been Instructor at tho Peacock Military Institute, the West Point of Texas, at Maryland Agri cultural College, and with sovoral Stato mllltla organizations. He will have as his assistant a drill sergeant who served with hi non the Texas border. Major Dapray has had long servlco In Wash Ignton. as adjutant general of tho Dla Urct Mllltln. as aid to tho Secretary or War and in other capacities. a: JOHN'S WILL HAVE mm 1 Rgsinol keeps skins fair in spite cfwintry winds The soothing, healing medi cation in Resinol Soapwhich is so helpful inclearin? poorcomplex ions, is equally dependable for protectinEdelicate skins from the havoc of winter's wind and cold. To use Resinol Soap regularly for the toilet is usually to make sure that one's complexion will come through the cold weather unharmed, and that the hands will be kept free from redness, roughness and chapping:. If you already suffer from pain ful and unsightly chapping-, a little Resinol Ointment will usu ally afford complete relief. Retinal Soip ind Ointment art told by all ntiiU. For ample, tree, write to Dept. 17-P. Resinol, Baltimore. Md. BsbA-v RtrtKtl '"it tr Sti.i JrtL,.,.Jr,r,.L..tl.. vekilg 4f.y,e t fh& rtminf, awttiinniiiWHwi mm PERSIA SURVIVOR E Heavy Loss of Life Diie to Su(!- den Sinking and Fact That Passengjrs WerQ at Lunch- (Continued from First Page.) said. "Somo of tho crow were trying to get over another boat, but the pas sengers mostly were grouped about the deck; tho women clinging to tho men, tho children crying-. Then a U wnve broke over tho stern, and X was In the water. Most of the survivors wero suffering rrom exposure to tho bitter cold upon their arrival here, and It la possible other deaths may result. Tho women wore lightly clad, and several mer. toa cuod lrom tho water. ' were without coats until picked up by a rescue .steam er and brought to this pott Warships and flshinc vessels am searching tho waters off Crete for bodies of tho Persia's victims. It la believed barely possible that some of the Persia's passengers remained ailoit lomr enough to be picked up by tJrceu trawlers. LONDON. Jan. 3. Consul General Skinner today cabled the American consul at Alexandria to obtain at once a detailed statement of the sinking of the British liner Persia from Charles II. Grant, of Boston, believed to be the only American survivor. The story told by Grant 'will be of tho utmost importance. On It may de pend whether the United States will take drastic action In the new crisis resulting from the torpedoing of tho British steamer. Skinner has abandoned hope for Rob ert M. McNeely. newly appointed Uni ted States consul to Aden. American Consul Garrels, at Alexandria, cabled early today that McNeely in all prob ability was lost. Press dispatches re port that McNeely was last seen strug gling in the water. Accurate statements of the number of lives lost are still unavailable, though It is known that the survivof number between 155 and 160. Cable dispatches from Alexandria put the number of missing at between 347 and 155. accounts lng for a crew of 150. Others declare moro than S00 persons lost their lives, basing their estimate on a crew of moro than 200. Despite press reports from Alexan dria, declaring no panic occurred aboard the sinking liner, shipping men point out that a, much larger propor tion of the crew than of the passenger ,was saved. Only thirty-nine of the 3U passengers were among the survivors; ninety-four of the crew of ,150 to 200 were saved. Only seventeen of the eighty-seven women passengers and only two ot the thirty children aboard the Persia aro Included among the survivors landed at Alexandria by a warship. The London press today, expressing horror over the heavy sacrifice of lives or non-combatants through the slnWnr of the Persia, devoted a large share of their editorial remarks to speculation as to America's probable course. Tho newspapers unanimously take, the view that the Central Empires are floutiru? America and are expressing; their con tempt for the Washington administra tion. TWO CONVICTS SCALE HIGH WALL AND FLEE Men Escape From Jersey Prison, Braving Guard With Repeating Rifle. TrtE.VTOX. X. J.. Jan. J. Joseph Thomas, serving twenty-six and one half to fifty-five years, and Fred Wil son, sentenced to nine to twenty years, escaped from the Xew Jersey State prison here early this morning by scal ing tho hlBh wall with a rope ladder. Tho men wont over tho wall at a point within fifty yards of the watch tower. In which was a guard with a re peating rifle. Thomas was sent to the prison to servo concurrent sentences from Bur lington, Ocean, and Monmouth counties. Ho was charged with arson nnd larceny. Wtlson was sentenced from Mercer county on charges of breaking and. en tering and larceny. Ho strvfcl tlmo In Elmlra and Sing Sing. u-Jr,wc Uiker. SAW TORPEDO WAK :&ap vvjkY3H- tn ' w i r r