Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-12-09
nited States Also Demands Assur-
ances That The Act Will Not Be
Repeated; That the Submarines
Comman der Be Punished and
Reparation Be Made for American
Lives Lost--NeW Note Comes as
Surprise.

Washington, Dec. s--The United States
has sent to Austria Hungary a note ask
ing for a disavowal of the submarine at
tack on The Italian liner Ancona assur-
ences that such an act will not he re-
peated, some degree of punishment for the
commander of the submarine and repara-
Sion for the American lives lost.
The communication started by cable
yesterday from the state department to
Ambassador Frederick c. pened at Vi
enna. who was instructed to hand it to
the Austro- Hungarian minister of for
c;gn affairs. Baron Burian. Word of the
delivery of the note had not been received
Wy the department tonight
NOTE "FRIENDLY But FIRM"
Friendly but firm terms. it is said. char
acterize the document which is understood
to make particular point of prompt as
surance for the future safety of Amer
lcan lives. Austria Hungary has never
Informed the United States whether the
commanders of It's subma rines had been
given Instructions similar to those which
the German government gave to its COM
nanders after the Lusitania tragedy. It
Is understood the note alluded particular
j. 10 the charge that shells from the sub
ma rine killed or wounded some passengers
on the Ancona after she had halted and
asked for an explanation on thai point.
In dispatching the note. Secretary
Lansing acted with the approval Of and
after consulting with President Wilson.
IT is stated authoritativcly that the
document, described as being compare
lively brief and decidedly vigorous in
tone, was drafted as to attempt n
settlement Of the controversy at once.
without bringing on 81 series of COM
munications. such as followed tho sinking
Of the Lusitania.
High officials are said TO be Of the
opinion that the situation is one that
calls for grave consideration, the state
Of affairs having become more com
klicateo since the note was dispatched
ty reports of attacks upon American oil
rarrying vessels in the Mediterranean, pre-
Fumably by Austrian submarines.
WASHINGTON SURPRISED
News that the note had been sent
came as a complete surprise to official
Washington generally. the reports which
emanated from the state department
early in the week being that no positive
and cOrroborated evidence to what
actually had occurred when the Ancona
went down had been received, 1t was
said that the reports received We're frag
mentary, conflicting or contradictory
and that until a reply to the inquiries
submitted to Austria Hungary was re-
Ceived it was probable that no commune
cation would be sent to Vienna. To-
night it was suggested in some quarters
that information of most conclusive
nature hat come to Secretary Lansing
probably lat. Monday night and It had
heen decided then that the protest should
go forward Immediately. Whether AM
hassador Penfield had transmitted the
reply to the Vienna foreign office to the
lis of queries submitted by the United
states could not be ascertained.
The belief prevails here that the state
ment had received answers of some sort
to the queries. In the inquiry Austria
Hungary was asked whether a warning
shot had been fired before the ship was
shelleh, whether time was given the
passengers to reach a place of safety
and whether any shots We're fired at the
ship after she had stopped. The Austro-
Hungarian embassy here had not been
advised to-nigh. that the inquiry had
been answered.
DR.. GRFIIiS TESTIMONY.
Tho Ancona was sunk in the Medter-
JdneHH on INONenDcT y WnlIe DOund from
Naples for New York. The only testi-
fnony Of a native American survivor be-
fore the department is in a deposition
by Dr. Cecile Grell Of New York, which
asserts specifically that the liner was
torpedoed while the men, women and
children In the cabin and steerage were
scrambling to get into the small boats
The department has been inclined not
to accept this single statement as posi-
tive proof unless corroboration was re-
reved from some source.
Much weight was given. however. tc
what DR.. Greil had to say. Her testi
mony was considered of so much i'm
portance that she was taken to Rome
where she told her story to Ambass
Tage.
After the inquiry of the United state!
had been before the Vienna foreign of
fee several days, Ambassador Peniielt
reported that more time was desired t.
frame a reply. Late last week Secre
,ary Lansing instructed the amba ssado
20 urge a prompt reply.
AMICABLE REPLY POSSIBLE.
The American note. it is understood
sets forth that the United States canno
believe that the commanders of Austrian
submarines have committed an allege'
act of la lawlessness except under mis-
apprehenslon of orders issued by TIL
Austrian naval authorities. 1t is declared
that under methods of warfare such a
those employed in the sinking of tn
&ncona 1t virtually Is impossible. unde
such circumstances, to remain within tn
rules Of fairness. justice and humanity
The principles of humanity and Justic