El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-12-13
rv 1AsHINGTON. D. C., Dec

rT TASHINGTON, D, C., Dec. 10
M The United States expects
w within a week an answer from
Austria-Hungarv 10 the American de-
nand that Austria disavOw the act OF
It's submarine. commander IN JOrpedolng
md sinking the Italian liner Anconas IN
which Americans lost their lives; pun
.sh the commander and otter lnoemhllH
o the relatives OF the Americans VINO
.ost their lives. in case Austria docs
not reply farOrably within that Illlie-
[ is believed relations between the
United States and the dual monarchy
Eiu be abruptly terminated
Admiralty Apparently Justified Act.
Although in some quarters II was
thought that the Austrian government
night reply that the comma nder OF J ne
submarine exceeded or disreSardeu MS
instructions. it was pointed out Ihat
he official statement OF the Adstro-
hungarian admiralty in regard to the
sinking OF the Ancona. apparently -
tempted TO justify the actions OF the
submarine by stating that the steamer
-ried to escape, and that vessel was
approaching when the Austrian war
-essel submerged ana torpedoed the
The text Of the American note TO
Austria-Hungary, denOuncing the shell
mg. and torpedoing OF the Ancona as
-inhumane," "barbarous' and a wan
ION slaughter OF helpless men, women
md children, follows
The secretary OF state TO ambassa-
Ior Penfield:
Department Of state. Washington, u
=. Dec. 6. 1915.
IF foreign affairs, teNtually as follows
Reliable information obtained from
American and other survivors whc
we're passengers on the steamship an
coma shows that on November Z, SUB
marine flying the Austro- garlan
lag fired a solid shot toward the
20 % i'm hnH Hana
attempted to escape, but being over
Iauled by the submarine. she stopped,
hat after a brief period and before the
rev and passengers were all able 10
AXE to the boats the submarine fired
a number of shells at the vessel and
finally tOrpedOed and sank her while
here were vet many persons on board:
and that by gunfire and laundering oil
he vessel q large number Of persons
'Ost their lives or were seriously m
iured. among whom We're citizens OF
he United States
Admiralty Statement Confirms.
THE public statement OF the AuStro-
hungarian admiralty has been brought
o the attention OF the government OF
he United States and received careful
consideration This statement SubStau-
tally confirms the principal declara-
ion of the survivors as it admits that
he Ancona after being shelled was tor
pedOed and sunk while persons were
still on board.
DisreEarded American Views.
THE Austro-H Hungarian government
1as been advised through the cores
1Ondence which has passed between the
nited States and Germany OF the at
-itude OF the government of the United
states as TO the use Of submarines in
lttacking vessels Of commerce and the
acquiescence Of Germany in that atti-
-ude- yet with fall knowledge on the
part OF the Austro-Hungaria govern
merit Of the views OF the government OF
the United States as expressed in no
oil vii
Hungary the commander Of the subma-
zine which attacked the Aucona failed
70 put IN a place Of safety the crew and
passengers Of the vessel which IL pur-
posed to destroy because. 1T is pre-
sumed, Of the impOssibility Of taking
( into port as q prize Of war
w anton Slaughter of NOneOmbafantS-"
The government of the United
States considers that the commander
Violated the principles of interna tiOnal
aW and OF humanity by shelling and
hOrpedOing the AncOnG before the per
sons on board had been put in a place
II safety or even given sufficient time
% leave the vessel The conduct of the
commander can only be characterized
as Wanton slaughter of defenceless
1oncombatants since. at the time when
the vessel was shelled and torpedOed.
attempting to escape. and no other rea-
son is sufficient TO excuse such an at
-ack, not even the possibility of rescue.
Believes Commander Unauthorized.
The government Of the United
States is forced, therefore. to conclude
either that the commander Of the sub