The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-09
Reparation for the Americans
Slain and Punishment Of
Guilty Submarine Officer
REPORTS MUCH MIXED
AS TO COMMUNIPAW
Owners Believe She Is Safe.
Fear Is Expressed That Some
Other Ship t-ias Been Sunk
Instead

States has sent Ia the Austro-Hun-
Garfan government note of pre-
emptory character In regard to the
sinking of the italian liner Ancona
by the Austrian submarine aud the
loss of American life. The note
which has gone forward to Vienna
In sharper In tone even than the
communications to Germany on the
Lusitania in which President W.T.
son served notice on Berlin that
the United Sfates would hold GER
many TO strict accountability. and
would omit mo word or acfs A.
uphcIding the rights of the United
states as neutral. The note 10
Austria demands;
A. disnvowaI OF the submarinc
attack ON the italian liner.
Full PREPARATION to the relatives
of the Americans who lost their
ives.
Assurance that such nm attack
will not he repeated.
The punishment OF the Gon-
mander of the submarine. aAa
others responsible for the act.
In all respects except for the stipus
lation concerning tho punishment Ut
those responsible for the sinking AZ
the Ancona, the demands raade upon
Austria are similar to those made upon
Ing of the Lusitania and the Arabic.
In the case OF the Arabic the United
States also called for a reprimand Of
the submarine commander, but this
was never given because II was con-
tended that the submarine which att
tackled the Arabic had been sunk aud
those on board lost.
The VIGOROUS character Of the nctA
that has been addressed TO AUSTRIA
y
has formally replied to the United
States first request for information
IL interpreted here as indicating thar
the President Is prepared to break on
diplomatic relations with Austria un-
less the demands of this government
are met.
SkepticaI of Reuslt.
Many here are skeptical OF the way
In which Austria will receive this
communication. II is pointed out that
that government would have little III
lose through rupture IN diplomats
relations. especially since Austria AL
ready has been obliged to recall hst
ambassador at Washington through
objections raised by this government
The note to the Austro- Hungarian
government will be made public Within
a few days.
1t is understood that this action was
taken by Secretary Lansing. as the
result ef-ti.- s.,t.s'e,.- fefewsl-t,f Ssh
marine activities by Austria against
ships and neutral sreighters in thA
Mediterranean. The sending OF the
hote without even waiting for reply
to the iirst communication OF thta
government. is taken here to reflAct
an apprehension on the part OF thje
government that Austria means 10
pursue the course followed by Ger-
many before the latter governmeHt
was called to an accounting BY the
United States, ss
The note to Austria was communist
Gated through Ambassador PenGslAs
at Vienna, and probably will be pra-
scented to the foreign Office there to-
morrow.
The action of this government q
taken to mean that the President IT,
convinced that the Austrian subnarin4
violated the rules of international WAR.
fare.
At the time the Ancona was sunk N
was alleged in statements obtain@0
from survivors that the ship Was at
tackled without warning. and that thu
submarine opened fire with her gum
on the lifehoats in which the pA&ses1.
gers were trying to escape. Within ~
few days after the attack the Aurkf34I
admiralty gave out q contrary verDiOtk
a copy of which was sent to Washiu1h
ton by Ambassador Penfield- Acccf&
ing to this version Austria did mn
hesitate to admit that the attack ~
made by an Austrian submarine. ~
II was added that the liner had trioM
to escape after being warned, II N1A
also intimated that the casualties we44
due to panic on hoard the veaee1. g
In view of this statement from To-
which It was stated, NAma
based on information obtained ffQM4
the submarine commander. the Se4&4
Department was at a loss q week 49,
to understand dispatch from Al&%I
bassador Penf1eld stating that
formal Inquiries had not been rep}yN \
to because the Austrian governn1 q
finding 1t difficult to communicates Nh &
the commander OF the submartnes l
sired more time. s M
Has Launched Campaign U;
While the State Department
only the vaguest reports on thA a
marine attacks on the AynAt1cMM D. I
tankers Petrolite and ComnNun1pNN
the Mediterranean. and MhtlA t1
reports do not con4aiH eu1ant1af
tails, enough u ~ ha14 IN n
that Anetxta4 han 81 N