Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-11-16
ITALY DENOUNCES
ANCONA SINKING
Issues Protest to ALI Neutral Gov
ernments Against Destruc-
ton of Liner.
ASSERTS NO WARNING GIVEN

ian liner Ancona by SUBMARINE was
handed to Secretary Lansing today
by the Italian ambassador, Count V.
Macchi Di Cellere.
The protest was In the form of
announcement cabled from Rome de-
claring that, without warning or
without observing any formalities
accompanying the right Of search,
the submarine opened fire upon "the
unarmed passenger liner" recklessly
Smelling the wireless apparatus. the
decks and lifeboats and killing and
wounding many passengers.
Issued to All NeutraIs.
The announcement has been pre-
sented to the neutrals. 1t stated that
many passengers swimming In the
sea approached the submarine In the
hope of rescue, but were driven off
with "jeers." 1t concludes as fol-
lows:
1.-THE royal government regards It
as duty to denounce solemnly to
Ill udllOnb ln0
scribed above. Their sentiments Of
justice and humanity will cause them
without doubt to Judge as 1t deserves
the conduct Of an enemy which is OBJ
viously contrary to the dictates of
civilization and the recognized prin-
ciples Of international law"
II is not stated in the denounce-
ment whether the submarine which
sank the Ancona was an Austrian or
German. It was presumed by the Of
ficials Of the State department that
the Italian government had not
definitely cleared up that point.
Text of statement.
1.-THE government of the United States
! Is doubtless aware OF the particulars
reported by the press In connection with
the outrage perpetrated by the enemy
upon Italian shipping on November Z.
More tina nonce the destruction of
Italian merchantmen had taken place
under circumstances which permitted no
other explanation than that there was
behind the procedure a ruthless purpose
to use british force against private
property OF innocent persons. Noncom-
blatant passengers and crews already have
been the victims OF these methods, but
never has there been an instance of such
unparalleled atrocities as in the case of
the sinking OF the Ancona-
The unarIned liner, en- route to New
York, was steaming westward between
the coasts of Sardania and Tunis, car
rying passengers and cargo destined for
America.
Not Carrying Arms.
1T was out OF the question that the
vessel could have been suspected of
carrying arms or contraband or persons
in the service OF any of the belligerents.
In fact none OF the circumstances al
legged In other cases In an attempt to
justify actions described by their authors
as a necessity OF war or as a reprisal was
present In the case OF the Ancona.
There are principles that 10 state
ought to disregard and no private indi-
vidual could violate with impunity. Re
spect for the lives OF persons in no way
participants in a war is among those fun
damental rules of humanity and interna-
tional law. This rule imposes upon bel
ligerents the strict obligation to do all
In their power In every circumstance to
protect the lives of such passengers.
Without any warning whatsoever,
without observing any OF the formalities
accompanying the right OF search, the
submarine encountered by the Ancona in
the aforementioned circumstances. opened
fire upon the unarmed passenger liner,
ruthlessly Smelling not only the wireless
apparatus sides and decks of the ship
while 1t was at stop. but even the life
boats In which the terrorized passengers
were seeking refuge.
Many killed.
MANY of the passengers were killed
outright or wounded. Some who APP
preached the submarine In the hope OF
rescue were driven off with Jeers. Az a
result Of this inhunan procedure more
than 800 men. women and children lost
their lives.
''The royal government regards II a.
duty TO denounce solemnly TO all nations
the circumstances described above. Their
sentiments OF justice and humanity will
cause them without doubt TO judge. as II
deserves, the conduct OF an enemy which
is obviously contrary 10 the acts OF CIV
ilization and the recognized principles OF
international law"