Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-11-16
ITALY DENOUNCES
SINKING OF ANCONA
Formal Statement to Neutral Ma
tons Recites Circumstances
of Attack.
UNPARALLELED ATROCITY"
Killing and Wounding of Passen-
gers Continues After Ship
Is Stopped.

tary Lansing personally received to-
day from Macchi di Cellcrc. the Italian
amba ssador. a communication addressed
By italy to all neutral nations. de-
nouncihg as IAN unparalleled atrocity"
the sinking Of the Italian liner Ancona.
with scores of neutrals and other non
conbatants aboard. The statement re-
cites the circumstances OF the attack.
charging that without even blank
shot" Of warning from the attacking
subma rine. the vessel was shellcd, and
that the killing and woundinE of pas
sengcrs continued after the ship had
stopped. No reference is made to the
nationality of the snb,na riue.
AS yet MIR. lcnticld has not been in
s'ructed TO call at tic Vienna Foreign
Office for information. but he probably
VIII be shortly, In view OF the issuance
OF a statement by the Austro- Hun
garian admiralty describing tho attack.
Upon receipt of tho facts as stated
III Vienna the Washington government
VIII consider whether any rights of
American citizens have been violated.
The admiralty statement. which has
been seen by officials here in the press.
Is at variance with that of Italy. II
declares that the Ancona attempted to
escape. and was stopped only after re-
that the passengers and crew were
given forty-tivc minutes TO leave in
small boats. and the charge that the
submarine fred OF the boats is denied
MAY TAKE UP ENTIRE ISSUE
WITH AUSTRIAN COVER MENT
While officials were disinclincd TO
comment, in view Of the contradictory
information, the general belief is that
the entire question of submarine war
fare and the obligations of a subma-
rinc commander to see that ueutrals
are in place Of safety before DESTROY
ing Il prize. will be taken up by the
United States with the Austrian gov
ernment.
The Italian communication to neutral
governments says:
The government of the United
States is doubtless aware of the par
ticulars reported by the press in con-
nection with the outrage perpetratcd
by the enemy upon Italian shipping on
November :.
more than once the destruction OF
italian merchantmen has taken place
under circumstances which permitted
no other explanation than there was
behind tho procedure n ruthless purpose
TO use british force against private
property of innoccnt persons Noncom-
. Blatant passengers and crews already
have been the Victims of these methods,
but never has there been an instance
OF such unparalleled atrocity as in the
case of the sinking of the Ancona The
unarmcd liner ell route to New York,
was steamng westward between the
coasts OF Sardinia and Tuuis. carrying
passengers and cargo destined for
America.
1t Was out of tho question ,hat the
vessel could have been suspected of
carrying arms or contraband or per
sons in the service OF any of the bcllie-
.renis In fact. none of the circun-
stances alleged in other cases in an
attempt To justify actions described By
their authors as necessity OF war or
rs rcprisal were present in the case
OF the Ancona.
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
THAT SHOULD HE REGARDED
There arc principles that no state
ought to disregard and no private in
dividual could violate with impunity.
Respect for the lives nf persons in no
way participants in the war is among
those fundamental rules of humanity
AMI international law. This rule i'm
poses upon belliscrents the strict obli-
cation 10 do ali in their power in every
circumstance to protect tho lives of
such passengers.
without amy warning whHtsoeycr
without even 4 blank shot without oh
serving amy of tho formalities accom-
panying the right of search. the sub
marine encountered by the Ancona in
the aforementioned circumstances,
opened fire upon the unarmed pas
scnscr liner ruthless!y shclling not
only the wireless apparatus, sides and
decks Of the ship while she was at n
stop. but even the lifcboats in which
tho tcrrorizcd passengers were seeking
refuge. Many of the passengers were
killed outright or wounded. Some who
approached the submari in the hone
of rescue were driven off with jcrrs
AS ii result OF this inhumane procedure,
more than zoo men, women and children
lost their lives.
The royal government regards il as
a duty to dcnouncc solcmnly to all
nations the circumstances described
above. Their sentiments of justice and
humanity will cause them without
doubt, to judge, as il deserves. the CON
duct of an enemy which is obviously
contrary to the dictates OF civilization
and the recognized principles of inter