Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-12-14

Washington, D. c., Dec. 13-Fur-
ther action by the United States gov
ernment on its demands of Austria
Hungary as set forth in communica-
tion regarding the sinking of the 1taF
ian liner Ancona, the text Of which
was published today, now rests with
the Austrian government.
Formal demand is made in the COM
munication for prompt disavowal of
the sinking of the Ancona by an Aus
trian submarine, punishment of the
submarine commander and reparation
for the American citizens killed or
injured.
The note clearly indicates that a
break in the diplomatic relations be-
tween the two countries will follow
failure of the Austro-H Hungarian gov
ernment to redress the acts of the sub
marine commander, which are declar-
ed to be illegal and indefensible. A
week at most probably will be given
Austria-Hungray to accede to the
American demands. Meantime, admin
istration officials are awaiting with
keen interest some words from Vienna
indicating how the communication was
received by the Austrian government
and the effect it may have had on pub
lie opinion in that country. The note
was presented to the Austrian foreign
Office Thursday by Ambassador PEN
field.
Note 10 Pointed.
After reviewing the known facts re-
garding the sinking Of the Ancona,
the note reads as follows:
"The government OF the United
States considers that the commander
violated the principles of international
law and Of humanity by shelling and
torpedoing the Ancona before the per-
sons on board had been put in place
of safety or even given sufficient time
to leave the vessel.
The conduct of the commander can
only be characterized as wanton
slaughter of defenseless noncombat-
ants, since, at the time when the ves-
sci was shelled and torpedoed, it was
not, it appears, resisting or attempting
to escape; and no other reason is suf-
ficient to excuse such an attack, not
even the possibility of rescue.
"The government Of the United
States is forced, therefore, to conclude
either that the commander Of the sub
marine acted in violation of his in
structions or that the imperial and
royal government failed to issue in
structions to the commanders Of it's
submarines in accordance with the law
of nations and the principles of hui
manity.
''The government Of the United
States is unwilling to believe the latA
ter alternative and to credit the Aus
troll Hungarian government with an in
tention to permit its submarines to
destroy the lives Of helpless men,
women and children. 1t prefers to be-
lieve that the commander Of the sub
marine committed this outrage with
out authority and contrary to the gen.
eral or special instructions which he
had received.
'As the good relations of the two
countries must rest upon a common
regard for law and humanity, the gov
ernment Of the United States can not
be expected to do otherwise than to
demand that the imperial and royal
government denounce the sinking of
the Ancona as an illegal and indefen-.
sible act, that the officer who perpe-
trated the deed be punished, and that
reparation by the payment Of an in
demnity be made for the citizens Of
the United States who were killed or
injured by the attack on the vessel.
"The government Of the United
States expects that the Austro-H Hun
garian government, approaching the
gravity Of the case, will accede to it's
demand promptly; and it rests this
on the belief that the
Austro-H Hungarian government will not
sanction or defend an act which is
condemned by the world as inhumane
and barbarous, which Is abhorrent to
all civilized nations, and which has
caused the death of innocent American
citizens"
H