Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-12-10
ASKS A DISAVOWAL
OF ANC0NA ATTACK
Washington Sends Note to Vienna
Demanding Repsration for
Americans Lost on Liner.
ASSURANCES ALSO REQUESTED


some degree of punishment for the
commander of the submarine and
reparation for the American lives
lost.
The communication started by ca
BILE yesterday from the State depart
ment to Ambassador Frederick G.
Penfield at Vienna, who was in
structed to hand it to the Austro-
Hungarian minister of foreign at
fairs, Baron Burian. Word of the
delivery of the note had not been re-
reived by the department tonight.
Terms Are Firm.
Friendly but firm terms, II Is said.
characterize the document, which Is un-
derstood to make a particular point of
prompt assurances for the future safety
of American lives. Austria-Hungary has
never informed the United States whether
the commanders of its submarines had
been given instructions similar to those
which the German government gave to
its commanders after the Lusitania trag-
edy.
II is understood the note referred par
ticularly to the charge that shells from
the submarine killed or wounded some
passengers on the Ancona after it had
halted and asked for an explanation on
that point.
In dispatching the note Secretary Lam
sing acted with the approval of President
Wilson. 1t is stated authoritatively that
the document, which is described as being
comparatively brief and decidedly vigor-
Gus in tone, was so drafted as to attempt
a settlement of the controversy at once,
without bringing on a series of communi-
cations such as followed the sinking Of
the Lusitania.
situation Grave.
High officials are said to be of the opin-
ion that the situation is one which calls
for grave consideration, the state of af-
fairs having become more complicated
since the note was dispatched by repeti-
lions of attacks on American oil-carrying
vessels in the Mediterranean. presumably
by Austrian submarines.
News that the note had been sent came
as a complete surprise to official Wash
ington. the reports which emanated from
the state department early in the week
being that no positive and corroborated
evidence as to what actually had oc-
Cured when the Ancona went down had
been received. 1t was said that the re-
ports received were fragmentary. con-
flicting or contradictory, and that until
a reply to the inquiries submitted TO
Austria Hungary was received, it was
probable that no communication would
be sent to Vienna.
Definite Data Received.
Tonight 1t was suggested in some quar-
tiers that information OF most con-
elusive nature had come TO Secretary
Lansing, probably late Monday night.
and that 1t had been decided then that
the protest should 60 forward imme-
diately. Whether Ambassador Penfield
had transmitted the reply OF the Vienna
foreign office to the list of queries sub
rnitted by the United States could not be
ascertained.
The belief prevails, however. that the
state department had received answers
OF some sort to the queries In the in
quiry Austria-Hungary was asked,
among other things, whether warning
shot had been fired before the ship was
shelled, whether time was given the
passengers to get to place Of safety and
after it had come to a standstill and be-
fore the torpedo that sank 1t was
launched. The Austro-Hungarian en-
bassy here had not been advised tonight
that the inquiry had been answered and
IL was said that the Italian ambassa-
DOR who had transmitted much infor-
nation upon the sinking OF the Ancona,
had not furnished the United States
with anything additional.
DIR. Greips Deposition.
The Ancona was sunk in the Mediter-
ranean sea on November ., while bound
he .I.y
testimony of a native American survivor
CT the liner before the department Is in
deposition by DR.. Cecile Greil of New
York. In her deposition DR.. Greil asserts
specifically that the liner was torpedoed
while the men, women and children in
the cabin and Storage were scrambling
TO get into the small boats The depart
ment has been inclined not TO accept
this single statement as positive proof
unless confederation was received from
some source.
Much weight was given. however, to
what DR.. Greil had to say. Her testi-
mony was considered of so much i'm
portance that she was taken to Rome,
where she told her story TO Ambassador
Page. A report OF this conversation
reached the State department recently.
After the inquiry of the United States
had been before the Vienna foreign Of
flee several days Ambassador Penfield
reported that more time was desired In
which to frame a reply. Late last week
Secretary Lansing instructed the ambas-
sador TO urge a prompt reply
What Note Sets Forth.
The American note, 1t is understood,
sets forth that the United Kingdom can
not believe that the commanders of Aus
trian submarines have committed an al
legged act OF Iawlesness except under a
misapprehension of orders issued by the
Austrian naval authorities. II Is de-
clared that under methods Of warfare
such as those employed in the sinking
OF the Ancona 1t practically is impossi-
BILE under such circumstances to remain
within the rules OF fairness, justice and
humanity.
The principles OF humanity and justice
which were championed in notes to Ger
many are understood to also be called
strongly to the attention Of the Austro-
Hungarian government in this communi-
cation. Warning before submarine at
taeks is insisted upon. While every OPP
portunity is said to be left for an AMIGA
BILE reply, the belief prevails in usually
well Informed circles that the communi-
cation Is more vigorous than any dis
patched to Germany while the contro-