The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1915-12-14
NOTE DEMAN DS PROMPT
ACTION FROM VIENNA
Declares Sinking of the AncOna
Was ''Illegal and In
defenSible."
A WANTON SLAUGHTER.
Demands Punishment of the Subma-
rinc Commander and Reparation
by the Payment OF Indemnity.

Washington, Dec. 12.-The text OF
the American note to Austria Hun
gary regarding the sinking of the
Italian steamship Ancona, made pub
lie tonight, reveals a formal demand
by the United States for prompt de-
nouncement of the "illegal and indie
fensible" act; for punishment of the
submarine commander and for re-
paration by the payment OF indemnity
for the killing and injuring of Amer
lean citizens.
These demands follow a statement
informing AustriaHungary that 18th
good relations of the two countries
must rest upon common regard for
law and humanity" The note ar
raigns the shelling and torpedoing of
the liner as "inhumane," "barbar-
Gus" and a "wanton slaughter" OF
helpless men, women and children"
In official and diplomatic circles
the communication is regarded as be-
ing the most emphatic declaration to
come from the United States gov
ernment since the beginning of the
European war. No attempt is made
to conceal the fact that unless the
demands are quickly complied with
diplomatic relations between the two
countries will be in grave danger of
being severed. The text of the note,
which was handed to the Austrian
foreign Office Thursday by Ambas-
sador Penfield, follows:
The Secretary of State to Ambas-
sador Penfield.
Department of State,
Washington, Dec. 6, 1915.
Please deliver a note to the minis
ter of foreign affairs, textually as
follows
Reliable information obtained
from American and other survivors
who were passengers on the steam
ship AncOna shows that on November
Z submarine flying the Austro-
Hungarian flag fred a solid shot to-
ward the steamship; that thereupon
the Ancona attempted to escape. but
being overhauled by the submarine
she stopped: that after brief period
and before the crew and passengers
were all able to take to the boats the
submarine fired a number of shells
at the vessel and finally torpedoed
and sank her while there were vet
many persons on board; and that by
gunfire and foundering of the vessel
a large number of persons lost their
lives or were seriously injured,
among them were citizens of the
United States.
THE public statement of the
Austro-H Hungarian admiralty has
been brought to the attention Of the
government of the United States and
received careful consideration. This
statement substantially confirms the
principal declaration of the survivors.
as 1t admits that the Ancona after be-
ing shelled was torpedoed and sunk
while persons were still on board.
THE Austro-Hungarian govern
ment has been advised through the
correspondence which has passed be-
tween the United States and Ger
many, of the attitude of the govern
ment of the United States as to the
use of submarines in attacking YES
sells of commerce and the acauies-
cence of Germany in that attitude,
yet with full knowledge on the part
OF the stroHungarian government
OF the views of the government of
the United States as expressed in no
uncertain terms to the ally of Aus
tro-Hungary, the commander of the
submarine which attacked the An
coma failed to put in a place of safety
the crew and passengers OF the ves-
sci which they purported to destroy,
because. 1t is. presumed, of the impos-
ability Of taking 1t into port as a
prize of war. -
The government OF the United
Suites considers that the command der
violated the principles OF interna
tional law and of humanity by she'll
ing and torpedoing the Ancona before
the persons on board had been put In
place of sasa:y or even given suG,
ri