The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-12-10
FRIENDLY TERMS
BUT FIRM STAND
CALLS FOR SPEEDY ASSURANCES
AGAINST REPETITION OF AT
TACK AND REPARATION
FOR AMERICAN LIVES.
State of Affairs Has Been Further
Complicated by Reports of ActiV-
tiles of Submarines Against
Oil Ships in Mediterran-
can Recently, Capital
Believes.

WASHINGTON. Dec. S.-The United
States has sent to Austria-Hungary d
note asking for a disavowal OF the
submarine attack upon the Italian
liner Ancona, assurances that such an
act will not be repeated, some degree
of punishment for the commander OF
the submarine, and reparatlon 10:
American lives lost.
The communication started by cable
Yesterday from the state department
70 Ambassador Frederick C. Penfeld
at Vienna. who was instructed to hand
!. to the Austro-Hungarian minister
of foreign affairs, Baron Burian.
Word of delivery of the note mad
not been received by the department
tonight.
Friendly but firm terms, it is said,
characterized the documtnt, which is
understood to make point Of prompt
assurances for the future safety OF
American lives. Austria-Hungary has
never informed the United States
whether the commanders of it's sub
marines had been given instructions
similar to those which the German
government gave to its commanders
after the Lusitania tragedy.
Asks for Explanation.
1t is understood that the note re-
ferred particularly to the charge that
shells from the submarine killed or
wounded some passengers on the An
coma after she had halted, and asked
for an explanation of that point.
In dispatching the note Secretary
Lansing acted with the approval OF
President Wilson and after consulting
with him. 1t is stated authoritatively
that the document, which is described
as being comparatively brief and de-
cidedl vigorous in tone, was so draft
ed as to attempt settlement OF the
controversy at once, without bringing
on a series of communications such
as followed the sinking Of the Lusl7
tania.
High officials are said to be Of the
opinion that the situation is one which
calls for grave consideration, the state
of affairs having become more com
plicated since the note was dispatched
by reports of attacks upon American
oil-carrying vessels in the Medlter-
ranean, presumably by Austrian sub
marines.
Surprise to Washington.
News that the note had been sent
came as complete surprise to Off
cial Washington generally, the reports
which emanated from the state de-
partment early in the week being that
no positive and corroborated evidence
as to what actually had occurred
when the Ancona vert down had been
received 1t was said that the reports
received were fragmentary, conflicting
or contradictory, and that until
reply to the inquiries submitted to
Austria-Hungary was received it was
probable that no communication would
be sent to Vienna. Tonight it was
suggested in some quarters that in
formation of a most conclusive ma
ture had come to Secretary Lansing,
probably late Monday night, and that
It had been decided then that the pro-
test should go forward Immediately.
Whether Ambassador Penfeld had
transmitted the reply to the Vienna
foreign Office to the list Of queries
submitted by the United States could
not be ascertained.
Some Reply Received.
The belief prevails, however, tnat
the state department had received an
swer of some sort to queries. In the
inquiry Austria-Hungary was asked
spamong other things whether a warn
&ing shot had been fired before the
ship was snelled, whether time was
given the passengers to get to place
of safety and whether any shots were
fed at the ship after she had come to