The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-12-14
ASKS DISAvOWAL
AND ARAT|0N
Text OF American Note to
Austria on AnCOna Case.
CALLS ACT INDEFENSIBLE
United States Demands Punishment
of Submarine Commander Respon.
sIble for Sinking italian Liner and
indemnity for American Lives lost

slbie Tor sinking italian Liner anu
indemnity for American Lives lost
Washington, Dec. l4-Following Is
the full text of the American note to
Vienna, signed by Robert Lansing
secretary OF state
Reliable information obtained from
American and other survivors who
were passengers on the steamship An.
coma shows that on Nov a subma
rine flying the Austro- Hungarian flag
fred a solid shot toward the steam
ship, that thereupon the Ancona at
tempted IN escape, but. being over
hauled by the submarine 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 yet many persons On
board ana that by gunf1re and foun
derins Vi the vessel large number OF
persons lost their lives or were seri
sly iniul cd among whom were citi
rs of the nited States
The public statement OF the Aus.
tro- Hungarian admiralty has been
brought 10 the attention OF the gov
ernment of the United States aud fe
ceived careml consideration This
statement substantially confirms the
declaia alton OF the survivors
The Austro Hungarian governme
has been advised. through the corr
spondence which has passed between
the United States and Germany, of
the attitude OF the government of the
United States as to the use of subma-
rines in attacking vessels Of com
merce, and the acquiescence OF Ger.
many In that attitude. vet with full
knowledge on the part of the Austro.
Hungarian government of the views of
the government of the United States
as expressed in no uncertain terms to
the ally of Austria Hungary. the com
mandef of the submarine which at.
tackled the Ancona failed to put In a
place of safety the crew and passen.
gers OF the vessel which they pur-
posed 10 destroy because. il Is pre-
sumed. of the impossibility OF taking
1t into port as a prize of war.
Believes Commander Guilty.
The government OF the United
States is forced, therefore, To con.
elude either that the commander OF
the submarine acted In violation of his
instructions or that the imperial and
royal government failed to issue in.
! structions To the commanders OF the
submarines in accordance with the
| laws of nations and the principles OF
/ humanity The government of the
United States is unwilling to believe
the latter alternative and to credit the
/ Austro- Hungarian government with
/ an intention 10 permit its submarines
| to destroy the lives Of helpless men,
women and children. II 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
received
"As the good relations of the two
countries must rest upon "A common
regard for law and humanity. the gov.
! ernment or the United States cannot
| be expected To do otherwise than 40
demand that the imperial and royal
| government denounce the sinking OF
the Ancona as an illegal and indefen
sible act; that the officer who per.
petrated the deed be punished. and
that reparation by the payment of an
indemnity 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- Hun
garian government, appreciating the
gravity OF the case, will accede to it's
demands promptly and II rests this
expectation on the belief that the Aus
tro. 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 Ameri
can citizens"
i - $3.50 49,
l.