Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-13

ma4NNN
due eAiSier Embassy here all comment
ne .a,e ie withheld II is stated that,
{ on ah 'ne as Vienna is familiar with the
inasn' ~ tho United States, no advice
feeiins how the crisis ought to be
4 reeA.r,.s hos been, or will be, sent from
hanu 1be German Embassy, likewise,
nels .vtremely reticent today NO oihciat
Fas ,ro,ld discuss the situation or ven
~ guess as to what the nnal out
.on,e would be.
:. ,bis connection many Administration
l,.,ais ~ saw in the sharp, brusque lam
onl. - the Ancona note an implied an
glase ~ .he susgestlons that are now cir
iH.,,a,, In German circles that II the
ens.as en'a states does not force Great Brit
ui's ~ concede the freedom of the seas
ah Yet resume her submarine warfare
s.,nst ~ nil ships regardless of American
s,nas,s with the precedent estab-
nrS.S In the Ancona note this Govern
I'm must take a similar stand If Ger
ms n, changes her present attitude of
/ Tarning and search
EASY WAY OPEN.
/ Tho few officials who still maintain a
| 'st,i attitude today pointed out that
~ ,nstria desires to meet the wishes OF
| A,inl,ed states she can do so inasmuch
" .ho has never declared the Mediter-
s.san a war zone. Vienna could take tho
..a,,on these officials say. that the sub
msrine commander exceeded ms instruc-
is.ns in attacking an unarmed merchant
VA s,. ana could characterize his act as
Ivy otensible and Illegal" and offer
| rparation.
/ re-, how long a time will be given to
| ,,strta to decide on her course of action
!. rnown only to President Wilson and
| s.,rstary Lansing. 1t is made very clear
ssrs that claims by the Austrian Ad-
m,ralty that it is handicapped by the
s.ih,re of the commander of the sub
/ marine to report will not be accepted
as valid excuse tor iengtny uelay.
/ psoanse communication with Vienna Is
Asscrtain. taking from two to three days
w. ,ray of Berne. Switzerland, the State
| nsnartment will keep in touch with the
s,,uatlon through Ambassador Gerard at
| Berlin. A..
/ The next move is, of course, UP TO
/ yienno but If Austria does not act speed
av II Is expected that Ambassador Pen
/ IA will be instructed to visit the For
.'rn oIlce and insist on an immediate
,snly as IL is not the present intention
/ n the Administration to permit the eN-
/ stnr crisis to drag along.
/ Tbe course the United States will pur-
ms Is understood to have been deter
aimed upon. The issue is clearly de-
fned.
PROBABLY A WEEK.
/ The word prompt, as used in the note,
a understood to mean that Austria
1 Hungary must accede to the demand of
| me- United States within week, at the
most. II the demand is not complied
Nth immediate severance of diplomatic
relations is regarded as certain.
| The text of the note follows:
| The Secretary of State to Ambassador
| Penheld:
| Please deliver a note to the Minister of
| Foreign Affairs, textually as follows:
| Reliable information obtained from
| American and other survivors who were
Passengers OH the steamship Ancona
| shows that on November I n submarine
| flying the Austro-Hungarian flag fired
| solid shot toward the steamship; that
| hereupon the Ancona attempted to es-
| cape, but being overhauled by the SUBJ
( marine she stopped; that after n brief
period and before the crew and passen-
| sefs were all able to take to the boats
. the submarlne fired a number of shells at
| the vessel and finally torpedoed and sank
| her while there were yet many persons
| on board; and that by gunfire and foun-
| derlng OF the vessel a large number of
| persons lost their lives or were seriously
injured among whom were citizens of the
| United States.
| The public statement of the Austro-
| Hungarian Admiralty has been brought
| TO the attention of the Government of the |
| United States and received careful con-
| sderatlon. This statement substantially !
confirms the principal declaration of the
Survivors, as 1t admits that the Ancona
after being shelled was torpedoed and |
sunk while persons were still on board.
AMERICAN ATTITUDE KNOWN.
The Austro-Hungarian Government has |
nefn advised. through the correspondence |
| which has passed between the United |
slates and Germany, of the attitude of |
ne government of the United States as |
% the use of the submarine in attacking !
vessels OF commerce. and the acquiescence |
' q Germany in that attitude; yet, with |
lul knowledge on the part of the Aus
go-Hungarian Government of the views |
N the Government of the United States |
a. expressed In no uncertain terms to the /
any OF Austria Hungary, the commander |
the submarine which attacked the |
aneona failed to put in a place of safety |
Ine crew and passengers of the vessel |
hhch they purposed to destroy because.
IS presumed, of the impossibility of |
Aklng Il Into port as a prize of war.
The Government of the United States
| ..
NE principles of international law and OF
.unanity by shelling and torpedoing the
aaeoha before the persons on board had
~ put In place of safety or even
g'eh suiiieient time to leave the vessel.
ae conduct of the commander can only |
characterized as wanton slaughter of
xlsnseless noncombatants, since at the
ane wnen the vessel was shelled and tor
psuoea she was not. II appears, resisting
auempting to escape; and no other
..stoh Is sufficient TO excuse such an
'''acA' not even the possibility of rescue
fhEFERs TO BLAME COMMANDER.
.ne government of the United States is
'seu' therefore, to conclude either that
commander of the submarine acted
violation of his instructions or that
~, imperial and Royal Government
ael 70 issue instructions to the COM
nuers OF Its submarines in accord
~. Z WIN the law of nations and the
~. neples OF humanity. The Govern
- ~. OF the United States is unwilling
believe the latter alternative and to
msr. the Austro-Hungarian Govern
am. .. with an intention to permit its
- Is''aiihes es to destroy the lives of help
~ .uen' women and children. 1t pre-
~ ~ believe that the commander of
.ih submarine committed this outrage
ssrsss' authority and contrary to the
IA .sr er special instructions which he
biss lhe good relations of the two coun-
| ior ,,ust must rest upon a common regard
. Il tba rrsu snu humanity. the Government
. % a. 80 nlted states cannot be expected
.lnbs,,s,s' ,s'ier"lse t"lse than TO demand that the
.sslisi n a.a and Royal Government denounce
N ssn'hAins OF the Ancona as an illegal
- inueIensible act that tha ofIicar xETho