Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-13
AMERICAS DEMANDS
IN THE ANCONA CASE
The secretary of state 10 Ambassador
penfield at Vienna:

ANaCr
Reliable information obtained from
American and other survivors who
were passengers on the steamship An
coma shows that on Nov. Z subma-
rine flying the Austro-tlupgarlan flag
fred a solid shot toward the steam
ship: that thereupon the Aneona at
tempted To escape. but being oyerhaal-
ed 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 tred
a number Of shells at the vessel and
finally torpedoed and sank her while
there were yet many persons on board;
and that by gunfre and laundering OF
the vessel 4 large number Of persons
lost their lives or were seriously in
jured, among whom were citizens OF
the United States.
The public statement OF the Austro-
Hungarian admiralty has been brough.
TO the attention Of the government D.
the United States and received care
ful consideration. This statement
substantially confirms the principal
declaration Of the survivors, as it adj
mits that the Ancona after being she'll
ed was torpedoed and sunk while per-
sons were still on board.
The Austro-Hungarian government
has been advised, through the corre~
SPONGE which has passed between the
United States and Germany, Of the
attitude of the government Of the
United States as to the use Of sub
marines in attacking vessels Of COM
meree and the acquiescence Of Ger
many in that attitude, yet 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
mauder 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 to destroy because, it Is presum-
ed, of the impossibility Of taking it
into port as prize Of war.
The government of the United
States considers that the commander
violated the principles of international
law and Of humanity by Smelling and
torpedoing the Ancona before the per-
sons on board had been put in a place
OF safety or even given sufficient time
to leave the vessel. The conduct Of
I the commander can only be character
lied as wanton slaughter Of defense
/ less n-combatants, since, at the
time when the vessel was shelled and
torpedoed. she was not, it appears, re-
sisting or attempting to escape; and
no other reason is sufficient to excuse
such an attack, not even the possibil-
! ity Of rescue.
/ The government Of the United
States is forced. therefore, to conclude
either that the commander Of the sub
marine acted in violation of his i'm
strUctions or that the imperial and
royal government failed to issue in
structions to the commanders Of its
submarines in accordance with the law
/ Of nations and the principle Of human
+ ity. The government Of the United
States is unwilling to believe the lat
/ ter alternative. and to credit the Aus
tro-EIungarian government with an in
/ tention TO permit its submarines to
destroy the lives of helpless men,
women and children. Il prefers 70
/ believe that the commander Of the sub
marine committed this outrage with
out authority and contrary TO the gen
eral or special instructions which he
/ had received,
As the good relations Of the two
countries must rest upon common
regard for law and humanity the gov
eminent Of the United States cannot
/ be expected to do otherwise than tc
demand that the imperial and royal
/ government denounce the sinking Of
/ the Ancoua as an illegal and indetens-
ible act: that the officer who perpe.
trated the deed be punished; and that
/ PREPARATION by the payment Of an in
demnity be made for the citizens o.
the United States vino were killed OF
injured by the attack on the vessel
The government Of the United
States expects that the Austro-Hun-
garian government, approaching Tic
gravity Of the case. will accede 10 It's
demand promptly, and it rests this ex-
pectation on the belief that the Aestro-
Hungarian government viii not sane
/ ton or defend an act which is con.
demned by the world as inhuman and
/ barbarous. which IS abhorrent to all
civilized nations, and which has caus.
ed the death Of innocent American
I citizens. LANSING.