Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-12-29
ANCONA CASE
NEAR CRISIS.
Unacceptable Reply From
Vienna Expected at
Washington
ACTIVITY OF U-BOATS
ACTIVITY or U-BOATs
That Break
General Impression is That Break
With Both Austria and Germany rs
Imminent. -.

Paris, Dec. Z9.-Oiicohliihie"
vices from Vienna, as publlshcd by
the Petit Journal, say the impression
nrevails in Austro- Hungarian gov
nrnmental circles that the forth-com-
;np reply to the second American
note regarding the Ancona incioeht
w;ll bring about a diplomatic rup-
tnro between the two nations.
Vienna, Dec. 29.-The answer OF
the Austro Hungarian Government
to the American Governments note
concerning the sinking of the ltailan
ctoomer Ancona is expected this
week.
Washington, Dec. 29.-Uotfeiai aa-
vices received here conformed with
intimations from abroad that Aus
trials Forthcoming reply to the Ar
coma note would fail to meet the de-
mands of the United States and leu
tonic diplomatic circles here were
authoritatively represented es beng
prepared for break in diplomatic re-
lations between the two countries.
Various developments, it was agreed
might avoid such an eventuality, but
none of the contemporaries which
IL has tren ii.ins:ted the Vienna For
,icn Office might advance have been
regarded so far as coming within
Secretary Lansing's renewal of the
demands for disavowal, reparation
and punishment of the submarine
commander who sank the AnconN
with the loss of more than a dozen
American lives.
Now that the situation, after be-
ing dormant nearly two weeks, IS
again beginning to take on the aspects
of a crisis, the status of the ;negotla-
tions of the United States over sub
marine warfare against merchant
men, not with Austria alone but with
the Tcutonic powers as allies,i is COM
manding attention. - -
Although Germany has, :,nyenl the
United States assurances that she
will conform to the principle of visit
and search before attack, the prac-
tices against which the United States
so vigorously contended are being
carried on now by her ally, Austria,
and it has been charged that the Aus
trian submarines are in seme in
stances furnished by. Germany and in
others are officered and manned by
the German Navy. Such, situation,
it is being pointed out, amounts to
practically defeat of the submarine
negotiations with :Germany+s
Furthermore, the impasse, in: the
Lusitania negotiations becomes fac
tor in the situation.
Il is admitted that the United
States scarcely can require Austria
to conduct submarine warfare in its
relation to the rights of neutrals in
n manner different from that permit
ted by Germany.
! President Wilson will take Congress
into his confidence and will lay be-
fore that body complete and can
did statement of all our various con-
troversies with foreign countries
which have arisen out of the war If
the Austrian reply to the second An
coma note proves so unsatisfactory
that rupture of diplomatic relations
is made inevitable. There is still a
hope at the State Department that
the reply of the Austrian govern
ment will indicate conciliatory spirit
4 and will make possible a settlement
of the sharp differences now existing
But if Austria refuses to comply
with the demand of this government
for .disavowal of the sinking of the
Ancona and deliberately provokes 8
break between the two countries,
President Wilson will feel that sit
uation has been created in who's,
settlement Congress must share wit
him the responsibility.