The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-09
UNDERSEA
ATTACKS, NOTE
TELLS AUSTRIA


SVUt'Vbcu yVUVt W. fUVSs
opened FIRE with her runs on the life.
boats, In which the passengers were try
Ing to Escape. within a few days after
tho attack the Austrian Admiralty gave
out a contrary version Of the attack.
which WAS sent TO Washington by Am.
bassador PenAeld.
According TO this version Austria did
not hesitate to admit that the attack
was made by M Austrian submarine,
but II was added that the liner had tried
to soap after being warned. II was
also intimated that the casualties were
due to a panic on board the vessel.
In view Of this statement. which. the
Admiralty said. was based on informa-
ton obtained from the submarine com.
mander. the state Department was at q
loss a week later 90 understand . dss-
patch from Ambassador Penfeld stat
ing that his formal inquiries had not
been replied to because the Austrian
Government. finding II difficult to COM
municate Will the commander Of the
submarine. desired moro time.
While the State Department has only
tho vaGuest reports on the submarine
attacks on the American oil tankers
Petrolite and Communipaw In the Medi-
~terranean. and while these reports do
not contain essential details AZ to
whether the vessels were warned and
tried to escape. enough lie In hand to
indicate that Austria has launched a
submarine campaign against unarmed
merchant shipsl
For this reason Il 10 believed that the
United States has decided not to walt
for another Insitania AFFAIR before A.
ing a vigorous protest and demanding
Of Austria the same assurances enacted
Of Germany.
No Pledge From Asstpis.
Up to the present time the United
States has had nothing from Austria
to indicate whether she subscribes to the
rules laid down by Germany in her re-
Spouse to American demands. whereby
the lives OF n-combatants and neu-
trails may be sa~feguArded In submarine
attacks.
Moreover. Il was admitted to-day that
except in so far as Count Won B%ernstorff.
the German Ambassador. was able to
pledge his Government In the personal
note which he sent to Mr.. Lansing on
the Arabic ease, the German Government
itself has in no formal way replied TO
the last note Of the United States on sub
marine warfare.
II was recalled mis- evening that the
assurances which the Ambassador gave
Mr.. Lansing as to Germany's intention
to abide by the rules of international
law prescribed for attacks on merchant
vessels we're contained in an informal
note from the Ambassador to the Secre-
tary of State. and while Il has been
assumed that the Ambassador spoke
with the authority Of his Government in
declaring that German submarines
henceforth would not attack unarmed
merchant ships without warning and
without opportunity for those on board
to escape. there 10 still left to be granted
the American contention that the mere
placing OF men and women In open life
boats at sea does not fulhl the obiiga-
ton to place the passengers and crew
In places Of safety"
Came Up IN Frye Case.
This latter contention was set forth In
the last note Of the United states to
Germany on the Frye case. in which tho
United States agreed to submit the Ques-
ton OF indemnity to arbitration. but
asked what Germany,s course would
henceforth he in safeguarding the lives
OF passengers and crews on board boats
which she might attack.
Within the last twenty-four hours Sec
rotary Lansing has received from Am
oassador Gerard at Berlin the resume Of
Germany's coming reply TO this question.
The reply itself 10 coming by mail. What
this resume contains Secretary Lansing
refused to state. but Il Is understood that
II was not satisfactory.
Whether this resume came IN time to
play II part in influencing the Govern
ment to send the note to Austria It was
impossible to learn. Owing TO delays In
: IN psynissip tho nnfa la mt ANnarfAl RI
reach Vienna before Friday. when by
agreement between the two Governments
It probably will be made public.
Regarding the details OF reported at
tacks ON the Petrolite and Commune
paw. the dispatches received At the
State Department have merely served
to mystify. The first report on the
Petrolite came from United States Min
lister Droppers at Athens. stating on the
authority Of a message received II Q
Greek Government wireless station that
an American vessel with an uninteiligi-
bile name a been attacked by a sub
OF December 3. The position OF the
vessel was given.
Subsequently tho American cruiser
Des Moines reported from Canea. Crete.
having received a message from the
Petrolite stating that she had been
shelled on Sunday morning BY an Aus
TRAN submarine. but indicating that she
had escaped. Her position a given to
the Des Moines was different from that
set forth In Minister Droppers's report.
In tho absence Of further details
Secretary Lansing Is waiting for the
Petrolite to make some port N order
hat he might get a full report. She
Is reported bound for New York.
Regarding the C~ommun!paw evan
greater confusion exists. Ambassador
Thomas Nelson Page at Rome hrst re-
ported.
american vessel held 70 b Commu.
nipaw sunk by submarine"
To-day the Ambassador simply re.
ported
american steamer Communipaw held
to be captured. Taken to an unknown
port"
These conflicting statements. coupled