The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-11-26
CONTENDS SUBMARINE MAY NOT
SET TIME LIMIT FOR PASSEN-
GERS TO ESCAPE FROM
LINER TO BE SUNK.
"PLACE OF SAFETY" TO BE
DEMANDED OF AUSTRIANS
Lansing Intimates That Observance of
Technical safety" Requirements
Would Not Absolve U-Boat Com
manders From Responsibility
for Deaths of Americans.

TOT Dcdtn6 OF AfncTiCdnS.
Washington, Nov. 20. = Emphatic
protest by the United States to Aus
tria in the Ancona case is foreshadow
ed. The United States will stand
pat in the contention that a submar
sengers to escape from liner that
is to be sunk, it was officially stated
Neither will the American govern
ment excuse the action of a submar-
inc commander who merely gives
such passengers a chance to enter
lifeboats.
In connection with the Ancona
case, Secretary of State Lansing made
it clear that the observance of tech
nical safety" requirements would
not absolve U-boat commanders nor
their governments from responsible
ity for the death of Americans
"PIace of Safety" Demanded.
The United States, it was clear
from Mr.. Lansing's statement, took
the broad ground that all possible
precautions to prevent the death of
passengers must be taken. The plac-
ing of American citizens in small
boats on the high seas, it was stated,
was not regarded as according them
"a place of safety" within the mean
ing of the term as used in interna-
tional law. In it's correspondence
with Germany over the Frye case the
American government expressed the |
view that open boats did not consti- |
tute a place of safety.
This was broadened by an official |
Interpretation to apply to American
citizens, whether travelling on bellig-
ereut or neutral ships. Officials quail
fed their assertions somewhat by
stating that if a vessel was destroyed |
within a few miles of shore, N1ifeboatsil
would be regarded as safe, but that
weather conditions and the opportun-
ity given for passengers to be trans
ferred even then were pertinent cir
cumstances.
As Minutes Not Time Enough.
From these intimations it generally
was believed that the American gov
eminent would develop the entire
question of submarine warfare further
in correspondence with Austria and
that even though, as the Austrian adj
miralty has declared, 45 minutes was
given for the passengers and crew of
the Ancona to be transferred, this
as not regarded as affording Ameri-
n citizens sufficient opportunity
be saved.
The United States has insisted
roughout that the operations of sub
larines shall not "jeopardize the
ives of American citizens" and, not
the formal denial from
Vienna that the Ancona was shelled ,
after she stopped, the fact that the !
ship actually was torpedoed while :
number of passengers still were E
aboard, is regarded as the chief cir 6
cumstance upon which representa- r
lions will be made. @
American Survivors, Statement.
The first official report alleging that \
he submarine continued Smelling the II
Ancona after she had halted, reached r
he state department in a consular "
dispatch outlining an affidavit made @
W DR.. Cecil Greil, the only native O
AIu0llCdn OllCidllJ huOWH " D6 D. |
urvivor of the tragedy. 3
In this affidavit Doctor Greil fatty m
sserts that the liner was subjected to A
hell fire by the U-boat after she had Y
topped and that the bombardment tc
asted as minutes. The statement IL
rom Vienna denying the charge of
ring after stopping the liner was
eceived previously from Ambassador
enfield il
This definite and authentic infor- m
lation from an American source, the st
rst received by the state depart pt
TENT, establishing that passengers til
ere subjected to fire from the sub N,
larine after the vessel stopped, of
.aves the American government no 9,
ternative but to file a vigorous pro- tn
,st with Austria. This will necessi- Al
tie negotiations, according to Off
ais, regardless Of the Ancona's al IA
ged attempt to escape. st.