Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-12-13
American Note On Ancona
Case Practically Amounts
to Ultimatum.
DIPLOMATIC BREAK
IS LIKELY RESULT
Rupture Of Friendly Relations Between
Two Nations to Follow Failure Of
Austria Hungary to Redress Acts of
Submarine commander-Attaek on
Passengers Declared to Be illegal
and lndefensibis.

! Washington, Dec. 13.-Further action
! by the United States government on its
demands Of Austria Hungary. as set
10 / in a communication regarding the
sinking of the Italian liner Ancona, the
text of which was published today, now
rests with the Austrian government.
The note clearly indicates that a
break in diplomatic relations will follow
failure Of the Austro Hungarian gov
ernment to redress acts Of the subma-
rine commander, which are declared to
be illegal and indefensible., A week at
most probably will be given Austro-
Hungary to accede to the American
demands.
An intimation that the failure Of the
Austro- Hungarian government to yield
to President Wilson's demand will re-
suit in a rupture OF friendly relations
and diplomatic intercourse with the
United States Is contained In Secretary
of State Lansing's note concerning the
torpedoing Of the Ancona, the text of
which was made public today
''As the good relations Of the two
countries" says the note, must rest
upon common regard for law and
humanity. the government Of the United
States cannot be expected to do other
Wiss than - demand that the imperial
and royal government denounce the
sinking Of the Ancona as an illegal and
Iindefensibls act. that the officer who
perpetrated the deed be punished, and
that reparation by the payment Of an
indemnity be made for the citizens of
the United States who were killed or
injured by the attack on the vessel
Nots u Most Psrsnptory.
The note to Austria Il shorter than
amy Of the ccmmunica$ions the pres4-
! dent addressed to- Germany III the syis,-
marine c0ntroyersy last sumner, and
more peremptory than the original pro-
test against the sinking Of the Lusi-
tania and Falaba. Nearly a score of
americans lost their lives In the sink
ing OF the Ancona under circumstances
analogous to those Of the sinking of
the Falaba last March, which sacri-
/ feed the first American life to the
submarine warfare.
The president bases his complaint
against Austria on the testimony Of
American survivors that, after the An
coma hove to, passengers were killed by
the submarines shell fire and drowned
when the steamer was torpedoed and
sunk before all aboard had been re-
moved.
The note says that these assertions
are substantially confirmed by the
Austrian admiralty statement, "as it
admits that the Ancona,s after being
shelled, was torpedoed and sunk while
persons were still aboard"
Claim Time Was Allowed.
The Austrian submarine commander.
according to the admiralty statement,
said he allowed plenty OF time for the
removal Of the passengers contended
that the casualties were due to panic
and lack Of control on the part Of the
Ancona crew, and explained that he
sank the vessel because of the ap-
proach Of enemy ships.
This action Of the submarine COM
mander the president pronounces avio-
lation Of "the principles Of international
law and Of humanity" and then adds:
"The conduct Of the commander can
only be characterized as wanton
slaughter OF defenseless noncombat-
ants, since at the time when the yes
sci was shelled and torpedoed 1t was
not. 1t appears, resisting or attempting
to escape, and no other reason is suf-
ficient to excuse such an attack, not
even the possibility OF rescue"
Wants German Pledge Hold
President Wilson holds that Austria,
[as the ally Of Germany, ought to OBJ
|'serte the rules of warfare on merchant
vessels to which Berlin agreed after
the sinking Of the Arabic
The presidents assertion that Ger
many acquiesced in the views Of the
United States is interesting, inasmuch
as Germany confined its pledge to un-
resisting passenger vessels The arxu-
ment employed by the president raises
the question whether Mr.. Wilson ID
content with a promise which dopsenot
extend immunity to freight vessel1.