Arizona republican., 1916-02-11
Germany and Austria Notify United States Command CTS of Submarines At Li- bcrty to Sink Such Ships Without Warning
FORMAL NOTES
 ARE TO FOLLOW
High Officials Consider Development Is Broa q Enough to Warrant Claim Contentious of United States Are Recognized

Germany and Austria Hungary
 propose to treat as Warships after
 February 2e all armed merchant
 men of countries at war with the
 Teutonic allies. Berlin already has
 issued a memorandum to the neu-
 tral governments to this effect and
 Austria H unqary will inmed ately
 do likewise.
 Neutral nations are informed
 the rev order of things in the Ger
 man memorandum that they may
 warn their citizens against further
 entrIstinq their persons or prop
 erty to armed merchantmen be
 longing to powers at war with the
 German empire
 Alleged secret instructions by the
 British amiraity for merchant
 ships to fire on submarines IS
 made the basis for Germany put
 ting armed merchantmen in the
 category Of war craft.
 Republican A. p. Leased Wirel
 WASHINGTON Feb. 1o.-Germany and Austria have formally notified the Tinted States that beginning March 1 commanders of their submarines will consider armed merchant ships of tie entente allies to be WarShips and will treat them accordingly Under such instructions. commanders would be at liberty t. sink without warning any armed vessel. whether carrying pas ene gers or freight
 The notifications were presented or- aly io Secr,t2rV Lansing hy Count rou Bernstorff, the German ambassa- dor and Paron Erich ZWiedinek, charge of tl" AuS1ro-Ilmsari;n embassy ere. Notes from their governments tre to follow
 The intention of tho T,utnnic allies is considered in official and diplomatic circles here to be a development of the m, morandum irol.osine the disarmine If tho merchant ships which Secretary Lansing recently sent Go the entente noUlrs. Hi2L officials of the state de- "arlmeat seemed disposed to consije, the development broad enough to war rant tue claim that the fundamental questions involved in tro conduct ot submarine warfare have been settled in accordance with the contentious of the United states.
 This is based upon the belief haj with Germany ami Austria giving no- tice that they will sink without warn ine all armed ships, the two gNern- ments cannot legally claim the right t' sink unarmn' vessels That is the prir cipin for which the United States la: SO vigorously contended since the be sinnins of the negetiations ovcr thu conduct of submarine warfare.
 Ip view of this situation Americar citiaens, It Is stated hy high authority now may be warned that thes will talk passage aboard armed merchant ship &t their own risk. and be entitled to Il, more protection from the United State than if they had embarked upon 4 bel liGelent Warship. officials toda- seemed rot to be able to conceive tha any issue could arise in thc future iron T submarin4 warfare conducted urdc these rules.
 The German ambassador and th Austrian charge Informed Secretar Lansing If the intention of their re spectile governments after they Ina received by radio q dispatch of whic 1 the following is represented as being I paraThrase:
 1 "The German and Austrian govern ments will instruct the commanders [ l their war vessels that from the end (
 Continued on Page Two)