Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-06-29
WILSON DEMANDS
AUSIR|A APOLOGIZE
STATE DEPARTMENT MAKES
PUBLIC NOTE IN CASE OF
SHIP PETRoLITE.
ATTACK HELD TO HAVE
BEEN INVASION OF RIGHTS
Indemnity For Owners Also Asked
Vessel Alleged to Have Shown Neu-
trail Markings Not steamins Toward
Submarine - seamen Held as Hos
tases.

er Petrolite, made public today by the
state department, describes the act as
"a deliberate insult to the flag of the
United States and an invasion of the
rights of American citizens" and re-
quests prompt apology, punishment
of the submarine commander. and pay
ment of indemnity.
In vigorous language the con'muni-
cation, -sent a week ago today, makes
1t clear that the United States govern
ment believes the facts of the case en-
tirely different from what the austrian
commander reported them
TO be, and that immediate amends are
Deny Austrian Claim.
The Austrian claim that the Petro-
lite's captain voluntarily gave up sup
plies taken from the steamer by the
Commander is fatty contra
dicted, us are the claims that warning
shots were fired across the Petrolite's
bow before it was sheiled. apd that its
appearance was such as to justify the
submarine commander IN mistahing IT
for a cruiser.
The attack on the Petrolite, stand
ard Oil tanker. occurred in the Medi-
terranean on Dec. 5. A protest sent
soon afterward, on preliminary reports
from the tanker's captain and crew,
brought the Austrian communication TO
which the new American note replies.
The text of the rejoinder is in the form
of memorandum from Secretary Lam
sing to Ambassador Penfield at
Vienna:
The Facts Of the Case.
Evidence obtained" it reads" from
the captain and members of the crew
of the steamer Petrolite and from ex-
animation made of the vessel, under
direction of the navy department. con-
vinces this government that the Aus
tro- Hungarian government has obtain
ed an incorrect report of the attack on
the steamer With particular refer
ence to the explanation made by the
foreign Office. the following informa-
ticn briefly stated, has been obtained
from sworn statements of the captain
and members of the crew:
mo shot was fired across the bow OF
the steamer as signal to stop. When
the first shot was fired the captain was
under the impression that an explosion
had taken place in the engine room.
Not until the second shot was fired
did the captain and crew sight the sub
marine. which was astern of the
steamer, and therefore they positively
assert that neither the first nor the
second shot was fired across the bow
Of the vessel.
Showed Neutral Marking.
1.-The steamer did not swing around
in course directed toward the sub
marine, as alleged in the report OBJ
tanned by the Austro- Hungarian gov
eminent but the captain at once stop
ped the engines and swung the vessel
broadside to the submarine and at
right angles to the course of the yes
sci. in order to show its neutral mark :
able and proper course to follow. and
it ceased to make any Roadway.
"On the steamer was painted its
name i'll letters approximately six feet
long, and the name of halling port, and,
as has previously been made known to
the Austro- Hunga rian government. the
steamer carried two large flags some
distance above the water line which it
is positively stated by the officers and
crew were flying before the first shot
was fired and were not hoisted after
the first shot as stated by the sub
marine commander.
How Shots Hit Ship.
1.-The submarine commander admits
hot ba CT ctr &c DC
The captain of the Petrolite denies that
the vessel was ever headed toward the
submarine, and the examination of the
steamer made by an American naval
constructor <corroborates this state
n,ent, because, aS he states. the shell
which took effect on the vessel. strik-
ing the deckhouse which surrounds the
smokestack, was fired from point AZ
degrees on the starboard bow. This
was one of the last shots fired and in
dicates that the ship was not headed
toward the submarine even up to tho
time the submarine ceased firing.
The captain states that the sub
marine appeared to be maneuvering sc
as to direct it's shots from ahead OF
the steamer The submarine fired APP
pIoAliidttis t"elNe SIOtS. LIE TldiCE-
ity of the shots were fired after the
ship had stopped and had swung
broadside. and while, as even the com
nander of submarine admits, the
steamer was flying the American flag
Did Not BeIittIe Damage.
1.-THE captain of the steamer denies
that he advised the commander of the
submarine that the damage to the
steamer was insignificant. He states
that he advised him that the steamer
had been damaged, but that he had no
then mad an opportunity to ascertain
the extent of the damage. The Sc
man who was sctruck by a fragment o
shell sustained severe flesh wounds.
IF the ship had intended to ram III,
submarine it would not have stoppet
it's engines and this must have beer
evident to the submarine commander
Naval authorities here agree that ther,
could have been no danger of the shi]
ramming the submarine until it wa
headed straight for the submarine an,
was under power, and even then tn
submarine could have so maneuvere,
as to avoid collision.
Not Steamias Toward Submarine.
THE Petrolite was two miles ava
from the submarine. The engines ali
! funnel OK the PetToiite were at tn
stern, and from the general appear
ance OF the ship no experienced nava
oficer could have believed that It ha
opportunity or sufficient speed to at