The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-29
DEMANDS APOLOGY . FOR ATTACK ON S Sharp Rejoinder Sent to
 Austria In Petrolite Case INDEMNITY IS ASKED
The Submarine Commander
 Must Be Punished Also
INSULT TO THE FLAG
Attack Was An Invasion of Rights of American Citizens-Facts of Case Entirely Different From Those
 Set Forth By Commander

Washington, June 2S-The American re- joinder to Austria regarding the Austrian submarine attack on the American steam CT 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 apology, punishment of the submarine commander and payment of an indemnity
 In vigorous language the communica- tion sent week ago today makes it clear that the United States government believes that facts of the case are entirely different from what the submarine com mander reported them to be, and that immediate amends are expected.
 The Austrian claim that the Petrolite's s captain voluntarily gave up supplies taken from the steamer by the submarine com mander is flatly contradicted, as are the claims that warning shots were fired across the Petrolite's bow before she was shelled and that her appearance was such as to justify the submarine com mander in mistaking her for cruiser.
 ATTACK LAST DECEMBER
 The attack on the Petrolite. Standard Oil tanker, occurred in the Mediterranean December 5. A protest sent soon after ward on preliminary reports from the tanker's captain and crew brought the new American note replies. The text of the rejoinder, which is in the form of a memorandum from Secretary Lansing to Ambassador Penfield at Vienna follows
 Evidence obtained from the captain and members of the crew of the steamer Petrolite and from an examination made of the vessel under direction of the navy department convinces this government that the Austro- Hungarian governmen. attack on the steamer. With particular reference to the explanation made by the foreign office, the following information briefly stated has been obtained from
 sworn statements of the captain and
 members of the crew
 NO shot was fired across the bow of the steamer as a signal to stop. When the nrst shot was fired the captain was under the impression that an explo- sion had taken place in the engine 1 room. Not until the second shct was fired did the captain and crew sight the submarine. which was astern ot the steamer. and therefore they posi- lively assert that neither the first no1 second shot was fired across the bow of the vessel.
 "The steamer did not swing around in a course directed toward the sub | marine as alleged in the report ob- l tained by the Austro- Hungarian gov. ernment, but the captain at once stopped the engines and swung the vessel broadside to the submarine anc at right angles to the course cf tkt vessel in order to show it's neutra | markings. which was manifestly tn, | reasonable and proper course to follow
 and it ceased to make any headway. NAME ON STEAMER
 "On the steamer was painted it, name in letters approximately SIX fee long and the name of the hailing DOT and, as has previously been made knowr
 to Austro- Hungarian government, thu tCsatinued on Page TwoB