Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-29
DEMAND FOR AMENDS
IN CASE
United States, in Note to Austria, Describes Attack on
Standard Oil Tanker as deliberate Insult to Flag and
Invasion of Rights of American Citizens"

WASHINGTON. June 2S.-Thc Arncri-
can rejoinder to Austria regarding the
Austrian submarine attack on the
American steamer Petrolitc. made pub
lie to-day by the state Department
describes the act as "a deliberate in
suit to the nag of the United States
and an invasion of the rights of Amcri-
can citizens" and requests a prompt
apology, punishment Of the submarine
commander and payment IF indemnity.
In vigorous language the commune
cation. sent a week ago to-day, makes
it clear that the United States govern
ment believes the facts of tho case
entirely different from what the AL3-
trian submarine commander reported
them to be. and that immediate amends
arc expected.
The Austrian claim that the Petro-
litc's captain voluntarily gave up sup
plies taken from the steamer by the
submarine commander Is natly con
tradicted, as are the claims that warn
ing shots were fred across the Petro-
lite's bow before she was shellcd. and
that her appearance was such as to
Justify the submarine commander in
taking her for q cruiser.
The attack on the P~ctrolite. a
Standard Oil tanker, occurred in the
Mediterranean during October.
y protest brought the Austrian com
m~unication, to which the new Ameri-
can note replies.
INFORMATION FROM CAPTAIN
y MEMBERS OF GREW
The note. which is in the form of n
memorandum from Secretary Lansing
to Ambassador Pcnfeld. at Vienna,
says the following information has
been obtained from sworn statements
Of the captain Of the Pctrolite and
members of the crew:
no shot was fired across the bow
Of the steamer as a signal to stop.
When the first shot was fired, the cap
tain was under the impression that an
explosion had taken place in the en-
| gine-room. Not until the second shot
was fired did the captain and crew
sight the submarine, 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.
The steamer did not swing around
in a course directed toward the sub
marine. as alleged in hc5rcport OBJ
tanned by the Austro-Hungarian gov
eminent, III the captain at once
SlobPtu Sic E!i Civ sN me wv
vessel b%roadside to the submarine and
at right angles to the course OF the
l vessel, in order to show it's neutral
! markings. which was manifestly the
reasonable and proper course to fol-
low. and il ceased TO make any head
way.
ON the steamer was painted its
name in letters approximately six feet
long, and the name of the hailing port
and, as has previously been made
known to Austro-Hungarian govern
ment, the steamer carried two large
flags some distance above the water
line, which II is positively stated by
the officers and crew were flying be
fore the first shot was fired, and were
no. hoisted after the first shot, as
stated by the submarine commander"
STEAMER EXAMINED
BY NAVAL CONSTRUCTOR
An examination of the steamer b,
an American naval constructor, il il
stated, shows that one of the last shot:
TO hit was tircd from a point 45 de
grecs on the starboard bow. which in
dictates the ship was not headed toward
the submarine. even when the latte
ceased firing. About twelve shots il
all We're fired, and one seaman wa:
severely wounded by a shell! fragment
The engines and the funnel of tn.
Petrolite were at the stern. and NJ
experienced naval officer could have be
! | at-A - Ial -.