Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-07
AUSTRIA ALREADY
IN THE ENEMY LIST
Attitude as German Ally Long
Rated Cause for U. S. War
Declaration.
LITTLE CHANGE IN STATUS

Since the state of war which Con-
kress IL about to declare existent be-
tween the United States and Austria
has, IN fact. existed for many months,
the declaration. involves little read
dustment Of affairs between the United
States and the dual monarchy.
Though there have not been the dep
relations against American lives on
the part Of Austria like those Germany
has perpetrated. Austria, as the ally OF
Germany, has gradually assumed a
position where 1t becomes a foregone
conclusion that she must sooner or
later be classed as an enemy Of this
country. The status of Austria was
more clearly defined when her invasion
of italy made the Austro-Italian front
virtually a part Of the western front
epon which American troops already
De fighting.
No Outstanding covert Act"
There has been no outstanding overt
act on the part of Austria against the
United States; there have been rather
a series of acts short Of being classed
as cause for war. They go back to the
beginning Of the European war.
Long before former Ambassador
Dumba was uncovered and sent home
to Vienna as an instgator Of strikes IN
American manufacturing plants. the
government had evidence that the
Austrian diplomatic and consular serv-
ice was being used In this country for
osrmanys warlike purposes. The
secret service found how the Austrian
diplomatic code and the offices Of Aus
trian consuls were being used for
activities Germany could not carry on
in the United States with her own Of
dcials. In some cases where subma-
rines sunk unresisting passenger liners
with great loss of life. 1t appeared
that the U-boats themselves were Aus
TRAN. but there was little doubt that
the officers and crew were Germans,
and that the submersibles were acting
under German orders The most etrik-
ing case of that sort was the destruc-
tion of tho italian liner Ancona, in
which responsibility never was def
nitely established.
Attack on q. S. Tank Ship.
The first attack on an American ship
which attracted the attention Of the
nation was that upon the American
tank steamer Petrolite. An Austrian
submarine fired son the ship. killed
member of the crew and forcibly took
of supplies. while the master was held
as hostage on the submarine. Moth
ing but evasive diplomatic correspond
ence ever came Of It. The American
steamer Schuylkill, sunk last week. Is
believed to have been sent down by an
Austrian submarine, but there has
been no absolute proof.
German submarines in the Mediter-
ranean have been flying the Austrian
nag and Austrian submarines have
been flying the German flag. Appar-
entity commanders of both navies have
been interchanging flags to avoid re-
sponsibility for 1awless acts.
Question Which Decided.
Quite aside from the question of
"overt acts" however. the principal
consideration of the government In de-
Gliding on war with Austria-Hungary is
the nature Of the alliance between Aus
tria and Germany which made 1t anom-
alous to war with the latter and not
with the former. Difficulty piled upon
difficulty. and much as he hoped to
avoid II. the President was forced to
realize that Austria was being used by
Germany in the United States as an ac-
tive enemy and that nothing less than
declaration of war would clear the sit
uation and leave the government per-
fectly free to carry on the war with
Participants in Spy System
The German spy system in the United
States today is known to be manned
largely by subjects of Austria Hun
gary, many of them members of the
Industrial Workers of the World, and
the recent attempts of that organiza-
ton to hamper the governments war
preparations are known by the Depart
ment of Justice to be traceable to the
German system.
American secret service men found
trails of the notorious Won Papen and
Boyd leading through the Austrian
consular service in this country. Every
turn of the government toward COM
batting the German espionage system
found evidences of how Germany was
using Austria
Members of Congress and many ad-
ministratfon officials. realizing the sit
uation, have for months urged a dec
laration of war.