Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-12-07
TROOPS
EXPECTED TO JOIN
ITALIAN SOLDIERS

CONTINUED From Page IL
they have adopted and adhered to the
policy of the ruthless submarine war
rare or the imperial German govern
ment.
Submarine Issue
After diplomatic relations with Ger.
many had Oeen broken, the state de-
partment on February IA, 1917, dis
patched the following telegram to the
American embassy at Vienna, surveying
briefly the position of the Austrian gov
eminent on submarine warfare:
lin the American note of December
6. 1915. to the Austro-Hungarian gov
eminent in the Ancona case, this gov
eminent called attention to the Views
OF the government of the United states
on the operation of submarines in naval
warfare which had been expressed in
no uncertain terms TO the ally of Aus
tria- Hungary. and Of which full knowl-
edge on the part of the Austro-Hun-
garian government was presumed. In
it's reply of December 10, 1915. the i'm
perial and royal government stated that
IL was not possessed with authentic
knowledge of all of the pertinent CORE
spondence of the United States, nor was
IL of the opinion that such knowledge
would be sufficient to cover the Ancona
case, which was OF essentially diff
ferent character from those under dis
cussion with the Berlin government
Nevertheless, in reply to the Amer
lean note OF December 10, 1915, the
Austro- Hungarian government in its
note of December 29th. stated
AS concerns the principle expressed
in the very esteemed note that hostile
private, ships, insofar as they do not
flee or offer resistance. may not be de-
stroyed without the persons on board
having been placed in safety. the i'm.
perial and royal government is able
substantially to assent to this view Of
the Washington cabinet
Moreover in the case of Persia, the
Austro-Hungarian government. in jan
uary. 1916. stated in effect that while
ii had received no information with re-
gard tothe sinking of the Persia, yet,
in case its responsibility were involv-
ed. the government would be guided by
the principles agreed 20 In the Ancona
case
within one month thereafter the !m-
perial and royal government, coinci-
IDENTIFY with the German declaration of
February 10. 1915, on the treatment OF
armed merchantmen announced that all
merchant vessels armed with cannon
for whatever purpose, by this very fact
lose the character of peaceable vesesls.'
and that under these conditions orders
have been given to Austro- Hungarian
naval forces to treat such ships as bel
ligerent vessels
In accordance with this declaration
several vessels with Americans on
beard have sunk i'm the Mediterranean,
presumably by Austrian submarines,
some of which wee torpedoed WITHOUT
warning by sub lines flying the Aus
trian flag, as in the cases of the Brit
ish steamers Secondo and Welsh Prince.
Inquiries made through the American
ambassador at Vienna as to these cases
have so far elected no information and
no reply
Another warning
Again on January 81. 1911 coinci-
dentally with the German declaration
of submarine danger zones in waters
washing the coasts of the entente coun-
tries. the imperial and royal government
announced to the United States govern
ment that Austria Hungary and it's al
lies would from February / prevent by
every means any navigation whatsoever
within definite closed area