Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-12-07
forces to treat such ships as belliger-

forces to treat such ships as belliger-
ent vessels
'ln accordance with this declara-
ton several vessels with Americans
on board have been sunk in the Med
.terranean, presumably by Austrian
submarines, some of which were tor
pedoed without warning by subnna-
rines flying the Austrian flag as in
the cases of the British steamers
Secondo and Welsh Prince. Inquiries
made thru the American ambassador
at Vienna as to these cases have so
&ar eiicited no information and no re-
ply.
Again on January 81, 1917, coin
cidentally with the German declara-
tion of submarine danger zone in
waters along the coasts of entente
countries, the imperial and royal gov
ernment announced to the United
State4 government that Austria Hun
gary and its allies would from Feb
ruary prevent by every means any
navigation whatsoever Within a def
mite closed area"
After quoting at length from diplo-
matte notes respecting the submarine
warfare, the report continues:
In view of this and avowed inten-
ton by the Austrian government of
the policy which had led to breach
OF relations between the United
States and Germany the government
of the United States found 1t impos-
slble TO receive Dumba's successor,
Count Tarnowsky.
Many vessels have been sunk in
the Mediterranean-the area in which
Austrian submarines operate-by sub
marines which carried no flag or
mark and the nationality of which
was unknown. A great many of these
undersea craft are believed to have
been Austro- Hungarian submarines or
submarines commanded by Austrian
OFFICERS or supplied from Austrian
bases or by Austrian means.
Diplomatic Relations Severed.
AFTER the declaration of war of
Aprill o, 1917, the Austro- Hungarian
government informed the American
charge at Vienna on April 80, that
diplomatic relations between the
UnRed States and Austria Hungary
were broken and handed himself
passports FOR himself and mbers of
the embassy.
Until the present Austro German
drive in northern Italy the, Austrian
FORCES were gradually being driven
back by the forces of the Italian army.
Wlth~the assistance of German troops
Drawn from the Russian front n very
'serious catastrophe was inflicted upon
the Italian arms, which, II IL had not
been stemmed might have resulted in
the collapse Of Italy. Such result
would have been a great blow TO
those with whom we are associated
In this war and as much to the United
States as to any of her co-telli ligerents.
AS result of this situation the
allies have rushed aid to Italy and
the United States is sending ships.
money and supplies, and will probably
soon send troops who will be facing
and making war on Austrian soldiers.
The Italian situation is one of the
utmost Importance in the present con-
duct of the war. A declaration of
war by the United States against AUS
tria- Hungary will hearten the people
OF Italy, who have been misled by the
nischievous and diluting propaganila
engineered by the Germans 1t will
strengthen from a military point Of
view the whole allied cause. These
are strong considerations for a declar-
alton of war against Austria Hungary. |
THE considerations and the fact |
that Austria Hungary is adhering to |
the Illegal and inhuman policy Of |
ruthless submarine warfare and Is |
making war upon American vessels |
and American citizens upon the high |
seas and other reasons which /. Ia !,
not deemed necessary to recapitulate |
here induced the committee to report
the accompanying reso-
luton declaring that a state of war |
exists between the imperial and royal |
Austro Hungarian government and |
the government and people Of the |
United States and making provision to
prosecute the Rame. The action of
the committee Is unanimous and Il
trusts that the resolution will soon
become a law"