Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1917-10-30
FIRST PRISONER OF
WAR TAKEN BY PATROL
Was Badly Wounded And Died In
Field Hospital
MAY WAR WITH AUSTRIA
u. S. On Brink As Result OF ltsly's
Need OF Direct Aid Much
Talk In Washington

The first German prisoner of war
taken by the American eXpedtionary
forces died yesterday in an American
field hospital. having neen shot when
lie encountered an-American patrol i'm
No mans Land in front of the Ameri-
can trenches.
The man, with another German. was
discovered Saturday night BY the pa
troll and was called on 60 halt The
Germans ran, the patrol fired. and one
of the enemy was hit The prisoner
was treated at a dressing station and
removed TO a field hospital, where the
combined efforts of several surgeons
failed 10 save his life
The prisoner was a mail carrier. and
letters of some value were found on
him. He explained his presence near
the American trenches, saying he had
lost his way in the dark. He declared
that the German soldiers did not know
that Americans were ON the front or in
France, the officers telling them moth
ing
American batteries are continuing TO
she'll the German lines at regular in
tervals. the enemy following similar
tactics
No further official communique has
been issued but there has been no
special infantry activity
Snow that fell last night interlered
with all operations.
The great German victory over the
Italian armies has brought the United
States Government TO a realization of
the dangers to the entire allied cause
involved in the German and Austrian
advance into Italy. Little else is
talked of in Washington. But inquiry
failed to reveal that this government
is giving consideration To the matter of
joining Italy in war against Austria i'm
order that il may be in n position To
do its share toward bringing an end
10 the Teutonic autocracy
There was a time not far in the past
when officials Of the United States dis
cussed the attitude this government
should display toward Austria as an
enemy of the countries that were
Joined with America i'm the common
effort TO make The world safe for de-
mocracy. Diplomatic relations be-
tween the United States and Austria
Hungary have been broken, but the
two governments arc not at war, and
nothing definite has occurred To
change the situation that prevailed
at the time when President Wilson felt
that il was incumbent, in order TO
maintain the national dignity, TO sever
intercourse with the dual monarchy.
This government realizes that Austria
is its enemy, but for its own purposes
not entirely explained has rcfrained
from taking the step that will put the
United States and Austria on terms OF
actual hostilities.
A serious clash occurred between
the Washingtond Vienna Governments
over the sinking Of the steamship An
coma without warning, presumably by
an Austrian submarine The Vienna
Government, when called on for an
explanation made suitable expression
of regret and gave the pledge, which
Germany gave and deliberately broke.
that merchane vessels would not be
sunk without warning or without Civ
ing those on board a chance to escape
to places Of safety. Since then, ac-
cording TO what was said I'm official
circles, there has been no direct evil
dence that Austrian submarines had
sunk merchant vessels in violation of
the rules of civilized warfare The
government was convinced that the
Ancona was toTpedoed by a German
and not by an Austrian submarine. but
Germany. in order TO prevent the
chance OF war with the United States
at that time over the Ancona incident,
induced or compelled Austria to admit
that she was responsible for the vio-
lation.
The Austro- German troops invading
Northern Italy are standing before
Udine, where the main Italian Head
quarters have been located. according
20 Army Headquarters announcement.
The Third Italian Army made brief
resistance TO the advancing Teutonic
forces from the Wippach VippacoD
River TO the Adriatic This army Is
now in retreat along the Adriatic
| coast.
The AustrO-German forces on the
Isonzo front are commanded by Gen
eral Otto yon Below. il is announced.