The State Department- at Washington has sent a strong Note
to Austria about the sinking of the Ancona' and the killing of her passengers. It is pointed out that the ' Ancona' had stopped after her first effort to escape, and was offering no resistance when she was- deliberatela, shelled. Such action "can only be described," says the Note, "as the wanton slaughter of defenceless non-combatants." The American Government therefore require that the Austrian Government shall denounce the sinking of the Ancona' as an indefensible act. punish the commander of the submarine, and pay an indemnity for the lives lost The Note goes on to express the hope that the reply of Austria will be " prompt," since it can hardly be supposed that the Austrian Government really approve of an act which is condemned by the world as " barbarous." Washington has a much shorter and sharper way with Austria than with Germany. The authors of the Lusitania crime were treated with much politeness. Yet we suspeot that all Austrian acts are German. inspired. It has been decided that it Austria does not capitulate, diplomatic relations will be broken off. This point would appear to have been reached, as the Austrian reply, published in the papers of Thursday evening, is a pure evasion.
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