The Norman Transcript (Norman, Okla.), Vol. 27, No. 16, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 16, 1915 Page: 2 of 10
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THE NORMAN TRANSCRIPT
YUAN SHI-KAI, THE EMPEROR
NO DIPLOMATIC QUIBBLING
SUCH AS CHARACTERIZED
THE SERIES OF LUSITANIA
NOTES TO GERMANY.
SINKING OF THE ANCONA
'SLAUGHTER OF INNOCENTS'
Disavowal of Act, Punishment of Sub-
marine Commander and Indem-
nity Demanded, or Diplomatic
Relations Will Be Severed
Within a Week.
Washington—The text of the Amer-
ican note to Austrollungary regard-
ing the sinking of the Italian steam-
ship Ancona, made public recently, re-
veals a formal demand by the United
Stales for prompt denouncement of the
"illegal and indefensible" act, for pun-
ishment of the submarine commander
nnd for Indemnity for the killing and
injuring of Innocent American citi-
zens.
The course the United States will
pursue Is understood to have been de-
termined upon. The word prompt as
used in the note is understood to mean
that Austria-Hungary must accede to
the demand of the United States with-
in a week, at the most. If the demand
is not complied with, immediate sev-
erance of diplomatic relations is re-
garded as certain.
The situation between the two coun-
tries is complicated by the facts which
have been brought to the attention of
the state department in connection
with the investigation of Austrian con-
sular and diplomatic officials. These
cases, involving Alexander Von Nuber.
consul general at New York; Baron
Erich Zweidinek, charge of the Aus-
trian embassy here, and other officials
still were under consideration.
TEXT OF THE AUSTRIAN NOTE
Washlngton.-Tho secretary of state to Ambassador I'entleld:
1 ppMrtmcnt of State.
nrrP* ,c.-~p,eaHe deliver a note to the minister of foreign
afTalrs, textuaily as follows:
information obtained from American and other survivors who
«KVPH VS Ancona shows that on November 7, a
submarine Hying the Austro-Hungarian flag fired a solid shot toward the
steamship; that thereupon the Ancona
attempted to escape, hut being over-
hauled by the submarine, she stopped;
that after a brief period and before
the crew and passengers were able to
take to the boats the submarine fired a
number of shells at the vessel and fin-
ally torpedoed and sank her while
there were yet many persons on board;
and that by gun-fire and foundering of
the vessel a large number of persons
lost their lives or were seriously in-
jured among whom were citizens of
the I'nited States.
The public statement of the Austro-
Hungarlan admiralty has been brought
to the attention of the government (if
the United States and received care-
ful consideration. His statement sub-
stantially confirms the principal declar-
ation of the survivors as it admits that
the Ancona, after being shelled was
torpedoed and sunk while persons were
still on board.
The Austro-Hungarian government
has been advis *d, through the corre-
spondence which has passed between
the United States and Germany, of the
attitude of the government of the
United States as to the use of sub-
marines in attacking vessels of com-
merce, and the acquiescence of Ger-
. many in that attitude, yet with full
J knowledge on the part of the Austro-
I Hungarian government of the views of
I the government of the United States
las expressed in no uncertain terms to
5 the ally of Austro-Hungary, the com-
mander of the submarine which at-
. tacked th«- Ancona failed to put In a
I plat • of safety the crew and passengers
of the vessel which they purposed to
destroy, because, it is presumed, of the
\ impossibility of taking it into port as
a prize of war.
The government of the United States
considers that the commander violated
the principles of international law and
of humanity by shelling and torpedoing the Ancona before the persons on
board had been put In a place of safety or even Klven sufficient time to leave
the vessel. The conduct of the commander can only be characteHzer as
wanton slaughter of defenseless non-combatants, since, at the time when
the vessel was shelled ami torpedoed, she was not, it appears resisting or
attempting to escape; and no other reason Is sufficient to excuse such an
attack, not eyen the possibility of
rescue.
The government of the lT. S.
Is forced, therefore, to conclude
either that the commander of the
submarine acted In violation of his
instructions or that the imperial
and royal government failed to is-
sue instructions to the commanders
of its submarines In accordance
with the laws of nations and the
principles of humanity. The gov-
ernment of the United States is un-
willing to believe the latter alter-
native and to credit the Austro-
Hunge.rlan government with an in-
tention to permit its submarines to
destroy the lives of helpless men,
women and children; it prefers to
believe that the commander of the
submarine committed this outrages
without authority and contrary to I
the general or special instructions!
which he had received.
As the good relations of the two I
countries must rest upon a com- [
mon regard for law arid humanity, I
the government of the Unitcdl
States cannot he expected to do I
otherwise than to demand that the'
imperial and royal government de-
nounce the sinking of the Ancona!
as an illegal and indefensible act;
that the officer who perpetrated the
deed be punished ttnd that repara-
tion by the payment of an indem- I
nity ! «> made for the citizens of I
the United States who were killed I
or injured by the attack on the I
vessel.
The govornmfnt of the United «
Stilt expects that the Austro- , _
Hungarian government, appreci.it de Burian, Austrian Foreign Minister
ing the gravity of the case, will
accede to its demands promptly; and it rests this expectation on the
belief that the Austro-Hungarian government will not sanction or defend
an act which is condemned by the world as inhuman and barbarous, which
is abhorrent to all civilized nations, and which has caused the death of inno-
cent American citizens.
LANSING.
c Hums t swm
Secretary Lansing.
Ziv,; 0
After two years of a republic, China,
by a referendum vote, is again to be
a monarchy, with the present presi-
dent, Yuan Shi-Kai, on the throne. No
date has yet been announced for the
coronation, but the preparations for
the event are being hastened. It prob
ably will not occur, however, before
January 1, owing to the pledge ot
China to the entente powers that there
would be no change in the government
this year.
GATHERING U. S. SECURITIES
ENGLAND MAKING DESPERATE
EFFORT TO SAVE CREDIT.
Lot Will Be Used To Pay For Muni-
tions Bought In America
For the Allies.
London.—After an explanation by
the chancellor of the exchequer, Regi
nald McKenna, and a short debate,
the house of commons passed the sec-
ond reading of the bill empowering
the government to mobilize the Amer-
ican and Canadian securities by pur-
chase or by borrowing them to be
used primarily as collateral for loans
or in case of necessity to be sold to
meet Great Britain's liabilities in the
United States.
The scheme Is an entirely voluntary
one and the chancellor made it clear
that the government had no intention
of swamping the American maret with
securities, which would be unfair to
holders here as they were to be paid
for at the maret price.
Mr. McKenna explained that the
usual trade balance in favor of Great
Britain had been exhausted by the
huge demands made upon America for
goods for England and her allies and
the amounts paid in interest on foreign
securities held here or earned on Brit-
ish shipping were not sufficient to set
this ri£ht. Consequently in order to
meet liabilities in the United States
they were obliged to go outside the
ordinary course of trade and had to
borrow or sell securities. He esti-
mated that the securities held here
were valued anywhere from £300,000,-
000 to £800,000,000 ($1,500,000,000 to
$4,000,000,0001 and expressed the hope
that this would be sufficient "to meet
our liabilities and to maintain ex-
change in the United States for the
period of the war."
STATE
CARES
AGED VETERANS
C 0 « r jET 0 E E * HQ HE
There are nearly a hundred confederate veterans and their wives and widows of veterans now living In th®
comfortable home provided by the state at Ardmore. Mrs. Lutie Hailey Walcott of Ardmore donated the site of th«
home, and the main building contains a tablet bearing this Inscription.
"Enshrined in the hearts of all friends of this institution is the memory of Mrs. Lutie Hailey Walcott, who do-
nated the land to this home."
The home is supported by state appropriations and recently a hospital building was added to the main building
and put into service.
Out just a few miles from the beautiful city of Ardmore, these hundred survivors of the great war are living hap-
pily. In hall, on porch and in sunny bedrooms there is cheer and friendliness. Papers and letters keep them in
touch with the world outside. None of the inmates have rules for living long lives to offer, but all declare their
happiness, and welcome visitors, escort them about the home and pass hours telling the stories of active lives.
CHENOWETH HAS PUN
FOR POND BUILDING
Game Warden John Chenoweth has
requested the assistance of the state
board of agriculture in a campaign for
artificial pond building in Oklahoma.
The plan is suggested from the fact
that the state Is soon to begin work on
Its first fish hatchery, the last legisla-
ture having appropriated $30,000 of the
game fund to be spent this and next
year for the establishment and stock-
ing of two hatcheries in the state.
The site for the first hatchery has
already been selected, just south of
Medicine Park, near Lawton, on the
government reservation. A grant is
AUSTRIA BEGINS THE QUIBBLE GAME
Vienna.—The American note to Aus-
tria-Hungary concerning the sinking
of the Italian steamer Ancona is re-
garded here as weak in one important
point which may deprive the note in
general of its foundation.
This concerns the standpoint taken
that the Austro-Hungarian govern-
ment should be familiar with the atti-
tude of the American government re-
garding the freedom of the seas be-
cause President Wilson had explained
this to the German government, thus
implying that Austria as Germany's
ally should be acquainted with the
principles laid down and desired by
Washington.
Against this stand of Washington
the objection is raiBed in responsible
quarters here that the government has
knowledge of the negotiations in the
Lusitania case only through the new*
papers; that it could give to these re-
ports no diplomatic value and that it
fiermany Disavows Rientelen's Acts.
Washington.—Count Von Bernstorff,
the German ambassador, announced
that he had been authorized by his gov-
ernment, to disavow Captain Franz
Von Reintelen and declared he had
no instructions to commit any illegal
acts. The embassy said Rientelen
acted solely in the capacity of a pur-
chasing agent for private interests.
Riegtelen, now a prisoner in London,
has been charged with coming to this
country armed with a large corrup-
tion fund to incite strikers in muni-
tions factories.
has not concerned itself in any way
with the Lusitania case.
Charge's Version Accepted.
Washington.—The state department
probably will accept the explanation
made by Baron Erich Zweidinek,
charge of the Austro-Hungarian em,-
bassy here, regarding a letter he
wrote to the Austro-Hungarian Consul
general in New York suggesting that
neutral passports be bought to assist
reservists in this country to reach
Austria-Hungary.
The letter was written while Dr.
Constantin Dumba, the recalled am-
bassador, was in charge of the em-
bassy. Baron Zwiedinek explained he
was a subordinate official at the time
and was actheg under the instructions
of Dr. Dumba. >cretary Lansing did
not indicate what his view would be
but it is learned that there is no dis-
position at the department to ques-
tion the charge's statement that he
was not responsible for the letter.
Respite For Condemned Men.
Little Rock.—Governor Hays an-
nounced that he will grant a respite of
thirty days to Clarence Dewion of
Belleville, 111., and Joe Strong, each
barely 21, under sentence to die in the
electric chair. This will be the fourth
respite that has been granted the pair
since the conviction more than two
years ago of the murder and robbery
of an aged storekeeper at Benton,
Ark. Dewein is the son of a saloon-
keeper of Belleville, III. Strong, who
is an Italian, says be has no home.
ALLIES ARE DRIVEN OUT OF SERBIA
Germans May Now Pursue Them Over
Greek Border.
London.—The British and French
troops have successfully carried out
their retirement rrom Serbia across
the Greek frontier, and by an agree-
ment with the Greek government, a
clear road has been left for them to
fall back on Saloniki, which is being
organized as a base.
The German official report claims
that "approximately two English di-
visions were annihilated" during the
retirement, but this is considered here
an exaggeration. Accounts from
Athens and Saloniki say the retreat
was carried out in an orderly manner
and without heavy losses. By the de-
struction of railway bridges and roads
and by stubborn rear guard actions,
in one of which two companies of the
Inniskilling regiment sacrificed them-
selves to save their comrades, the Bul-
garians were kept at a fairly safe dis-
tance.
The question now arises whether the
Bulgarians and Austro-Germans intend
to follow the British and French troops
into Greece and what action the Greek
government will take should rtiey do
so. The impression gained from dis-
patches emanating from Athens is that
neither the Bulgarians nor the Turks,
who also are reported to have arrived
near the frontier, would be welcomed
in Greece and that, therefore, if it has
been decided to follow the entente
allies the task will be undertaken by
Austrians and Germans.
Carranza Passes "Nullification Act."
Washington.—Formal notice of the
nullification by General Carranza of
"all acts, contracts and concessions"
of the Huerta and conventionalist gov-
ernments in Mexico reached the Mex
ican embassy here from Mexico City.
The order is effective immediately. It
notified individuals and corporations
holding concessions granted by Huerta
and conventionist government officials
that it would be necessary for them to
make new applications exactly as
though no such concessions had here-
tofore existed.
Mr. Chenoweth, "if ponds were built
on every farm not already supplied
with running water, would soon mount
into millions of dollars annually. They
would contribute to tha propagation of
game and insectiverous birds who
would richly pay in returns to our
farmers. Professor Nice, of the Mass-
achusetts state university, is authority
for the statement that insectiverous
birds are worth one hundred millions
annually to cotton growers through
their destruction of boll weevil alone.
Trees would soon fringe these ponds
and the improvement and benefits will
repay many fold."
SIXTH COTTON GINNING REPORT
John Chenoweth.
now pending in congress, introduced
by Congressman Ferris, and the fish
and game commission plan to proceed
with the building of the hatchery as
soon as it has been approved.
In advance of the establishment ot
the Oklahoma hatchery and the dis-
tribution ct fish by the federal govern-
ment this year, Game Warden Cheno-
weth proposes a campaign for building
artificial lakes and reservoirs. In a
letter to President Gault of ihe board
of agriculture, he says:
"Should you deem it advisable to
take this matter up through the agri-
cultural schools of the state, to be
made especially a part of their exten-
sion and farmers short course work,
and procure the co-operation of fed
eral demonstration agents and such
other agencies as are at your com-
mand, this department will gladly sup-
ply you with such materials as per-
tain to our part of the project and co-
operate with you in every way pos-
sible."
Mr. Chenoweth calls attention to the
statute which exempts from taxation
lands used for artificial ponds and res-
ervoirs; the great value of ponds to
live stock and their proven benefits to
drouth conditions, and urges that with
the assurance of ample fish to stock
them, their value is inestimable, and
that a proper presentation of these
facts to the farmers of the state should
result in the building of many thou-
sands of ponds during the winter.
"The food value of the fish," says
Asks $20,000 For Death of Husband.
Sallisaw.—At a meeting of the board
of trustees, attorneys for Mrs. Maud
Stewart of Atkins, presented < demand
for *20,000 damages inctared by the
loss cf her husband, who was killed
by lightning at a picnic here July 3,
1914. Lightning struck a light wire
leading to the grounds, resulting in the
death of three persons and injury of a
number of others. Mrs. Stewart al-
gc3 that the town to responsible.
Shows Half Million Bales of Oklahoma
Crop Ginned.
Washington.—The sixth cotton gin-
ning report of the season, compiled
from reports of census bureau corres-
pondents and agents throughout the
cotton belt, announced that 9,711,453
bales of cotton, counting round as half
bales, of the growth of 1915, have been
ginned prior to December 1. That
compared with 13,073,386 bales, or 82.2
per cent of the entire crop ginned
prior to December 1 last year, 12,088,-
412 bales, or 86.5 per cent in 1913, and
11,854,541 bales, or 87.9 per cent in
1912. The average quantity of cotton
ginned prior to December 1 in the last
ten years was 10,691,933 bales, or 83.4
per cent of the crop.
Ginnings prior to December 1 in Ok-
lahoma, with comparisons for the last
three years and the percentage of the
entire crop ginned in this state prior
to that date in the same year, follow:
1915 445,680
1914 1,018,796 82.7
1913 764,295 90.7
1912 869,278 86.5
HEALDTON LINES ARE PERFECTED
HENRY BOOKMAN PAYS PENALTY
First Electrocution alt McAlester It
Successful.
Pipe Carriers to Take Entire Produc-
tion by December 15.
Oklahoma City.—Pipe lines will be
carrying approximately 100 per cent,
of the production in the Healdton oil
field by December 15, according to
authentic information received at the
office of the corporation commission.
This will mean much to the producers
in that district as they have been un-
able to market their production be-
cause of the limited capacity of the
carriers serving that field. The Mag-
nolia Company, which has been oper-
ating in the field since it was first
developed, has just increased its carry-
ing capacity
Healdton oil is selling at 55 cents a
barrel, that being the posted price, but
the producers are dissatisfied with
that figure and are asking the corpor-
ation commission to fix the minimum
at which oil shall be sold in that field,
at a figure in excess of the posted
price.
TAXES WORRY IN GRADY COUNTY
Tabulation Shows An Increase of 40
Per Cent Over Taxes of 1914,
Chicjfwsha.—Heavy increase of the
taxe? of this county are causing both
worry end indignation among property
owners in Grady county. Figuras se-
cured by H. N. Mullican show an in-
crease of 40 per cent this year over the
taxes of 1914. The fund required In
1914 was $80,136, while the 1915 de-
mand is for $111,685.
McAlester.—Henry Bookman, negro,
the first man to be executed in Oklai
homa by electrocution was sent to his
death in the electric chair in the base^
ment of the state penitentiary at li
o'clock Friday morning. Seventy meit
witnessed the execution.
The first application of electricity
was made when Assistant Deputy Wart
den Jedlicke raised his hand in 3ignal
at 1 o'clock. Behind a canvas screen,
an unknown executioner threw a
switch. At the slight 'chug" of the
lever the bound negro stiffened. Five
seconds the seventy spectators knelt
or stood breathless. A second signal
was given. A second time the switch
was thrown. In the gap between tha
black mask and leather cap, dead eyes
stared from a black face which had
been living a moment before.
Doctor Shaw, prison physician, lis*
tened at the chest of ihe lifeless flesh
for the sound of heart beat. There
was none. Until he nodded a few sec-
onds later the only sound to be heard
in the white-walled basement room
was the labored breathing of a son of
the man for the murder of whom the
negro had been killed by the law and
the choking gasps of the executioner.
The physician nodded and turned
away. Prison attendants began the
unstrapping of bindings. The specta-
tors stared briefly at the chair and
victim and slowly filed from the room.
Warden R. W. Dick of the peniten-
tiary was in direct charge of the exe-
cution. S. L. Morley and A. N. Wil-
cox, members of the state board of
affairs, were present. It was under
their direction that the electric chair
had been installed.
Rookman was killed by the state In
payment tor the murder of Rich Har-
din, a farmer of Eufaula on April 2,
1915. The switch that sent 2,3?0 volts
of electricity through him was closed
by a man opposed to capital punish-
ment.
Warden Dick is opposed to capital
punishment.
The crime for which Henry Book-
man was sentenced to be electrocuted
was the murder of Rich Hardin, a;
white farmer, which occurred at the
home of George Booth, Bookman's ne-
gro employer, about half way between
Nero and Fame, in McIntosh county,
shortly after 2 o'clock in the afternoon
of April a, this year.
Students To Do Wiring.
Norman.—Students themselves in
the school of electrical engineering of
the University of Oklahoma will do the
wiring in the new $100,000 science hall
being erected on the university cam-
pus. They can do the work just as
well as the high-priced workmen usu-
ally given the job, the method works
a saving for the state and at the same
time gives valuable experience and re-
munerative labor to students.
Rejected Suitor Kills Teacher and B<>lf.
Drumright.—Because she rcpuUfil
his attentions and accepted Uiomo of
other suitors, Dan Williams, a fitrtnor.
23 years old, shot and killed MM
Kutz, 20, a school teacher In thn Mwit-
ford district, twelve miles norlliMMt
of Drumright. Discarding the weiipoiv
with which he killed the nehool
teacher, Williams drew miotlit'i' revol-
ver from his pocket n nil uliol lilniMlf
through the head, dying Itidlnntly Thi
double tragedy was niimlrd .it lb*
girl's home, a'uoui it mile from Mann*
ford.
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Burke, J. J. The Norman Transcript (Norman, Okla.), Vol. 27, No. 16, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 16, 1915, newspaper, December 16, 1915; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc139255/m1/2/?q=coaster: accessed May 31, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.