Omaha daily bee., 1915-11-18
AUSTRIA DENIES
ANCONA FIRED AT
AFTER IT HALTED
Vienna Government Sends Note to
Lansing, Saying Ship Tried to
Escape and Grew De-
serted Passengers.
LIFEBoATs ARE NOT sHELLED
Submarine Gave Warning by Dis
charging Shots to Fleeing
Italian Liner.
FoRTY-FIvE MINUTES RESPITE

WASHINGTON. Nov. II. - An
official communication from Aus
Hungary, forwarded to Secre-
tary Lansing today by American
Ambassador Penfield denies cate
gorically that any shots were fired
at the Italian liner Ancona after It
came to stop. or that the Austrian
submarine which torpedoed IL
shelled its lifeboats. as has been
charged.
Ambassador Penfield's dispatch
evidently crossed Secretary Lam
sings instructions OF yesterday. di-
recting him to ask the Vienna for
eign office for information.
The Communication.
The text of the communication from the
Vienna foreign office, as given out by the
State department follows;
Submarine fired warning shots across
DOW OF steamer. whereupon latter fled
at full speed. 1t thus carried out instruc-
tions officially given all Italian steamers
at beginning OF war TO attempt escape
upon being reld up by submarines or to
ram, according to the position OF the
latter.
THE escaping steamer was pursued
and fired on by the submarine, but did
not stop until receiving several hits.
Forty-five minutes were given the pas
sengers and crew to leave the ship, on
which the greatest panic reigned. Only
n portion OF the boats were lowered.
which were occupied by members OF tho
ships crew. who pulled hurriedly away.
A great portion of the boats which would
apparently have sufficed TO rescue all
hands were not occupied
RoRt submerEes.
After about fifty minutes the sub
marine submerged on account OF a
rapidly approaching vessel, torpedoed the
/ Ancona. which did not sink until q
further lapse OF forty-five minutes. II
many passengers lost their lives, blame
rests entirely with the crew, because
instead OF stopping ON the warning shot
fled and compelled the submarine TO fire
and because the crew endeavored TO saw,
only themselves and not the passengers
for which there was ample time and
means.
THE story that the submarine fired
upon the loaded boats and the people
in the water is a malicious fabrication,
for the reason that ammunition was too
valuable for the submarine II for no
/ other reason. No other shot was fired
after the vessel stopped"
Four Americans Are saved.
! PUEBLO, Colo, Nov. 17.-Domlano
Todaro and his wife. naturalized Amer
lean citizens. and the wives OF their two
sons, who were believed to have been
lost in the sinking OF the italian steamer
Ancona, are safe, according to cable
gram received here today by relatives
The message was sent to Todara from
Palermo, Sicily, near where II is thought
they were landed after the Ancona sunk
Inspector May Be Lost.
BOSTON. Nov. l7.-Fears were ex
pressed here today that Albert w. Buck
| an inspector OF the Massachusetts Bur.
eau of Labor and Industry, who was cap
tain of the Bates college track team oi
1911. was lost on the italian liner Ancona
Mr.. Buck had been In Serbia and cabled
to the commission from Naples on Nov
ember g. that he expected to sail the
next day.
While the Ancona did not sail until
November 0. officials say they, have
learned that no steamer left Naples OF
| November 7.