Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-11-25
austria CHARGES THEY DE.
SERTED SINKING BOAT, LEAv-
ING PASSENGERS TO DROWN.
SAY VESSEL WAS WARNED
BUT FAILED TO STOP
Commander Of Austrian Submarine
Denies That His Ship Fired Reek-
Iessly Upon Sinking Steamer-Justi-
fies Action and Says He Was Forced
to Torpedo Italian Ship to Prevent
Escape.

Vienna. Nov. 25.-1t was learned
from an authoritative source that
Frederick c. Penield, the American
ambassador TO Austria, last Saturday
delivered to the foreign office an Am
erican note concerning the sinking OF
the Italian steamer Ancona, the con-
tents of which generally correspondent
to that which the ambassador at Romc
submitted to the Italian government.
The embassy has not yet received
an answer to the note. but The Asso-
GATED Press has learned from another
authoritative source that it Will not
differ much from the already published
statement of Austria concerning the
sinking of the liner.
The detailed report received from
the commander OF the subn arlne
which sank the Ancona bears out in
all respects his earlier communication
Ii reiterates that the Ancona in ac-
cordance with instructions of the
Italian g5vernm ent" refused TO halt:
that the submarine did all possible 10
protect the lives of passengers and
that the crew OF the Ancona, in the
greatest panic. thought only of them
selves, and left the women. children
and other passengers TO their fate. The
assertion that the submarine fired up
on persons struggling in the water is
characterized by officials here as an
absolute invention
Signal to Stop Unheeded.
1t was declared at the marine sec
ton OF the war office today that these
facts concerning the sinking OF the
Ancona had been established: The
submarine signaled an order to the
hncona 70 stop The Ancona did not
Heed the signal and attempted 70 es-
cape: the submarine then fred one
shot ahead and one astern OF the An
coma, aiming TO miss the vessel; but
this measure was unavailing in Gauss
ing her to stop The submarine then
proceeded to chase the Ancona. II
quickly overhauled her and the liner
stopped
Tho commander oe the submarine
thereupon gave forty-fve minutes to
the passengers and crew TO leave the
Ancona. The greatest excitement was
Immediately noticed on board The
first I.feboats in the water contained
almost exclusively members of the
crew Confused passeug gers. unfamiliar
with the manipulation Of davits. upset
boats which they attempted TO launch.
As another craft under full speed was
approaching from the distance and as
the time limit had almost expired, the
submarine fred a shot as a warning
for haste. but not aiming at the An
coma.
Forced to Torpedo Steamer.
The submarine again waited. but as
2 steamer was rapidly approaching,
the commander decided 10 torpedo the
Ancona near her bows. so that the
.ancona would sink Only slowly. The
commanders belief that the steamer
would remain afioat some time proved
true. as the Ancona disappeared under
the waves only after three quarters OF
an hour.
AS justification for the submarine 2
action. The Associated Press CORE
spondent was shown copy of alleged
secret instructions said to have been
issued by the italian government ia
masters of Italian ships. These in
structions demand that an attempt be
cape attack by submarines. first by
disregarding orders TO halt and sec
ond by ramn1ing. If possible. The in
PRODUCTION 10 the order states the con-
tents must be held secret and de-
stroyed wlen necessary to prevent
them falling into the hands of the enc
mics of Italy
1t was intimated from another au-
thoritative source that the Ancona was
carrying large shipment Of gold and
that as gold IS contraband the sinking
Of the Ancona was decided on.