Evening star., 1915-11-11
Panic Ensues When Command
er Announces All on Board
Must Leave Steamer.
CfFEB0ATS OVERTURNED
IN FIRST FRANTIC RUSH
While Passengers Struggle to Get
Off Ship Teutons Drop Shells
All Around Them. 5.

LONDON, November II,
p.m.-A Stefani News
Agency dispatch from Tunis
says:
The commander of the
Ancona. who reached here
Thursday, declares the SUBJ
marine gave his vessel no
signal to stop. The first
sign os the presence of the
submarine was shells from
distance of FIVE miles, which
grazed the steamer. The
Ancona stopped dead.
subsequently shells hit
the boats which were being
made ready for launching
and many passengers were
killed or wounded on the
deck and in the boats. Some
of the passengers who had
been thrown into the water
approached the submarine,
but were repelled and de-
rided. Finally shells and
torpedoes were fired at the
Ancona from a distance of
900 yards"
A dispatch from Cape Bon,
Tunis, by way Of Paris, sets fortl,
that one OF the Ancona's officers
named Salvemini says that to-
ward noon he sighted two subma-
rines which, by reason OF the
steamers siren, thick Jog and
the reduced speed OF the liner,
were able to approach unob-
served.
The officer declares both sub
marines flew the Austrian colors,
but several other survivors affirm
that the flag was struck and re-
placed by the German colors as
soon as the liner was sighted.
The nearest submarine was about 300
feet long and carried three-inch guns
marine drew across the Ancona's bow
to prevent any attempt at escape.
Continuing, the Ancona's officer says.
"At the first shots the captain of the
Ancona ordered out the boats. The
eighth boat hardly had touched the
water when the liner sank by the head.
the remainder of the passen-
gers and crew, who had taken refuge
on the poop deck.
Boats Speed Toward Africa.
The eight boats, keeping togetneY.
steered on a southerly course. After
travelling some distance they sighted
a ship with her lights out. The sur
vivors lighted flares and the ship ap-
preached them. but the submarines
who were following turned their
upon her and she abruptly
changed her course and disappeared in
the night.
The boats then separated Twenty
six persons were landed at o'clock
morning on the beach at Sidi
Daoud, on Cape Bon peninsula, where
they were taken in by the European in
habitants."
were not in the eight boats inevita bly,
perished.
Another boat, with the captain of the
Ancona and twenty-eight other per-
sons, was picked up this morning on
Island by the lighthouse tender
from Cape Bon, while searching the
coast for survivors.
Warned" Survivors Declare.
The Ancona was not sunk without
according to information OBJ
tanned from survivors landed at Malta
by the Reuter- correspondent and
cabled here. The Austrian submarine,
which overhauled her after a long.
stern chase, gave the commander
brief respite to permit the removal of
but the indescribable panic
which began among the immigrants on
board as soon as the underwater craft
was sighted was responsible Tor the
loss of many lives. In mad rush for
safety men, women and children over
whelmed the boats, several of which
we're overturned before they could be
lowered. Many of the occupants fell
into the sea and were drowned
Passengers agree. the correspondent
,ays, that shots fired around the steam
.r by the submarine, apparently to
hasten the LOAF of the boats, added
o the panic.
The Reuter- dispatch contains the first
connected story of the sinking of the
Ancona Monday afternoon twenty hours
.fter she had left Messina.
How Ancona Was Sunk.
The story follows:
I'VE left Naples with fairly laras
lumber of passengers, intending to sail
lirect to New York. but soon after
eaving port received a wireless mes
age directing US to stop at Messina
or more passengers and cargo. The
,eople aboard were mostly Greeks and
Italians with large families on their
way to the United states to settle there.
rhe majority. therefore. were women
md children.
1--WE left Messina at 5 pm, The cap
of the