The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1915-11-18
AUSTRIA DEFENDS
ATTACK ON LINER
VIENNA SAYS ANcoNA ATTEMPT.
go TO ESCAPE SUBMARINE.
WAS FIRED AS WARNING
Rome Declares Sinking Of italian
Steamer Means Germany Has
Opened HostiIIties Without
a Declaration Of War.

Washington, Nov. 15.-The question
tof facts with contrary official state
ments from the Italian and Austrian
governments Is not clear to. the, ad-
ministration regarding the sinking of
the Italian liner, Ancona, 1t is more
evident to the administration that it
must CLEAN It's own evidence in the
case in accepting of the Austrian gov
eminent as responsible for the An.
! coma. leaving the government to con.
duct negotiations with Austria.
The principal facts upon which many
things will be based is whether the
Ancona was given proper warning. g..
Austria, Defends Attack. e..
Washington. Nov. 15.--The Austrian
embassy made public statement from
its government accepting responsible.
ity for the sinking of the Italian steam
ship Ancona and placing the blame for
the loss Of life on the officers and crew
Of the vessel. 49," -. 81. IT. -.- . .&
| While the statement does not admit
specifically that the submarine was an
Austrian vessel, IL Is believed here that
it is intended to dispose of the charge
made, by Italy that ii was a German
submarine flying the Austrian flag
Germany has already made the semi
official statement that the submarine
was an Austrian vessel. The state de-
partment will continue its inquiry,
but unless some conclusive evidence is
obtained independently it is the opin-
! ion here that this government will &C.
cept the assurances of Germany and
Austria as against the charge made by
Italy. The effect Of this would be to
remove the possibility Of the reopen.
ing of the grave controversy between
the United States and Germany.
Embassy Gets Statement.
The statement of the Austrian en-
bassy is as follows:
The Austro-H Hungarian embassy re-
ceived a wireless message by way of
Sayville from the Austrian admiralty
Office concerning foreign press reports
of the sinking of the steamer Ancona,
which is reported by the admiralty Of
flee to have taken place as follows:
Statement From Vienna.
| Vienna (via Berlin and Sayville)
Nov. 15.-The Austro-HungGrian ad.
miralty issued the following state
ment:
The foreign press is spreading false
reports regarding the sinking Of the
Aneona. The incident occurred as fol-
lows:
Asserts Ship Tried to Escape.
Our submarine fred one shot before
the steamers prov, whereupon the
steamer fed at full speed In compli.
ance with orders from the Italian au-
thorities, which states that ships shall
fee or sink the submarine. ...'
The submarine pursued the steamer
and continued firing. The steamer
stopped only after 1t had been hit sew.
eral times. The submarine then al.
lowed the passengers and crew IS min.
utes in which to abandon the steamer
on which panic reigned. However.
only the small boats were lowered and
these were occupied principally by the
crew. A great number of boats-prob-
ably sufficient to have saved all the
assengers-remsined unoccupied.
After fifty minutes the submarine,
on the approach of another steamer,
submerged and torbedoed the Ancona,
which sank after forty.fiye minutes.
Puts Blame on Crew.
II any passengers lost their lives
this was the fault of the crew, because
the steamer tried to escape when It
was ordered to stop, and even then the
crew only saved themselves, leaving
the passengers. 4 -.
Foreign press reports that the sub.
marine fred on the lifeboats are in
ventions. When the steamer stopped
the submarine ceased firing.
italy RIames Germany. ....
Rome. Nov. 15.-The Italian govern
ment issued the following statement
regarding the sinking Of the Italian
liner Ancona: 49, y. ..'"e-' g., g.
"The Ancona did not. attempt to es.
cape. but stopped within short dis.
lance after the firing Of the first shell.
The liner was torpedoed while boats
we're being lowered and 100 passen-
gers were still on hoard. ... Is, /
"The submarine being German, Ger
many has opened hostilities against
Italy without q declaration or war"
~ Thomas Nelson Page, American am,
bassador. has received a report from
the British vice-consul at Tunis saying |
that the only American born person |
who sailed on the Ancona was DR.. ce-
ole L. Greil, who is at Tunis. She |
came to Italy sir weeks ago to do Red |
Cross work. A number Of naturalized |
Americans were aboard. OF whom Gu |
seppe Torissi 10 the only one known to |
have been rescued.
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Fish IN Lakes and Streams.