Evening star., 1915-11-24
INQUIRY ON ANCONA
HANDED TO AUSTRIA
Delivered at Foreign Office in
Vienna by Ambassador
PenfieId.
ANSWER is EXPECTED
TO PUT BLAME ON SHIP
Teutons Allege Italy Instructed
Masters of Vessels to Flee
From Submarines.

u
Berlin, November %. via London. No
vember 24.-It was learned from an
authoritative source today that Fred
eric c. Penfield. the American ambas-
sador to Austria. last Saturday deliv-
cred to the foreign office an American
note inquiring for details of the sinkisg
of the Italian steamer Ancona, the con-
tents of which generally corresponded
to that which the ambassador at Rome
submitted to the Italian government.
The embassy has not yet received an
answer to the note, but the Associated
Press has learned from another authori-
tative source that it will not differ
much from the already published state
ment of Austria concerning the sinking
of the liner.
Austrian Commanders Report.
The detailed report received from the
commander of the submarine which
sank the Ancona bears out in all re-
spects his earlier communication. 1t
reiterates, first, that the Ancona, "in
accordance with instructions of the
Italian government" refused to halt;
second. that the submarine commander
did everything possible to protect the
crew OF the Ancona, in the greatest
panic, thought only of themselves, and
left the women, children and other pas
sengers to their fate.
The assertion that the subma rine fred
upon persons struggling in the water is
characterized by officials here as an
absolute invention. The further as
tonnage, Is explained here as possibly
was German craft, owing to its great
tonnage, is explained here as possible.
Hungary ordered short time before.
the outbreak of the war a number of
large submarines in Germany, which
lately have been delivered in the Adri-
attic,
Vienna's Version of Attack.
1t was declared at the marine section
of the war Office today that the fol-
lowing facts concerning the sinking of
the Ancona had been established: The
submarine signaled an order to the
Ancona' to stop. The .,Aneona, did not
heed the signal and attempted to es-
cape. The submarine then fired one
shot ahead and one astern of the An
coma, aiming to miss the vessel; but this
measure was unavailing in causing her
to stop. The submarine then proceeded
to chase the Ancona. 1t quickly over
hauled her and the liner then stopped,
The commander of the submarine there
passengers and crew to leave the An
coma. The greatest excitement was
Immediately noticed on board The
first lffeboats in the water contained
almost exclusively members of the
crew. Confused passengers, 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 the
time limit had almost expired the SUBJ
haste. but not aiming at the Ancona
Waited for -Ancona to Sink.
The submarine again waited. but as
the steamer was rapidly approaching
Ancona near her bows so that the An
coma would sink only slowly. The COM
mander's belief that the steamer would
remain af1oat some time proved true,
as the Ancona disappeared under the
waves only after three-quarters of an
hour
AS Justification for the submarines
action. the Associated Press corre-
spondent was shown a copy of alleged
secret instructions. said to have been
issued by the italian government to the
masters of Italian ships. These in
structions demand that an attempt be
made under all circumstances to escape
attacks by submarines. first, by disre-
garding orders to halt and, second, by
ramming. If possible.
Call Charges Ridiculous.
The Introduction to the instructions
orders that the contents of the document
be held secret and that the instructions
must be destroyed when necessary in
order to prevent them falling into the
hands of the subject of a country enemy
to Italy.
At the marine section of the war Of
fee it was declared that charges of
brutality against the submarine crew
were ridiculous and that such state
ments were designed only to affect
opinion in neutral countries. =.
1t was intimated from another au-
thoritative source that the fact that
ment of gold was known here and that
as gold is contraband the sinking of
the Ancona was decided on. Confidence
is felt in official quarters here that the
answer of the imperial government to
Washington's representations will set
tie the Ancona case. The answer will
be transmitted within three or four
days 1t was intimated at the American
embassy today that nothing was known
concerning the Ancona case except
what had been learned from the news
papers.
Instructions to Mr. Penfeld.
What was referred to in last nights