New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-31


government TO the second American note on the
sinking of the steamship Ancona, with the loss OF
American lives. is forwarded to Reuters Telegram
Company from Vienna by way of Amsterdam. The
note says:
"In replv 10 the second American Ancona note
the Austro- Hungarian government fully agrees with
the Washington Cabinet that the sacred laws OF
humanity should be taken into account also in war;
and emphasizes that it, in the course OF this war;
has given numerous proofs Of the most humane
feelings.
The Austro- Hungarian government. too can
positively concur in the principle that enemy private
vessels so far as they do not fly offer resistance,
shall no; be destroyed before the persons aboard
are secured.
The assurance that the United States govern
ment attaches value to the maintenance Of the ex-
isting good relations between stria-Hungary and
the United States is warmly reciprocated by the
Ausro- Hungarian government, which now as here
tofore is anxious to render these relations still
cordial"
The Ausuo- Hungarian government then COM
municetes The results Of TIE inquiry into the sinking
of the Ancona which was recently concluded.
The inquiry showed that the commander of the
submarine from great distance, in the first instance
fred warning shot at the steamer sighted az 40
in the forenoon which he at first believed TO be a
transport at the same time giving a signal for the
vessel 10 stop As the steamer failed 10 stop, and
tried 70 escape. the submarine gave chase and hred
sixteen shells at the steamer. Of which three were
observed hit The steamer only stopped after the
third hit whereupon the submarine ceased hiring.
Already during the flight, it is declared. when at
full speed the steamer dropped several boats hled
with people, which at capsized. After the
steamer stopped the commander OF the submarine
observed that six boats fully manned, and they
speedily rowed away from the steamer.
Approaching nearer, the commander OF the sub
marine saw that great panic prevailed aboard the
steamer and that he had before him the passenger
vessel Ancona, on account OF which he gave those
aboard more time than was necessary to leave the
vessel in eboats At least ten lifeboats were still
aboard. which would have more than suficed to
cue the persons still the vessel, but as no other
preparations were made to hoist out the boats, the
commander decided, after the expiration Of forty-hve
minutes to torpedo the vessel in such manner that
il ought TO remain aioat for still longer time in
order to leave sufficient opportunity for the people
still aboard 10 be rescued.
Shortly afterward a steamer became visible which
steamed toward the submarine. AS the commander
of The submarine, .who believed the steamer to be an
enemy cruiser had TO reckon with all attack. he sub
merged at l2:3S, firing torpedo into the foremost
cargo hold OF the Ancona No more boats aboard
the vessel were lowered although persons were still
visible aboard
The steamer sank so slowly that the submarine
commander at first doubted whether the steamer
would sink Only at l:2o o'clock did it sink. bow
first.
During these further forty-tve minutes it is
averred. all The persons aboard could easily have