New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-19
DIR. Greil's Affidavit on
Sinking of the Ancona
Clears Away Doubt.
SHIP TORPEDOED
BEFORE ALL LEFT
Washington Convinced U-Boat
Did Not Safeguard Passen.
gers-Stiff Note Expected.
From The Tribune Bureau. ]


Washington, Nov. ia serious
crisis with Austria as the result Of the
sinking of the Ancons, with the loss
Of several Americans, was made certain
to-day. This was caused, first, by the
receipt of an affidavit from DR.. Cecile
L. Greil. the only native American on
board, directly charging that the liner
was continually shelled by the subma-
rine after she had stopped; and second,
by the decision of the government TO
stand by its opinion that nothing can
excuse failure of the attacking vessel
TO see that all non-combatants are in a
safe place before ship is destroyed.
DR.. Greil's affidavit is the first direct
evidence from an American that the
State Department has received, and il
will be considered conclusive as to the
facts which she observed. She does not
know whether warning was given. as
she was in the cabin when the fist
shell struck the ship, but her story is
clear and convincing on subsequent
events. Her statement directly contra
diets the Austrian claim that the ship
was not shelled after she stopped, and
shows that many passengers were still
This latter fact, State Department
officials declare, is also proved by tscit
admissions in the two Austrian state
IL
in itself, would be enough to bring
about grave crisis, since the Ameri-
can government has insisted that il Is
the duty OF the warship to make GER
tain Of safety Of the passengers. Even
their transfer to small boats, the
United States has held, is not enough.
except when near the shore and in
fair weather
Austrian Statement No Excuse.
The Austrian statement that forty
five minutes were allowed for the
company TO leave the vessel and that
the torpedo was launched only when
another ship was seen approaching. is
held to have no bearing OH the situa-
ton. Nor is the Austrian attempt to
shift TO the crew of the Ancona blame
for panic, for failure to get the
passengers off, or for any other lack
Of courage or discipline accepted as
an excuse.
II is asserted that even il all these
things were true the submarines COM
mander would in no way be absolved.
In fact, the charge that the crew de-
serted, which the Austrians make, is
held to prove that the commander must
have known there were still many pas
sengers on board who could have no
means of escape, since there were none
TO lower the remaining boats. Thus the
presumption of his responsibility in
sending the helpless, panic-stricken
throng to death is increased rather
than lessened by the Aus rian note.
The note which will be sent to Aus
tria will make plain that so far as this
country is concerned, the full -espon-
sibility for the safety of the passen-
gers, except when a ship is in actual
fight after warning, must rest on the
attacking vessel.
In view of the decision to take this
stand, Washington is expecting that
q much sitter note than had at first
seemed likely will be sent 70 Austria.
This will not be drafted until the re-
port asked from Ambassador Pentield
at Vienna has been received. The diffi-
Guilty of communication with Austria Is
so great that this report is not ex.
pected before early next week. On
its receipt the State Departmental
more likely President Wilson person.
ally-will draft a note which is ex-
pected to be more vigorous and couched
in sharper language than any sent to
Germany.
Will Demand Assurances.
This note will demand not only dis
avowal and full reparation, but as
surances as TO the future, which will
include all the points still unsettled
between this country and Germany.
Among these must be definition Of
what constitutes a place OF safety, and
this government will not accept any
definition that includes open boats far
from shore. Another point will be a
full understanding as to what is nee
essary to warn a vessel. II is under
stood that the appearance of the sub
marine cannot in itself be considered
a warning. but that the liner must
actually be hailed, or a blank shot
must be fired, before its commander
can be assumed to know that he must
stop.
A third point unsettled is what ac-
ton by a vessel fairly can be inter
preted as showing an intention to ram
or otherwise attack the submarine. The
American government does not wish